Hey everybody,
is Grant Thomas from Visas Association bringing you another Q&A video
where, what we're looking at is the question of: "Is my personal appearance
required to apply for a Schengen Visa or am I physically needed in order to get
my Schengen Visa?" Now, there is a key to this, which I'll cover
at the end of the video, so be sure to watch towards the end,
which actually walks you through the caveats where you don't actually need
to be present for your Schengen Visa appearance.
So before we get into that, what do we mean by this?
So, we actually come back to a thing called biometric validation.
And as we've sort of understand through all of the requirements,
every time that we apply for a Schengen Visa,
they're looking to validate three key things: Our "Personal Proof":
are we who we say we are.
Second one is "Travel Proof": which is, are we actually going
to the locations that we're saying we're going to go to?
And the third one is "Financial Proof":
which means do we have enough funds to travel?
And so what this question is all about is
how do they verify outside of just documents that we are who we are.
Now, from seeing the changes over the last couple of years that have happened
to the Schengen Visa, where now you can submit your application form digitally,
it seems as though there is going to be another way in the future for the Schengen
region to review and audit your biometrics.
But as at today, many countries are going to require you
to physically be present for your application.
And why is this? So,
there is a couple of reasons.
The first one is it's one thing to get
documents sent to you that could be fraudulent, it's a completely different
scenario when you actually go there in the flesh to apply.
And why do they do this is? It's because they want to see eye to eye the person who is
applying for the Schengen Visa, in order to understand that they do match
the documentation provided and that all of their credentials match as well.
And so by doing this, they actually get you to come
to an appointment or what people might refer to as a "Schengen Visa interview",
which is more just like an appointment really, to actually apply for your visa.
So you will make your appointment online, you'll bring all of your documents
with you, including your passport, and have a face to face conversation
with them. In most countries such as like Vietnam, Russia, Philippines, etc,
that require Schengen Visa to travel to most of Europe,
you will be fingerprinted at the time of your appointment.
And this again just goes to validate you are who you are.
So, they will do a few things - they will get
all the documents, they will see your passport
and they will say "Yes, you are that". They will look at the photographs that you provided.
Look at yourself and say, "Yes, you are who you say you are".
They will then take your fingerprints
to make sure to see if it matches anybody else in their Schengen database
or if you have applied under a different name within the Schengen database.
And this really takes the factness out
of any potential fraudulent passports, fraudulent utility bills, fraudulent
birth certificates, and puts a physical element to it.
And all of it is just a way to validate
that the people coming into the Schengen region are who they say they are.
And so what else kind of comes into this; in regards to the interview?
So, the first one is the
simple answer which is: "Yes, you have to go".
It is just part of the process.
But they're going to get your fingerprints, they're going to get your
documents and they're going to ask you questions.
And what I'll do is, I'll link to a video
which has the common interview questions of a Schengen Visa application so that you
kind of know what to prepare for when you go into that application.
Now, when they go and do the biological scans, essentially they're going to do ten
fingers and they're going to scan each one of your fingers.
And when you actually travel to the Schengen region across
the border crossing, you'll be required to provide the same
scanning again in order to enter the country.
And this will go through and do scan
matching and make sure that you are the person has applied.
Now, there are examples when you do not need to do this.
So for everyone who has made it to the end of the video,
this is what you've been looking for.
If your fingerprints have been scanned
by the consulate or embassy or the Schengen region in the last 59
months, you don't need to go and do it again.
And so this still doesn't remove the need
to go and book an appointment or actually go and apply.
It just means your fingerprints aren't necessarily going to be scanned.
So, you still physically need to be there,
it just means that your fingerprints won't need to be scanned.
Now, hopefully in the future, it gets to a point where you can apply
online, provide all of your documents and do some way to validate these
biometrics, such as a photo on our computer or something like that.
But as at today, that is not the case.
What they will do is: they will capture
your fingerprints, they'll capture your documents,
they'll get everything they need to make sure that you are who you are.
So, unfortunately,
as of today, you are still physically
needed in order for you to apply to a Schengen Visa.
And biometrics is one of the key reasons
for that, as well as to obtain your passports and your documents, etc.
Although, most of your documents would just get uploaded online anyway.
So hopefully this video has helped.
However, if you've still got more
questions, comment down below and ask away and we'll
do more videos like this to help you further in your journey.
And so now that you've made it all the way here, be sure to click the like button
below, because that ensures that this video can get out there to more Schengen
Visa applicants like yourself, to ensure that they get guided
in the correct direction, to make sure that they don't complete any documents or
anything that might jeopardize their application.
And whilst you're there, please click the subscribe button,
because that means any updates or changes to the Schengen requirements:
You will be notified as we do new videos and inform everybody about them.
So what I'll do is I'll link to some other
videos that might help you out with your Schengen Visa application.
But it's been an absolute pleasure and I look forward to hearing your successful
trip through Europe as well as your successful Schengen Visa application.
Enjoy.