فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Recent months have witnessed a severe crisis in obtaining appointments to submit Schengen visa applications, prompting many travelers to resort to alternative methods, some of which are illegal.
According to a BBC report, citizens of countries outside the European Union are facing great difficulties in booking appointments to submit visa applications at European consulates or contracted external service centers.
European officials attribute this crisis to several factors, most notably:
Increased demand for visas after the lifting of travel restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Staff shortages at European consulates due to the reduction of labor during the pandemic.
The phenomenon of “visa shopping”, where travelers apply for countries other than their primary destination due to the availability of appointments.
As a result of this crisis, some travelers have resorted to alternative methods, including:
Paying additional amounts to obtain premium services from external service companies.
Using automated programs “bots” to book appointments quickly as soon as they become available.
Resorting to the black market, where visa appointments are sold at high prices.
European authorities and outsourcing companies are trying to combat these phenomena by strengthening security measures and increasing control over the appointment booking process.
The best solution, according to the European Union, remains to increase the resources allocated to processing visa applications and improve the efficiency of the current system.
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