Schengen visa is a well-known travel visa. It allows the intending visitor to plan for 27 countries in Europe based on the Schengen Zone while not requiring them to get different visas to access them. Of course, the advantages are great since having access to the United States is incredibly beneficial for many reasons, but knowing how the visa works, especially the time it requires, is useful to perfectly organize the trip.
In this article, you will learn about the factors that dictate Schengen visa application, the average time to process, and how to apply for this visa. If you are new to such programs or a frequent flyer, this guide demystifies such a process.
What Is a Schengen Travel Visa?
A Schengen travel visa is a short-term visa. It permits the holder to enter the Schengen area. It is usually for tourism, business, joining family, or any other short-term basis reason. There are several types of Schengen Visas, those are;
Standard Processing Time
The normal cycle of a Schengen visa takes fifteen (15) calendar days starting from the day of submission. This timeline is generally true for most of the application processes, whether online or offline, where all these documents are in order.
Extended Processing Time
Delays may further be extended up to 30 days for processing, depending on the circumstances. This happens when further papers needed to support a decision are provided. If there are complications, including lost documents or other unforeseeable travel situations, it can take up to 60 days.
Quick Turnaround Cases
It is possible that some applicants will encounter a smoother process if they have evidently traveled often to the Schengen area with prior visas. Yet, it is not guaranteed, depending on the consulate’s policy.
Condition That Controls the Processing Period of Schengen Visa Services
The process behind Schengen visa services may take some time. This is so because a number of factors influence the time it takes to process your Schengen visa application.
Consulate Workload
The time taken to process the application may also depend on the workload. This is particularly true in seasons when more people are likely to seek employment, especially during the school holidays or Christmas holidays when most embassies have most application backlog.
Completeness of Documents
Unsatisfactory documents are perhaps the most frequent reason for delays. Even when a student fails to submit relevant forms, submit insufficient funds, or provide ambiguity on traveling plans, the process of Schengen visa application will be slowed down.
Nationality of the Applicant
It also means that the time it takes to process visas depends on the country of the applicant. People from countries who are deemed riskier will perhaps undergo longer observation than people from what may be deemed lower-risk countries, all in an effort to approve their factor.
Type of Visa
This means that those that are special, such as the working visa for studying, may take even more time to be processed because of the additional test.
Background Checks
Specifically, when the applicant’s travels are otherwise complicated, or they had refusals of previous visas, the consulates do deeper background checks.
When to Apply for the Schengen Visa
You can save yourself from a lot of unnecessary stress. But how? You just need to apply for a Schengen visa a week before the actual date of your travel. However, there are several things that you need to know about applying for your visa.
Earliest Application Window
The Schengen visa can be applied for up to 6 months before the planned travelling period. For seafarers, it is on a rolling average for up to 9 months.
Latest Application Window
The earliest for online application you can apply is two weeks before the intended journey, but the latest is 15 calendar days. However, applying this late is not wise because hitches might result in changing your travel plan.
Ideal Time to Apply
So, it is advised to apply at least 4- 6 weeks before the starting date of the trip. This timeframe includes average processing time to avoid cases where it takes longer than expected to complete the process.
How to Monitor Your Schengen Visa Process
After submitting your application, you can follow your application’s progress through its status. Don’t think about it much. Because there are several tracking methods available. Those are;
- Online Tracking: Nearly all consulates and visa application centres offer an online tracking facility. To access updates, you will be required to enter your application reference number, and your date of birth will be required too.
- Email or SMS Updates: Some of the services can send the status of the application via email or text message.
- Direct Inquiry: In very much a lesser occurrence, you may talk to the consulate or the applicable visa centre, but this should rarely be done.
With the tracking, you will know about some common status updates. Those are;
- Received: Your application is on the way and is initially sorted.
- Under Process: Your application is under consideration at the Consulate;
- Ready for Collection/Dispatched: The decision has been made, and you can pick up your passport.
Recommendations On How To Make Schengen Visa Faster
As much as consulate processes are out of your reproductive jurisdiction, there are ways that can make the process of Schengen travel visa run more efficiently.
Submit a Complete Application
Make sure of every document as they go through in an effort to ensure all required documents are included when making the submission. Having a checklist can only help and prevent you from overlooking something.
Apply Early
File your application early within the specified deadline as required by law. The early uses help in avoiding a stressful time when a last-minute delay has occurred.
Use a Visa Center
Visa application centres even add some other services, such as document pre-check centers and appointment booking centers.
Provide Clear Itineraries
When traveling, try and make sure that your flight bookings, hotel bookings, and any other activities that you have planned are clearly documented. Uncertainty in your strategies is your enemy because they slow down the process.
Respond Promptly to Queries
If the consulate wants to be forwarded some more documents or has asked for further details, reply at once. This may lead to delays in the processing period owing to communication breakdowns.
Common Reasons for Delays
At some point, even the best application may experience some form of delay. Common reasons include:
- Inconsistent Information: Inconsistencies with the data provided in your application form and the documents you attach to the application will signal a warning.
- High Application Volume: It also surfaced that during the travel high seasons, it is even possible to be served longer at the consulates.
- Unclear Travel Purpose: The consulate may also take extra time to verify if it does not fully believe whatever reason you provided as to why you want to visit the country.
- Prior Visa Issues: For example, refusal or previous overstay of visas in the Schengen area will attract extra attention.
What To Do When Your Visa Application Is Delayed
If your application is taking longer than expected, don’t panic. Every problem comes with a solution. Here’s how you can handle the situation:
Check the Status
You could use the tracking options available to monitor your application after you apply for a Schengen visa. It helps you to determine at what point the slowing down is taking place.
Contact the Consulate
For delays above the 15-day mark without an update, try and reach out to the consulate or the visa centre. Hello kindly do me the honor to have my application details.
Plan Backup Options
For longer delays, if you are waiting for the visa, just cancel the trip or get help from the visa consultant.
Reapply if Necessary
In some cases, the visa may be refused because some information was not provided or the application was submitted past the deadline: correct those mistakes and submit the visa application again.
Conclusion
The knowledge about the Schengen travel visa processing time will help avoid anxious anticipation of the trip preparation. Although the time to complete the order is 15 days, there are cases wherein the delivery is affected by holidays, the accuracy of the document, and circumstances.
This way, when you apply early, make sure that you complete all the necessary paperwork and periodically check the status of your application; you eliminate potential time waists. With this in mind, it is important that you plan well and get ready for the time that the visa will take and be approved.
Europe trip should be fun, not stressful. Whether you are starting a new business, looking for funds, recruiting employees, or even closing a company, with the appropriate recommendations and guidance, you don’t have to stress about documents – just have fun during your trip.