The broadcaster spoke with individuals from around the world facing difficulties obtaining a Schengen visa. A 20-year-old Syrian student in London shared his struggle to secure a Schengen visa appointment. "I tried for two months," he said, adding that he even attempted to book appointments late at night and early in the morning but to no avail. He ultimately gave up and resorted to video calls with his family.
Black market solutions
Advice on securing appointments, often for a fee, is rampant on Facebook, Telegram, and forums like Quora. The black market involves developing software to book appointments quickly and efficiently for the 29 countries within the Schengen Area.
Post-pandemic travel surge
Following the Covid pandemic, demand for international travel surged. The EU issued 10 million Schengen visas in 2023, up from 7.3 million in 2022. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, 285 million tourists traveled internationally in the first quarter of 2024, a 20% increase from the previous year.
Visa application process
Visa applications are managed by intermediary agencies on behalf of European governments, collecting documents and biometric data from applicants. Agencies like TLSContact and VFS Global stated that appointment slots are determined and controlled by the consulates of the represented countries.
Staffing and operational challenges
Christian Wigand, an EU Commission spokesperson, noted that Covid travel restrictions forced some countries to reduce staff and cancel contracts with intermediary agencies, leaving them less equipped to handle the increased demand. The EU Commission has taken measures, including a recent €10 visa fee increase, to hire more staff and reduce waiting times.
"Visa Shopping" phenomenon
Due to varying application volumes at different consulates, many resort to "visa shopping," traveling considerable distances to obtain visas from countries with more available appointments. Anil Kalsi, Vice President of the Federation of Indian Travel Agents, remarked, "People are forced to choose any country where they can quickly get a visa appointment."
Bots and black market agents
The black market thrives on bots that can book appointments as soon as they become available. Mena resident Nirvana paid £100 for a black market appointment to attend a wedding in Italy. Another user, Sirene, paid £30 for a bot notification service but found it ineffective due to high competition.
Measures to combat fraud
Consulates and visa agencies are employing technology to fight appointment fraud. TLSContact uses one-time passwords and randomizes appointment availability. VFS Global similarly employs measures to combat bot bookings.
Insider allegations
A travel agency owner, using the pseudonym Ahmet, claimed that some black market operators establish close relationships with employees of visa intermediary agencies to secure quick appointments. These employees reportedly reveal exact times and dates for new appointment slots, allowing insiders to book them shortly before public release.
Official responses
Visa agencies refute these allegations. TLSContact emphasized the limited access to appointment schedules and the close monitoring of activities by IT systems and official visa units. VFS Global stated it has no knowledge of such abuses and reiterated that appointment slots open to everyone simultaneously.
Christian Wigand highlighted that while the EU Commission monitors visa operations, ensuring intermediary agencies fulfill contractual obligations and comply with EU regulations is the responsibility of member states.
