EU & Schengen nations reopen VACs in India, time to apply

Lately, more countries opening their Visa Application Centers (VAC) the world over to facilitate migration services. The majority of Schengen VACs in India have also reopened and returned to accepting visa applications though they aren’t fully operational.

VFS Global has announced the list of reopening centers on August 6, 2020. These centers will take the immigration process forward. VFS is an outsourcing and technology services company that works for governments and diplomatic missions around the world. The EU countries have also outsourced their visa services in several world countries to VFS.

The following EU and the Schengen Member States will reopen their visa centers in India include:

• Portugal
• Ireland
• Italy
• Germany
• Norway
• Switzerland
• Croatia
• Belgium
• Austria
• Denmark

The VACs in Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru accepts limited long-stay applications. VACs of Portugal, Norway, and Denmark in New Delhi have returned to accepting long-stay visa applications. They operate from 10 am to 2 pm. Only applications submitted via prior appointments will be accepted.

Austrian VACs have also gone back to accepting long-stay visa applications in limited numbers at:

• South Mumbai
• Kochi
• Hyderabad
• Chennai
• Bengaluru

The Belgium VAC in South Mumbai will start to accept long-stay D visa and seafarer C visa applications again. They will operate on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am to 2 pm.

Croatia has resumed accepting applications for visas in exceptional cases at its VAC in Bengaluru. Its VACs in Hyderabad and Chennai are accepting only long-stay visa applications in limited numbers.

Switzerland’s VACs in Kochi and Bengaluru are accepting only limited long-stay visa applications and exceptional case applications respectively. Swiss VACs in Hyderabad and Chennai are already accepting long-stay visa applications.

The Luxembourg VACs in Chennai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi has resumed operations on July 31, 2020. VACs of Luxembourg in Kochi and Bengaluru resumed operations on August 3, 2020. These VACs will for the time being be accept only Type D visa applications. Prior appointment is necessary for submitting applications. In New Delhi these VACs will operate from 10 am to 2 pm and in Chennai and Hyderabad from 8 am to 2 pm. The return of passports via courier has been made compulsory due to the present situation owing to COVID-19.

Norway’s VAC in Bengaluru has started accepting long-stay visa applications in the limited category. Norway’s VACs in Hyderabad and Chennai are currently accepting applications for long-stay visas.

German VACs in Kochi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru are accepting applications for Type D visa. They are also dealing with prolonging expired national visas.

Italy has opened the following VACs in India:

• VACs in Hyderabad, Kochi, and Chennai - limited long-stay visa applications
• VAC in Bengaluru - from July 27, 2020 - limited category applications
• VAC in New Delhi - re-entry visa applications - operating from 10 am to 2 pm
• VAC in Mumbai – emergency, student, seamen, and re-entry visa applications - operating from 10 am to 2 pm

Portugal’s VAC in Chennai is now reopened for those holding expired family reunification cards and expired Portuguese residence cards.

Irish VACs in the following locations are accepting applications for long-stay visa and student visas:

• Mumbai
• Pune
• Ahmedabad
• Bengaluru
• Chennai
• Kochi
• Hyderabad
• New Delhi
• Jalandhar
• Chandigarh
• Kolkata

UK VACs are resumed in a phased manner at the following locations:

• Pune
• New Delhi (Shivaji Metro Stadium only)
• Mumbai (Mahalaxmi only)
• Kolkata
• Kochi
• Jalandhar
• Chandigarh
• Chennai
• Bengaluru (Global Tech Park only)
• Ahmedabad

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Europe, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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