Armenia: Facilitated Procedure for Obtaining Schengen Visas

• 06.22.2015, 21:06
•  Europe,  World

Since June 23, 2015 the embassies of Armenia of those countries that have signed the Schengen Agreement, will be included in the system of "VIS" (Visa Information System). This was announced by Dirk Lorenz, the Head of the Political, Economic, Press and Information Section of the EU Delegation in Armenia, at a press conference, Panarmenian.net reports.

It was also siad that "VIS" is a system of exchange of information on visas between the member countries of the Schengen agreement. This system is designed to simplify visa procedures, as well as to enhance the security of visa application and the storage of biometric information of people, who have applied for visa at least once, in a single centralized database (fingerprints of 10 fingers and a digital photograph).

Info

Visa Information System (VIS) enables the exchange of data on short-term visas between the states of the Schengen Agreement. VIS is connected to the national visa systems of the Member States of the Schengen Agreement through national interfaces, which allows the competent authorities of the Schengen countries to handle the obtained data on received visas, visa denials, canceled visas, recalled or extended visas.

As it is written in the official website of Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, VIS ensures that a person, who presents a visa, is its rightful holder. Thus it prevents using another person’s travel documents. "VIS assists in preventing, detecting and investigating terrorist offences and other serious criminal offences," is written on the website.

To apply for Schengen visa, one needs 10 fingerprints and a digital photograph, which together with the visa application form, are being recorded in a secure central database. Fingerprints are not required for children under the age of 12 or from people who physically cannot provide finger scans.

Thus, from now on, the system will include collection of biometric data, so to obtain a visa, citizens of these countries should personally go to the consulate for taking fingerprints. Digital photos will be made there. This change also applies to the owners of biometric passports, their data will be kept for 5 years, so during that period to go to the consulate for re-obtaining their visa will not be necessary.