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Visa Information System (VIS) introduced in Armenia
armradio.am
25.10.2011 16:39
The Visa Information System (VIS), one of the tools supporting the
implementation of the common EU visa policy, was presented today
during an information session in the Embassy of Poland to Armenia.
The purpose of the EU common visa policy for short stays is to enable
the Schengen Area to function efficiently and facilitate the entry
of legal visitors into the EU, while strengthening internal security.
Over the past years, the EU has been developing large-scale IT systems
for collecting, processing and sharing information relevant to external
border management, and VIS is one of the results.
It allows Schengen States to exchange visa data through a central
IT system and a communication infrastructure that links this central
system to national systems. VIS connects consulates in non-EU countries
and all external border crossing points of Schengen States, and then
processes data and decisions relating to applications for short-stay
visas to the Schengen Area.
"The purpose of VIS is to facilitate checks and the issuance of visas.
It also helps fight abuse, enhances security, and protects travellers
from identity theft," said Onno Simons, First Counsellor of the EU
Delegation to Armenia.
What VIS entails: 10 fingerprints and a digital photograph are
collected from persons applying for a visa. These biometric data,
along with data provided in the visa application form, are recorded
in a secure central database and can be re-used for further visa
applications over a 5-year period. (Fingerprints are not required for
children below 12 or for people who physically cannot provide a finger
scan). When the visa holder arrives at the external Schengen border,
the border authorities have access to VIS to verify the identity of
the visa holder and the authenticity of the visa.
VIS applies to all Schengen States and after a transitional period,
the new EU Agency for large-scale IT systems (to be launched in autumn
2012) will be responsible for the operational management of VIS.
Competent visa authorities may consult the VIS for the purpose of
examining applications and decisions related thereto. In specific
cases, national authorities and Europol may request access to data
entered into the VIS for the purposes of preventing, detecting and
investigating terrorist and criminal offences.
armradio.am
25.10.2011 16:39
The Visa Information System (VIS), one of the tools supporting the
implementation of the common EU visa policy, was presented today
during an information session in the Embassy of Poland to Armenia.
The purpose of the EU common visa policy for short stays is to enable
the Schengen Area to function efficiently and facilitate the entry
of legal visitors into the EU, while strengthening internal security.
Over the past years, the EU has been developing large-scale IT systems
for collecting, processing and sharing information relevant to external
border management, and VIS is one of the results.
It allows Schengen States to exchange visa data through a central
IT system and a communication infrastructure that links this central
system to national systems. VIS connects consulates in non-EU countries
and all external border crossing points of Schengen States, and then
processes data and decisions relating to applications for short-stay
visas to the Schengen Area.
"The purpose of VIS is to facilitate checks and the issuance of visas.
It also helps fight abuse, enhances security, and protects travellers
from identity theft," said Onno Simons, First Counsellor of the EU
Delegation to Armenia.
What VIS entails: 10 fingerprints and a digital photograph are
collected from persons applying for a visa. These biometric data,
along with data provided in the visa application form, are recorded
in a secure central database and can be re-used for further visa
applications over a 5-year period. (Fingerprints are not required for
children below 12 or for people who physically cannot provide a finger
scan). When the visa holder arrives at the external Schengen border,
the border authorities have access to VIS to verify the identity of
the visa holder and the authenticity of the visa.
VIS applies to all Schengen States and after a transitional period,
the new EU Agency for large-scale IT systems (to be launched in autumn
2012) will be responsible for the operational management of VIS.
Competent visa authorities may consult the VIS for the purpose of
examining applications and decisions related thereto. In specific
cases, national authorities and Europol may request access to data
entered into the VIS for the purposes of preventing, detecting and
investigating terrorist and criminal offences.