Good to see Omar Abdullah enjoying visit to Statue of Unity: PM Modi
Good to see Shri Omar Abdullah Ji enjoying his run at the Sabarmati Riverfront and visiting the Statue of Unity. His visit to SoU gives an important message of unity and will inspire our fellow Indians to travel to different parts of India. @OmarAbdullah https://t.co/MPFL3Us4ak pic.twitter.com/bLfjhC3024
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Europe Made Travel Easier: Schengen Visa To Go Fully Digital, What It Means For Indians
Last Updated: The new rules will make Schengen visa process fully digital. That means no more physical visa stickers in passports and no more long queues at consulates to submit paper forms For millions of Indians, the process of securing a Schengen visa has long been a necessary — but often tedious — part of planning a European holiday or business trip. But that's about to change. The European Union has officially announced that the Schengen visa system will go fully digital, making visa applications easier, faster, and more secure. Here's everything you need to know about the digital Schengen visa rollout, how it works, and what it means for Indian travellers heading to Europe. What Is A Schengen Visa? The Schengen visa is a short-term visa that allows non-EU nationals to travel across 29 European countries (as of 2024) without needing separate visas for each. This includes popular destinations like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. In 2023 alone, Indians filed over 600,000 applications for Schengen visas, with the highest number going to countries like France and Germany. What's Changing? Under the new rules approved by the European Council and set to be implemented by 2026, the Schengen visa process will become completely digital. That means no more physical visa stickers in your passport and no more long queues at consulates just to submit paper forms. The only exception will be first-time applicants or those with expired biometric data (more than five years old). They will still need to visit a consulate or visa application centre to submit fingerprints and get their photo taken. For repeat travellers, the entire process could become 100% virtual. Why Is The EU Going Digital? There are several reasons behind this major shift: Efficiency: The new system will drastically cut down processing times and reduce errors caused by manual handling. Security: A digital system helps prevent fraud and misuse of visa stickers, which can be forged or altered. Convenience: Travellers can apply from anywhere, eliminating the need to visit embassies or third-party visa centres for every trip. Cost Savings: Governments and applicants alike will benefit from streamlined operations and fewer administrative bottlenecks. How Will The New Digital Schengen Visa Work? Once the platform is live, Indian applicants will go through the following steps: Create an Account on the EU Visa Portal: Enter personal details, travel history, and upload necessary documents (passport, itinerary, proof of accommodation, insurance, etc.) Select The Destination Country: If you are visiting multiple Schengen countries, you must apply to the one where you'll spend the most time. Pay the Visa Fee Online: Currently, the Schengen visa fee is €80 for adults and €40 for minors. The amount remains unchanged for now. Submit Biometric Data (If Required): First-timers must still visit the visa application centre for fingerprints and a photograph. Once submitted, the biometrics remain valid for five years. What This Means For Indian Travellers For Indian citizens — especially frequent flyers, business professionals, and holidaymakers — this is welcome news. Last year, nearly 3 crore Indian nationals went to foreign countries, an 8% increase from 2023 that saw a 29% year-on-year jump to 2.79 crore, crossing the pre-pandemic peak of 2.69 crore that was achieved in 2019, as per Ministry of Tourism data. In the first two months of 2025, 50.9 lakh Indians travelled abroad, up 6% from the corresponding period last year, tourism ministry data showed. Europe continues to be the top travel destination for Indians, with Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany leading the pack, and Eastern European countries like Czech Republic, Hungary, and Croatia gaining popularity, the report said. Currently, the visa process involves collecting multiple documents, physically submitting them to VFS or consular offices, and waiting weeks for updates. The digitisation will: Avoid issues like misplaced passports or delayed courier returns However, Indian travellers must still meet all the existing requirements: sufficient financial proof, confirmed return tickets, travel insurance, and a genuine purpose of travel. Will Visa Rejections Still Happen? Yes. A digital system does not mean relaxed rules. Visa officers will still assess the credibility of each application. Currently, Indian applicants face rejection rates between 15% and 25%, depending on the country. Strong documentation and financial clarity will still be critical. That said, digital processing could help avoid rejections caused by administrative errors or missing forms — a common complaint with physical submissions. When Will This Be Implemented? The European Commission has stated that the digital Schengen visa platform will be ready for rollout by 2026. This gives time for IT infrastructure to be built, personnel to be trained, and countries to harmonise their visa policies on the new platform. Some pilot programmes may begin as early as late 2025, particularly in high-volume countries like India, China, and Turkey. Could This Mean Easier Visas In The Future? Digitisation could open the door to multi-entry and longer-validity visas for travellers from trusted countries like India. Already, several EU nations are pushing for 'trusted traveller" programmes that would offer 3- or 5-year visas to applicants with a clean travel history. A digital system makes it easier to track, monitor, and reward such applicants. There is also potential for integration with India's own digital platforms (like DigiLocker) to allow for faster documentation verification. The move to a fully digital Schengen visa system marks a major shift in how Europe manages its borders — and how Indian travellers plan their trips. While challenges remain around biometric verification and high rejection rates, the digitalisation promises faster service, greater transparency, and fewer logistical headaches. For Indian students, professionals, and families dreaming of strolling through Paris, skiing in the Alps, or closing deals in Berlin, the future just got a little easier — and more digital. top videos View all About the Author Shilpy Bisht Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience. Her More tags : Europe Indian Passport Schengen Visa view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 01, 2025, 12:32 IST News zip Europe Made Travel Easier: Schengen Visa To Go Fully Digital, What It Means For Indians Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Post Trump, 8 Indians deported daily on average compared to 3 before
