This time, I skipped the VFS center in Delhi and travelled to VFS Visa Application Center in Lucknow due to a personal reason. I would love to share my experience in this blog. Who doesn’t love to visit Switzerland? It is a dream destination without a doubt. I was on cloud nine when I got a travel assignment which required me to travel to Zurich. I was truly elated. It was time to re-write my Swiss diaries after 12 years. It had been long and I had been missing the trams and the alps. This was supposed to be my fifth trip to Europe and first one post pandemic but I was as nervous and excited as the first one. As we all know, before any trip to Europe, one must procure the visa. And this is not just any visa but Schengen Visa. It is often considered to be a tedious one because it requires a lot of documents and confirmations. But if you act as guided on the VFS website, it is a cake walk. All you have to do is prepare for your documents thoroughly. Be ready to spare some time to collect all the documents because you have to submit them at the embassy.
My story Schengen Visa to Belgium
VFS APPOINTMENT is the most important thing- Don’t delay it
Now, this is where some people goof up. Do not wait for collecting all your documents but take an appointment first because you might not get a date of your choice. I had half of my things ready and I thought I could not take the VFS appointment. This is a wrong notion. You do not have to submit anything except the payment for a tourist visa appointment. Once you have a date of your choice, you must prepare the needful documents and photograph and submit it at the VFS Global Center.
When I started looking for dates at the VFS Global Center Delhi, there were no dates for two weeks and I had to travel in the third week, thus I started looking at other cities. (The visa processing time can be two weeks so you must keep that much time in spare before your travel dates.) Lucknow seemed easy as the dates were easily available and . Here, you may note that applicants applying for a Schengen visa can submit their visa applications at any VFS centre across India but you will have to travel there personally to submit the documents. You may request a courier service for the return of the passport. This makes things super simple.
Documents needed for Schengen Visa for Switzerland
There is a checklist which you must run through again and again. There is no harm in rechecking. Your passport, ticket, proof of accommodation, bank account statement, ITR for last 3 years, photographs should be intact. The other important docs are
- Completely filled and signed Visa Application form
- Personal covering letter explaining your travel plan/itinerary
- If you are working, you need a no objection letter/approval of leaves from your employer.
- Travel Insurance is a must (It may not be taken from VFS but from any other as well. But remember to check the approved list of insurance agencies.)
- And don’t forget to take a printout of all of this and the VISA APPLICATION FORM AND THE VFS APPOINTMENT.
This is for you. Now, collect the same for kids and other family members. At first, the list may look intimidating but it simply requires some patience.
VFS Visa Application Center in Lucknow
Travelling to other cities for visa is not new. People do this often if your city does not have the facility. But I had to opt for it because I was not available on the date when the appointment was available in Delhi. Appointments were easily available in Lucknow. Also, I had a great experience there. It wasn’t crowded like Delhi.
The VFS center is located on 1st floor of Shalimar Gateway mall. There is ample parking facility and the metro connectivity is pretty awesome. I used a metro to reach Alambagh Bus Terminal. The mall is located just at the exit of the metro station. The passage way and signboards lead me straight to the VFS office. The process was very smooth and hassle free.
Staff are extremely professional and helpful. The only thing that I did not like is that there is no waiting area for people who may have accompanied you. They do not allow anyone else who does not have an appointment inside the office. But people usually have to sit on the stairs on the outside and wait. But later I realized that the mall is just next door. It is better to head there. There are many coffee places and shops. My mother had accompanied me. So I felt bad that she had to sit on the stairs and wait for me. But later she walked towards the mall and had a great time there while I did my paper work.
Inside the VFS Visa Application Center in Lucknow, the people were very helpful and thorough. They looked into all the papers properly and verified everything. In case you miss out on any printout, do not panic. There is a photocopy and printout service inside the center. The prices are on the higher side but it is a great savior. I had missed out on one document and they helped me with the printout immediately. The documents submission process may take an hour for you may have to wait, hence it is best to be there at the allocated time. Lounge services expedite the job but trust me, it is not really necessary. However, if you need help and have time-constraint too, it may be used. Courier, mobile SMS, etc are some of the extra services that you may book as per your need.
My passport returned in ten days and I had a wonderful trip to Switzerland. I have travelled to 12 countries in Europe in last 10 years. If you need help, you may reach out to me.
