IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL VISA APPLICANTS: INTRODUCTION OF A NEW PROCEDURE
On October 11th, 2011 new Visa Information System (VIS) will be introduced by all Schengen States’ consulates in Cairo.
VIS (Visa Information System) is a common database system for Schengen countries. The main objectives of the VIS are to simplify and harmonise the visa application procedure, to simplify external border controls and to contribute to improved security within the Schengen Area. The database will contain personal details, photographs and biometric information in the form of fingerprints of persons who apply for a Schengen visa. The identity of the person entering and the authenticity of that person's visa are checked at the external border against the information stored in the VIS database.
Visa section of the Lithuanian Embassy in Cairo will start collecting biometric data’s of all visa applicants on 11th of October, 2011.
Visa section will take fingerprints and scan the photo of the applicants. For fingerprints' scanning a special machine will be used. The machine complies with all relevant Lithuanian and international safety standards, and it does not use ink, liquids or chemicals.
As of 11th of October, each and every person applying for a visa at the Lithuanian Embassy in Cairo must personally be present at the visa section to have his/her ten fingerprints taken. Fingerprints are kept for five years and, if a new application is made within that period, it is in some cases possible to re-use the fingerprints so that the applicant does not need to appear in person again. Visa applications will not be accepted if the applicants are not personally present. No exceptions can be made!
Only the following categories of applicants are exempt from the requirement of providing fingerprints:
– Children under the age of 12;
– Persons who are physically prevented (lacking fingerprints) from providing fingerprints;
– Heads of state or government and members of national governments or their official delegations, when they are invited by the governments of member states or international organisations for an official purpose.
Introduction of collection of biometric data’s will not change visa application process. However, as there is an additional work process involved with taking fingerprints, it could cause some slight delays.Information stored in the VIS is subject to strict rules for data protection, including Directive 95/46/EC and Regulation EC 45/2001. The data is kept for a maximum of five years. Every person is entitled to receive information about the details stored about him or her in the VIS. All individuals may also request that inaccurate data be corrected and that unlawfully registered information about him or her be deleted.
Detailed information on VIS in Arabic
Detailed information on VIS in English
For further information, see the website of the European Commission at http://ec.europa.eu/vis
