Schengen visa appointment 'black market' claims under investigation; embassies act

Embassy officials from Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Austria have launched an investigation into allegations that Schengen visa appointments have fallen victim to a "black market." Reports suggest that unauthorized intermediary companies are blocking appointment slots using specialized software, only to resell them at significantly higher prices. The embassies are actively warning citizens against engaging with these third-party services, emphasizing that they are not authorized to facilitate visa applications. New measures are being introduced to prevent such fraudulent activities within the appointment systems. The German Embassy, for instance, has transitioned to a waiting list system to prevent bulk reservations by various service providers. They stressed that iDATA is the sole authorized intermediary for visa services on behalf of their visa units, urging the public to avoid costly services offered by third parties. Belgian Ambassador to Ankara, Hendrik Van de Velde, cautioned against unofficial agents, stating that no appointments for Belgium are being made via bots. He advised against using agencies other than VFS, deeming it a waste of money and recommending direct applications to VFS. The Dutch Embassy acknowledged the seriousness of the reports on potential irregularities and stated they would consult with other Schengen countries working with the same service providers. They welcomed an investigation launched by the European Commission and will include its findings in ongoing dialogues with external visa partners. The French Embassy confirmed the matter is under review and will be evaluated in the coming period.