Embassy has taken the decision to delay Visa – indiansupdate.com
The Swiss embassy in Delhi, India, has stated that it will not consider requests for Schengen visas from Indian tourist groups till October. As reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com, the embassy has taken the decision to delay visa processing due to the overwhelming number of applications they need to handle. In response to the announcement, tour operators have been requested to reschedule group trips to a later date, allowing sufficient time for visa submissions and issuances before the travel date.
The tour operators, however, are displeased with this situation, particularly because group tours outside the country are highly profitable for them in India. They are working diligently to find ways to facilitate travel to the Schengen area for interested individuals without causing further delays. Switzerland Tourism’s Head of Markets East, Simon Bosshart, admits the issue and points at how Swiss embassies have a shortage of employees. This issue extends beyond Indian travelers; Chinese tourists who wish to visit Switzerland in groups are also affected by the staffing challenges.
Before the Coronavirus pandemic, there were around 17 visa processing centers in China, but their operations ceased due to the pandemic’s impact. Since then, the embassies have struggled to handle the increased number of visa applications in a timely manner. Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs addresses the situation by stating that they are currently processing 94 percent of the visa applications that were available in 2019. However, many other Schengen countries are still grappling with restoring their visa capacities from pre-pandemic times, leading to delays in processing.
The delays are partially attributed to the phenomenon known as “visa shopping,” which affects the scheduling and handling of visa applications. To obtain a Switzerland Schengen visa, foreigners must provide various documents, including a completed visa application form, passport, passport photos, previous visas copies, round-trip flight itinerary, proof of accommodation booking, evidence of sufficient financial means, and travel health insurance, among others.