Spurned applicants say that decisions appear arbitrary.
The arrival of low-cost airlines to Ukraine and ease of booking trips on the Internet has made travels to Europe easier and cheaper. But applying for Schengen visas – needed for travel to many European Union countries – can be a stressful and expensive process for Ukrainians.
Many are left bitter after refusals or complications, especially when they feel they have submitted all the necessary documents and met all requirements.
Boyko applied twice for a visa at the Spanish Embassy. She was told after her first refusal that the problem was her unemployed status, even though she had just graduated from university. She got her new employer to issue a letter confirming she would start work on Oct. 11. Zaitsev wrote to confirm he was paying for the trip and provided a bank statement – a common procedure if the person is not paying for his own trip, according to Schengen rules.
Boyko blamed personal antipathy from the embassy staff for the refusal.
The couple had to cancel their trip, losing 700 euros each paid for flights and hotels and 120 euros for the two failed visa applications.
Ukrainians complain that decisions often seem arbitrary and requirements can differ between embassies, despite the introduction of a Visa Code by the European Union in 2009 harmonizing rules for visa issuance.
“The situation varies in different embassies, and in absolutely the same situation one embassy can issue a visa without any questions while another will decline,” Oleksandr Sushko, head of the Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation.
The German Embassy, for example, asks for confirmation of full hotel payment, despite the fact that absolute majority of hotels take a few percent of the price from customer’s credit card as booking confirmation. “Booking confirmation is enough for every embassy, except the German and sometimes the Polish one,” said Orest Bilous, head of a tourist firm who helps clients with visa applications.
“The person has to ask the hotel to withdraw the full amount from his card, which few hotels want to do. Despite this, the embassy still can decline visa and then the person loses money.”
The German Embassy said the check was necessary to confirm that accommodation costs are covered. But the requirement appears to go beyond that of the EU’s Visa Code, which stipulates that the applicant should provide “documents in relation to accommodation, or proof of sufficient means to cover his accommodation.”
One of the biggest problems for Ukrainians is proving their salary, as a large proportion of employees are paid most of their salary in an envelope, rather than officially into their bank accounts.
Taras Lopuszansky had a problem getting a visa from the Slovenian Embassy after he rented a villa near Lake Bland where he planned to spend vacation with family. He booked via U.K.-based website villarenters.com, but in the Slovenian embassy he was told the consul can call only Slovenian numbers to verify his booking.
“He refused to call a non-Slovenian number and asked for a Slovenian one. This after an interview where I was interrogated regarding the goal of my trip for 20 minutes despite presenting all documents, insurance and credit cards,” Lopuszansky complained.
The Slovenian Embassy declined to comment on specific cases.
Lopuszansky said he feels by pressing this kind of requirements European countries are treating Ukrainians like second-class people.
Experts say each country has the right to refuse anyone entry, and many are cautious because of some Ukrainians who overstay their visas.
“There is a mistaken belief that a visa is an entitlement, but in reality every country has the right to allow or refuse entry to anyone for any reason it deems fit,” said an international immigration expert, speaking on condition of anonymity because of his official position.
“There are instances where decisions are made arbitrarily, prompted by a subjective opinion of a consular officer, however most decisions are based on the merits and fact pattern presented by the applicant,” he added.
The German Embassy said the most common reasons for refusal are either doubts regarding the purpose of the trip or the applicant’s willingness to return.
Experts also point out that the rejection rate for Schengen visas is relatively low – 4.6 percent, according to Europe without Barriers, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization.
However, it is still higher than the 3 percent considered acceptable for countries like Ukraine that are seeking to sign a visa-free agreement with the EU.
Meanwhile, the likelihood of receiving a visa shapes people’s travel destinations.
“The majority of Ukrainians prefer to travel to countries where you either get a visa upon arrival or do not need visa at all,” said Olena Shapovalova, head of the Ukrainian Tourist Business Association.
“Egypt and Turkey are not trendy just because they are cheap, but because the person does not have to collect documents and then wonder whether he or she will be granted a visa with vacation plans hanging in balance. The situation will not change until the EU softens its visa policy.”
Shapovalova said many, especially those who have been denied a visa, feel so angry and humiliated they do not want to try again out of principle.
| A visa is refused if applicant: presents a false travel document; gives no justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay; provides no proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the stay nor for the return to his/her country of origin/residence; has already stayed for 90 days in the current 180-day period; has been issued an alert in the Schengen Information System (SIS) for the purpose of refusing entry; is considered to be a threat to the public policy, internal security or public health of one of the Member States; provides no proof of travel medical insurance, if applicable; presents supporting documents or statements whose authenticity or reliability is doubtful. Source: Summary of Visa Code, http://europa.eu |
Kyiv Post staff writer can be reached at [email protected].
