Schengen Visa at one point of time was such an easy process for us here in Oman. But after the Covid times it has become a hassle. First of all, they do not give Visa for a extended period to expats here is Oman, which is very frustrating. Maximum duration of the Visa is 3 months. Again, this is a discrimination that they make, for the local people they do get longer duration Visas for a period of 1 year. But for expats maximum duration is 3 months, even if you have visited multiple times. For hubby, he has to travel continuously and every quarter he has to apply for a fresh visa.
Previously they would give us for a duration of 1 year, but now no clue what is the matter and why there is so much rigidity on the duration. I believe it is also about the business. Though it's not fair that there are separate rules for people living in the same Country. There is no choice but to go through it.
Last night I was trying to get an appointment which the site kept giving continuous error. Even on the first attempt it gave me a error mentioning, I have exceeded the number of attempts and I need to try after 2 hours. After 2 hours when I tried it again gave the same error and then I gave up. Today morning when I tried then finally, I could get the appointment for tomorrow. The next is to prepare the whole set of documents, including taking a new recent picture, because the picture validity is also for 6 months. Since we already submitted them 6 months back, we cannot use the same passport size picture and we have to click a new one. A good chain of business :-). Then the invitation letter, Office letter, bank statements, hotel and flight bookings and what not. The other painful part is every time we fill up the form and go to the embassy and they always ask us to fill a new form over there. We have to fill up the online application form to show at the entrance else they will not allow us inside, and then that goes waste and the form needs to be filled up again. I find all of these processes very tedious and cumbersome. I don't know why they cannot simplify. They can have some duration for validity purpose for wherever possible, like the passport picture. The biometrics also has to be done every time, as if my impressions are going to change every quarter.
After the whole application process then it will take 2 weeks to get the Visa and there is no way that we can follow up. We have to wait for them to call. A couple of months back, I missed one of my trips as the Visa got delayed and it arrived a day after my travel date. It was such a big disappointment. Next month I plan to travel to Swiss and while I am so eagerly looking forward to, the first hurdle I have to cross is getting the Visa. Only once it comes will I be relieved and can actually get excited about my trip, till then fingers crossed.
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