In order to make the visa process easier for travellers, the Swiss Embassy in India has partnered with VFS Global to open 10 regional visa application centres (VACS) across India. The VACs will be opened in Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Kochi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad. Werner E Nievergelt, Consul General of Switzerland said, “There was a significant increase in Indian visitors to Switzerland in 2011 and the market is constantly growing. This partnership with VFS Global will make it easier for applicants to undertake the visa application process.”
The VACs will be completed in three phases. During the first and second phase which will be completed in March 2012, Visa Application Centre branches will be opened in Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jalandhar, Kochi, Chennai, Pondicherry and Bengaluru while the application centres in Pune and Ahmedabad will be completed in the third phase by mid-2012.
Murali Raghavan, COO – South Asia and CIS, VFS Global revealed that the VACs were a pilot project limited to two years. |