A former French Embassy in India employee who allegedly issued visas to hundreds of people by using fake documents and without authorisation has escaped the country.
According to the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the former French Embassy employee issued visas by using forged documents without the knowledge or approval from the embassy visa department head from January 1, 2022, to May 6, 2022, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.The Times of India explains that during the above-mentioned period, the former employee dealt with around 324 files relating to visa requests. The same noted he issued visas using forged documents for his parents too.
As soon as the CBI found out that the former employee was involved in such illegal activities, they opened a case and started investigating the matter. However, the former employee escaped India before the authorities were able to take measures against him.
Despite the CBI not being able to investigate the former French Embassy employee, they were able to seize the passports of his parents. Once the authorities had the passports of the parents of the former employee, they checked them thoroughly and found out that the visa stickers were real.
Moreover, the authorities found out that the visas of the former employee’s parents were valid for a period of five years – from January 3, 2022, until January 2, 2027 – and authorised for multiple entries into the Schengen Area.
This means that apart from being permitted to enter France with the forged visa, the parents of the former employee were permitted to enter the other member states, too on the basis of the visa.
It is believed that the other visas that the former French Embassy employee issued by using fake documents had a long validity too, and the authorities stressed that all of the visas were issued without the persons appearing for the interview.
This is not the first time that a third country reported Schengen visa forging cases. In general, all those who want to enter the bloc for purposes other than tourism and remain there illegally choose such ways to obtain a visa.
Currently, all citizens of India are required to obtain a visa to be able to enter the EU/Schengen Area for all kinds of purposes.
Who Needs And Who Doesn’t Need A Schengen Visa To Travel To The EU?
Indians planning to enter the bloc for tourism purposes need to apply for a Tourist Schengen Visa. This type of visa allows all of its holders to travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a six-month period.
When applying for a Schengen Tourist Visa, nationals of India as well as those from other countries need to submit the completed visa application form, two recent photos, their valid passports, proof of having purchased travel health insurance for the EU, proof of having secured a place to stay, a roundtrip reservation, and proof of sufficient financial means, among others.