Due to a higher number of applications received, VFS Global in Algiers has announced it will not accept certain applications for French visas without an appointment.
Those affected by this decision include spouses or ascendants of French nationals and senior applicants who wish to submit their residence permit renewal applications from October 28 to October 31, Schengen.News reports.
The authorities have encouraged applicants to contact the VFS for any questions and pointed out that the passport collection services are operating as per usual.
VFS Global Current Processing Time Set at 1 Month
One of the subsequences related to the large number of applications is the processing time, which at the moment is one month.
It is highly recommended that applicants use this period to prepare for their trips to France. The Consulate General of France in Constantine and Annaba receives visa requests from 14 wilayas (provinces), such as Annaba, Jijel, Skikda, El Traf, Setif, Mila, Constantine, Guelma, Souk Ahras, Oum El Bouaghi, Batna, Biskra, Khenchla and Tebessa.
France Received More Than Half of All Visa Applications From Algerians
France is the top destination for Algerian applicants, who in 2023 were the sixth nationality with most visa applications.
According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfo, Algerians filed 474,032 visa applications in 2023, with 58 per cent or 279,005 of them being for France. The second country that received many applications from Algerians was Spain – 127,534 applications were filed.
While application rates are mainly driven by these two countries; France and Spain, the same does not happen with approval rates, as some countries have higher approval rates for visas filed from Algerian applicants.
Czechia had the highest approval rates for applicants from this nationality, issuing 69 per cent of all applications. Second to follow was France, which approved 66 per cent of all visa requests, which is 185,832 applications in total. Finland is third, with 552 approved visa applications and an approval rate of 63 per cent. The average approval rate for applicants from Algeria in 2023 was 63 per cent, resulting in 86,787 visas.
On the other hand, countries with the highest rejection rates for Algerians in 2023 were Malta (90 per cent), Croatia (73 per cent) and Hungary (70 per cent).
Source: https://schengen.news/vfs-global-in-algeria-warns-it-will-not-receive-applications-for-french-visas-without-appointments/
