June 18th, 2023 at 04:52 am
Travellers Face Visa Processing Delays Due to High Travel Demand
People are getting ready for their long-awaited summer breaks now that summer is almost here. But if you want to travel abroad, you should know that getting a visa might take longer than normal.
The time it takes to get a visa to travel to the most popular places can be anywhere from five to six weeks to four to five months.
Pending Visa Applications
It’s important to know that many travel companies have a backlog of visa applications from customers who want to travel abroad while their kids are on summer break.
One family from New Delhi was planning to go to France in May. Ten days ago, their travel agent sent in their visa application forms, but they still hadn’t gotten an interview. Now, the agency has told them to try to get in as walk-ins.
Another ticket agent said that there were no appointments for a visa interview to go to France, but that there were appointments for Germany in July.
No Appointment Slots
Italy, France, and Spain do not have diplomatic appointment slots, according to SOTC Travel President and Country Head of Holidays Daniel D’Souza. Yatra.com Chief Operating Officer for Corporate Travel Sabina Chopra blames vendors, VFS and BLS (visa service agencies), and embassies for the delay.
Switzerland, Denmark, and Austria embassies make appointments easily, however, you may have to wait 10–15 days.
VFS Global spokesman said visa processing can take longer during holidays. Everywhere and in embassies. The corporation processes visas in one business day.
However, client governments determine visa application details including appointment times, visa length, and processing time, which can vary by mission.
The surge in Visa Applications Causes Delays
VFS Global processed 20,000 visa applications per day during the peak tourist season last year.
Due to high travel demand this year, people should apply for visas early to minimize delays. Schengen accepts visa applications six months in advance, while most countries allow 90 days.
Italy, France, Germany, and the Netherlands might be difficult to acquire visa appointments for, even if you plan ahead. Dates are sometimes available at unusual times after a 5–9-week wait. This complicates scheduling.
In the same way, appointments for US visas won’t be open until January or February 2024.
Processing Systems Strained Due to Surge in Demand
Sabina Chopra, COO of Corporate Travel at Yatra.com, says that outbound travel from India has been very popular this year, with confirmed orders up 20–25% from last year.
But the increased number of people wanting visas has put a strain on the systems that handle them. This has caused a backlog of applications and longer wait times.
Different countries’ limits and safety rules put in place because of the pandemic can also cause delays. Even though there are problems, there will be three times as many people wanting to go to Europe during the summer holiday season.
Exploring Other Options
Indians are changing their trip plans because they have to wait longer for visas. Instead, they are going to places where they have to wait less time for visas.
Countries like the UK, Turkey, Mauritius, Bali, the Maldives, Australia, and New Zealand have become more popular because they are easy to get a ticket for and have direct flights to other countries.
Also, places like the UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Oman, and Vietnam, where you can get a visa in as little as 3–4 business days, are very popular during the summer break.
The Way Forward
Indian travelers are worried about getting visas, so travel planners are telling them to plan their trips ahead of time and look into options with shorter visa wait times. Also, since the situation is likely to stay the same for a while, it is important to be ready and have a plan B in case of delays or closures that come up out of the blue.
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