Trade reminded of new Schengen biometrics

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Lepetre is reminding agents about new Schengen biometrics.

Maison de la France director Pascal Lepetre has urged travel agents to take note of the new biometric requirements for the Schengen visa.

With nine new countries recently entering the Schengen Zone, travellers are now able to visit 24 European destinations with the visa, but they have been required to appear at the French Consulate in Dubai to supply biometric information since February.

"Not all consulates are equipped with this biometric technology yet - Oman doesn't have it for example - as it is still in a trial period, but anybody applying at the French Consulate in Dubai has to go in person and have their picture and fingerprints taken - travel agents should be aware of this by now," explained Lepetre.

"The biometric requirements will definitely be extended beyond the unspecified trial period, so people should be ready."

Agents also need to keep in mind the online appointment system for Schengen visa application implemented in October 2007, added Lepetre.

"If agents' clients don't go online and make their appointments they may be too late to get their visa," he said.

"The time taken to process the visa differs depending on what nationality the client is. If you're Indian it's 48 hours, but if you're Palestinian, for example, it can take a couple of weeks. So it's important that agents ensure travellers are applying online for their appointment ahead of time."

Lepetre also revealed to ATN that a new office was to be opened in Dubai near the Capitol Hotel on Mina Road to assist travellers with their Schengen visa applications.

"There is no opening date as yet, but people will be helped by a company called VFS to prepare their visa applications. France, Germany and the Netherlands are joining hands to provide this service, and hopefully Italy will join later too," he said.

"The visa processing and biometrics will remain the privilege of the consulates, but this will be a useful service."

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