File photo BENGALURU: That deportations of Indians from the US have surged significantly since Donald Trump returned to office in Jan this year is no secret. Now here's how much more it is when compared to the Biden term and the last year of Trump's previous term that preceded it: On average, at least 8 Indians were sent back everyday this year, compared to around 3 daily between Jan 2020 and Dec 2024. According to data from the ministry of external affairs (MEA), in the five-and-a-half years between Jan 2020 and July 2025, 7,244 Indians were deported for various reasons, and nearly a quarter of them — 1,703 — were sent back after Trump took office for the second time. This rise also coincides with more aggressive enforcement mechanisms. On June 26, the US state department reminded people that the visa screening doesn't stop after a visa is issued. '...We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules — and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don't.' While this was for legal immigrants, a couple of days before this statement, the US had said: 'The US has increased enforcement of immigration laws and removal of illegal aliens. Illegal entry will lead to detention, deportation, and permanent consequences for future visa eligibility…Embarking on a costly and dangerous journey will land you in jail or back in your homeland with a permanent mark on your record.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Stylish New Mobility Scooters Available for Seniors (Prices May Surprise You) Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Search Now Undo Of the 1,703 deported this year, 864 deportations occurred through state-arranged charter and military flights, as per MEA. US Customs and Border Protection (military flights) repatriated 333 people across three dates in Feb: 5, 15, and 16. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), through its Enforcement and Removal Operations, deported a total of 231 individuals via chartered flights on March 19, June 8, and June 25. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also carried out deportations via charter flights, sending 300 people back to India on July 5 and 18. Humane deportation W hile 747 individuals were deported via commercial flights from the US — they arrived individually or in small groups, depending on when their flight tickets were arranged — another 72 individuals came through commercial flights from Panama in a similar staggered manner. India doesn't maintain its own firm estimates of illegal immigration into the US. And so far as consular and deportation exercises are concerned, it relies on information shared by US authorities. The MEA has said that 'it remains engaged with US counterparts to ensure deportations are carried out humanely. It has also raised concerns regarding the reported use of shackles, particularly on women and children, and other issues related to cultural and religious sensitivities.' 90% from 5 states Further, a state-wise analysis of the 1,703 Indian deportations in 2025 so far shows that the trend is heavily skewed towards a few northern states. Punjab topped the list with 620 deportees, closely followed by Haryana with 604 — together accounting for over 70% of all cases. Gujarat was a distant third, with 245 individuals sent back, while Uttar Pradesh and Goa followed with 38 and 26 deportees respectively. These top five states collectively represent more than 90% of all deportations recorded this year. The remaining states and UTs reported far fewer cases. Maharashtra and Delhi had 20 deportees each, Telangana 19, Tamil Nadu 17, and Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand 12 each. Karnataka saw only 5.
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
How An Indian Allegedly Got 5-Year Multiple Entry Schengen Visa In Less Than A Week
A recent Reddit post about the quick processing of an Indian traveller's multiple-entry Schengen visa has received a lot of interest online. The user shared several details about how they managed to obtain this longer-term Schengen visa, which was issued under the European Commission's visa "cascade" regime. They wrote, "Sharing my experience for those curious about the cascade regime - it seems to be finally working well, at least in France's case!" The Indian passport holder claimed their 5-year multiple-entry Schengen visa from France took the Bengaluru consulate only 4 working days to process. The user revealed that they have an extensive travel history of 32 countries. They stated that they previously had 3 Schengen visas issued by Germany and Spain. All of them were allegedly issued within the past 2 years. Their most recent visa was from Spain, and it was only valid for 45 days. The comments section was full of queries about what exactly the traveller did to secure this highly sought-after visa. Here's what the user claimed he submitted in his application for this Schengen tourist visa: A cover letter that included a request for a longer validity visa. Their old passport and a scanned copy of each page of the new and old passports (which contained stamps) Details about their 10-day itinerary for France 2 years Income Tax Returns, 3 months bank statements and pay slips (as financial proof) Other key documents usually required for Schengen visa applications The user said that they mentioned their travel history as well as them having been to the Schengen zone three times in the past. "For the cascade regime, you need at least 2 visas in the past 3 years to be eligible for a 2-year visa, but granting a longer duration visa is completely at the discretion of the visa officer," they wrote. Got 5 Year Multi Entry visa from France! by u/Time-Impact-5523 in SchengenVisa How Can Indians Get Multiple-Entry Schengen Visas? Indians can apply for multi-entry Schengen visas under the visa "cascade" regime. If you have used two Schengen visas within the previous three years, you can obtain a two-year multi-entry Schengen Visa. After using this visa, you can later apply for a five-year visa provided that your passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals, as per the EU. Like short-term Schengen visas, these long-term multiple-entry visas allow free travel in the Schengen area. The holder can stay a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period in this zone. These visas cannot be used for work purposes. Which Countries Are Covered By Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa? The Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa grants access to the entire Schengen area, which consists of 29 European countries. They are Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
