Algerians to benefit from Schengen visas in one week

General Consul of the French embassy in Algeria, Michel Dejager revealed on new actions and measures to enable Algerians to get a visa to enter France, like increasing the number of visas and reduce the duration of response and set a date for file deposit to seven days, with the extension of validity of the visa to four years.

Michel Dejager, told Echorouk on Wednesday, said that the new facilities, which were received by the consulate according to the instructions by the French authorities, will allow the largest number of Algerians, to get visa for short residence, and visas of movement, with the expansion of its powers, as this allows the hold of the visa to benefit from six months of residence, or to visit France for 90 days, without the need to renewed the request for Visa during every visit to France or to any country in the Schengen space.

“Headquarters of the “TLS contact” in charge of receiving the files of the new visa applications in Al Achour, Algiers, said it will reduce the period of identifying the date of depositing files of visa applicants to seven days and the duration of their studies, as well as reducing the duration of reply, and we will in the near future reduce the period of files’ date and study to 48 hours and 24 hours for patients and students“.

“We observed an increase in the volume of applications and files by more than 35 percent, between 2011 and 2012, which necessitated thinking in finding a space that is suitable for the best reception, because the current absorptive ability is estimated to 1100 dates per day. We welcomed at the level of the consulate between 850 to 900 files per day, which were processed, so we programmed to move to a new location with the goal of maximizing the ability of reception“, the consul added.

Regarding the joint statement between the French Interior and Foreign Affairs Ministers, which is serving to facilitate the granting of visas for Algerians wishing to enter the French territory, and which was already promised by the French President Francois Hollande, during his campaign for the presidential elections on May 2012, the consul said: “The new measures will be applied literally.”