India saw an uptick in Schengen visa applications last year, with the total reaching 9.7 lakh, marking a 44 percent increase from the previous year’s 6.7 lakh. India ranked second in terms of the percentage increase in applications, trailing only China. Despite the surge in demand, the lack of available visa interview slots disrupted the travel plans of many Indians.
“Appointments are simply not available with a majority of Schengen countries. If you want to travel to Europe this summer, the earliest appointment date for Germany and Italy is in July. This is making life very difficult for travelers,” Anil Kalsi, Vice President of the Travel Agents Federation of India, was quoted as saying by TOI.
The frustration among applicants and travel agents stems from the challenges posed by the unavailability of visa interview slots, leading to cancellations and financial burdens. “Not getting a visa in time means bearing huge cancellation charges,” Kalsi added. A spokesperson from visa…
