DHAKA: As part of the worldwide introduction of the Visa Information System (VIS), the Schengen States will launch the VIS in Bangladesh from November 2 onwards.
The Political, Economic, Trade, Press and Information Section of the European Union (EU) delegation to Bangladesh issued a press release in this regard on Wednesday.
The release said as from November 2 of 2015, Bangladeshi citizens requesting a Schengen visa will have to appear in person when lodging the application in order to provide biometric data (fingerprints and digital photography).
This concerns the applications for the short-term Schengen visas (max. 90 days in 180 days). For subsequent applications within next five years the biometric data will be copied from the previous visa application included in the VIS.
Fingerprints are widely used within the EU as a more secure means of identification. The use of biometric data for identification purposes of a visa holder is a faster and more accurate way to identify a visa holder by border police.
The release further said the purpose of this global VIS introduction process is to better protect applicants against identity theft, to prevent document fraud and so-called “visa shopping”.
It also said, since October 2011, the VIS has been functioning in 17 out of 23 world regions. All Schengen consulates worldwide will be connected to VIS by the end of November this year.
Apart from that, there will be no change in current procedures such as visa fee or forms.
However, the applicants should be aware that due to provisions on biometric data, which might cause at the beginning some disruptions, the first visit to their respective Schengen State Consulate after November 2 of 2015 might take a little bit longer.
Exemptions from the obligation of fingerprinting are provided for the following categories of applicants only -- Children under 12; persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible; and sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, Heads of State and members of the national Governments (with their official delegations and spouses) if they travel for official purposes.
BDST: 2119 HRS, OCT 28, 2015
SR
