Schengen Statistics show that 13.2 per cent of all visa applications filed by Indian nationals were refused, accounting for a total of 13,984 applications.
However, the issuance rate for Indians isn’t as low, considering that 84 per cent of 106,025 applications have received a positive response, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Indians are listed as the 30th nationality in the list of those with rejection rates, indicating that the number of applicants receiving a negative response isn’t as high. On the other hand, nationalities whose visa applications were rejected the most include Pakistani, Ghanaian, and Congolese nationals.
The rejection rates of Pakistani nationals are the highest – 55.1 per cent, indicating that more than half of applications for visas are rejected. Ghanaians and Congolese have a rejection rate of 46.5 and 41.5 per cent, respectively, while the list of top five nationalities is concluded with Algerians and Argentinians with 39.9 and 35 per cent rejection rates, respectively.
Furthermore, visa applications filed by Sri Lanka nationals, those from Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, and Senegal, are the most rejected, with rejection rates varying between 39.9 and 30.1 per cent. This translates to between 1,700 and seven rejected applicants, which depends on the number of applicants, as a few nationalities apply less than others for a Swiss Schengen Visa.
Previously, the Swiss embassy in New Delhi announced it wouldn’t accept Schengen visa applications for Indian tours. The Swiss embassy’s decision to halt visas for Indian tours will remain effective until October.
The decision follows a surge in the number of applications that have to be processed. In response, the damaged operators said they had been asked to plan group trips for another time so visas could be submitted and issued before the travel date.
Group tours outside India are the most profitable for tour operators, and they are working to make it possible for attendees to reach the bloc without delays.
The Head of Markets East at Switzerland Tourism, Simon Bosshart, claimed he is aware of the issue, but the Swiss embassies are dealing with a staff shortage, making it harder to process a large number of requests.
Foreigners have to apply for a Switzerland Schengen visa, and they are required to submit several documents such as a fully completed and signed Swiss visa application form, passport, two passport photos, and copies of previous visas.
Moreover, applicants are required to present a round-trip flight itinerary, proof of having booked a place to stay in Switzerland, proof of sufficient financial means, and proof of having purchased travel health insurance, among others.
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