The President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, has raised concerns over the rules that citizens of his country need to follow when applying for Schengen visas, requiring the EU authorities to facilitate the rules.
During a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon, held in Brussels, President Ali discussed the possibility of the country reaching a visa-free travel agreement.
Moreover, President also discussed the possibility of in-country processing of Schengen visa applications.
“President Dr. Irfaan Ali met with Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Tanja Fajon, to discuss potential trade between the two countries in agriculture; renewable energy; Guyana’s nomination letter for visa-free Schengen status and the possibility of interim in-country processing of Schengen visa applications,” the statement of the Guyanese authorities reads.
The requests of President Ali follow the extended rules that citizens of Guyana have to follow when planning to reach the bloc.
Currently, all citizens of Guyana are required to travel to Suriname for their Schengen visa interviews, making it difficult for them to obtain a visa.
For this reason, President Ali pushed that the EU authorities take measures that would allow for the interviews and the processing of the visas to take place within the country so that Guyanese citizens no longer have to go through such extended processes that take time and money.
While the Guyanese authorities shared the request of their president, they did not reveal the answer of Deputy Prime Minister Fajon.
Guyana is part of the list of tens of countries whose citizens need a Schengen visa in order to be permitted entry into the Schengen Area for all kinds of purposes.
When applying for a Schengen visa, citizens of Guyana must make sure to meet certain requirements.
They need to submit the fully completed and signed visa application form, their valid passport, and two recently taken photographs.
Moreover, Guyana citizens applying for a Schengen visa must also submit a roundtrip itinerary, proof of having secured accommodation in Schengen, proof of having purchased travel health insurance, proof of sufficient financial means, and proof of paid visa fee.
Additional documents, such as a work contract, may be required, too, depending on the employment status of applicants.
