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The practice of ‘visa shopping’ has been gaining popularity in several Indian states, including Punjab, where travel companies often facilitate this setup for travellers. But what exactly is ‘visa shopping,’ and why are people engaging in it? What are its legal implications? We explain.
Visa shopping refers to obtaining visas for countries that individuals may or may not visit during the granted visa period. This is because such visas can provide a gateway for people to enter their preferred countries, particularly in Europe, even if they have obtained a visa for another European nation.
Additionally, people who have no immediate plans to visit a specific country are also purchasing visas for such nations. This is to increase the chances of obtaining visas for countries of their choice in the future, given how the application process often takes a long time or has chances of rejection. Also, visas usually remain valid for a few years after being issued.
According to people involved in Punjab’s travel agencies, one popular example of this is the ‘Schengen Visa’, which provides a ‘golden opportunity’ for travellers by allowing them to explore many European countries without the need for separate visas.
Through an agreement between European countries, the Schengen system was established in 1985. Under it, member countries form the Schengen area and people can travel freely between them without going through border controls. Once within the Schengen Area, travellers can move freely across 27 countries (including 23 EU members and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The visa allows travellers to enter the region for short stays.
“The core idea is simple: get a visa for a single Schengen region country, such as Germany, France, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Iceland, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, etc., and through it, one can get entry into another Schengen region country,” said a travel agent based in Jalandhar.
Many opt to apply for a Schengen Visa from a country with an easier application process. Once it is granted, travellers can traverse the Schengen region and reach their intended destination. “Schengen Visa is the most sought-after visa in ‘Visa Shopping’ trend due to its unique feature,” said an immigration professional.
For example, a company specialising in Schengen Visas in Punjab cited a case where a man’s Spanish visa was rejected twice when he wanted to visit a family member there. He then opted for another country’s visa, enabling him to visit Spain without a direct Spanish visa. Similarly, a student who initially sought a German visa, but was rejected, obtained a Luxembourg visa and then travelled to Germany.
Several individuals also do visa shopping for the Schengen region to enter Portugal, where it is easier to find work with the assistance of local agents. They help them obtain documents for a work visa to help them finally settle there, according to a Schengen Visa consultant.
This practice is not illegal if the traveller adheres to the norms and guidelines of the visa process and gets valid permission to stay in that country, said an agent. Legal concerns arise if a person seeks a visa for a particular country but stays in another, or shows that his/her intentions were not to stay in that country but to only use it as an entry point.
In May this year, the Embassy of Estonia in New Delhi issued a statement advising against visa shopping, saying that as per the Schengen Visa rules, “If you are travelling to more than one country, you should apply for a visa from the country with the maximum stay.”
With a warning against the practice, it said embassies are conducting a “very thorough check of the travel plans.” It added, “There might be more severe consequences – starting with the refusal of the visa and if travelling with different itinerary, ending up to be offloaded from the plane or returned back home from the EU borders.”
If any person repeatedly engages in visa shopping, officials may become suspicious. Sometimes, countries raise an objection at the airport if a person’s visa is of another European nation and entry is to another, said a Schengen Visa consultant.
