Team-BHP - Schengen visa - Current wait times

Folks, as we head into the 2023 summer holidays, thought of collating member experiences w.r.t. current wait times for Schengen visas.

City of submission:
Country for which visa was applied for:
Type of visa:
Personal interview required:
Self submission/collection or through agent:
Total turnaround time in days (to get the passport back in hand):
Any weird document requirements and/or general comments:

Note: Have restricted to Schengen on purpose because of the peculiar myriad rules :-)

Anyone planning to get a Schengen visa, get the appointment first and then start working towards the application and other documents! Bangalore VFS has walk-in appointments if it's really urgent and you are unable to find a slot. Another point, even the agents are wary of getting an appointment through VFS. One has to really try his/her luck in getting an appointment that's within the same or immediate next month!

Quote:

Originally Posted by humyum (Post 5529914)

I plan to go to Netherlands in August start. Would it be wise to take the Visa appointment in May?

I heard after approval, the time taken for it to be stamped is 10-15 days at max.

Any experiences for the Netherlands for anyone to share?

If you get a slot in May, just block it. You can later modify it accordingly. Do not push for a date in June or July, you may not get a slot at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by itwasntme (Post 5529885)

We jumped the visa queue and got the visa done in March for my family and in laws traveling now. We always book and get visa in Feb to avoid peak season. I neither applied nor travelling this year

City of submission: Chennai
Country for which visa was applied for: Germany
Type of visa: Visit of family member and tourism
Personal interview required: No, biometric submission needed in VFS if not given in last 59 months.
Self submission/collection or through agent: Self
Total turnaround time in days (to get the passport back in hand): 10 days 28 Feb to 10 March most of which is passport sent to Mumbai and courier back during Holi holidays. It is all centralised now. Last time in 2019 it was flat 1 day done in Chennai itself.
Any weird document requirements and/or general comments: Have strong covering letter with detailed itinerary. They do read it and now gave 2 year visa except for my son as I requested only for specific dates
( If one spouse is not going, need to provide notarized Authorization letter and notarized passport copy). So request for long duration if you wish :)

City of submission: Bangalore
Country for which visa was applied for: Czech Republic
Type of visa: Short stay
Personal interview required: No
Self submission/collection or through agent: Self
Total turnaround time in days (to get the passport back in hand): 16 days
Any weird document requirements and/or general comments:
VFS is a scam service. I had paid online, but had to again pay cash at the counter because the fee has changed and they had to charge the entire fee again. SMS service paid for , but not a single SMS received.
Need notarized sponsorship letter for all the dependents. In my case i had income proof for myself. Needed sponsorship letter for wife and 2 kids. As usual copy of every document for each of the 4 applicants. The Bank Statements need to be stamped for each for the 4 applicants.
They needed the old passport where the earlier Schengen visa was stamped.
We had booked for premium service. That itself took 3 hours at the counter.
Submitted on 15th May and received in hand by courier today.

Has anybody secured an appointment of late for Germany/Italy/France through VFS at any of the locations? The VFS website is a nightmare and doesn't work like it should half the time. And when it does, I am unable to find any appointments in the next 15-30 days(my intended date of travel is 45 days hence). I have completely given up on Spain due to the total unavailability through BLS.
If I am unable to secure a slot through VFS, will they entertain walk-ins?
TIA

As far as I know and what I have read, biometrics is mandatory for the first time visa processing and is valid till 5 years.

A travel agent here, in Bengaluru, says he can get the Schengen visa without biometrics and only if required the applicants are called for providing biometrics - because he is a travel agent and I am quite surprised by this.

Is this really possible?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AltoLXI (Post 5761260)

I don't think so.

I have applied & got Schengen visa at least 8 times since 2015 (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland) and have had to visit the VFS & provide bio-metrics every single time!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBeard (Post 5761273)

I don't think so.

I have applied & got Schengen visa at least 8 times since 2015 (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland) and have had to visit the VFS & provide bio-metrics every single time!

Why are EU countries which are always championing for privacy forcing people to give their biometrics for visa approval

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrozeninTime (Post 5761317)

Why are EU countries which are always championing for privacy forcing people to give their biometrics for visa approval

Not to get too political here.
It is a security measure adopted by all countries now (UK, USA, Canada...etc). Apparently bio-metric passports will obviate this requirement
but only time will tell.

Maybe/Hopefully India too has adopted it along with the declaration/proof of sufficient funds (6 months bank statement).

Quote:

Originally Posted by AltoLXI (Post 5761260)

Correct. If you provide biometrics, you do not need to give biometrics for 59 months but with valid reason. If you visit them, they will by default take biometrics. Visa application have the relevant field that captures previous biometric capture date.

This is from personal experience. My wife was applying for Schengen visa along with her parents but my son fell ill. So she sent the application through her parents stating the reason. VFS accepted the submission but informed she may be called to consulate if needed. But they processed the tourist visa without any further scrutiny. In fact, they gave her multiple entry, 2 year valid visa as per request.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBeard (Post 5761321)

When you travel to India on a foreign passport you are required to provide biometrics which are then validated against you when you travel the next time.