Against the backdrop of the significant increase in the number of Turkish citizens applying for Schengen visas over the past year, some countries in Europe have tightened control measures in an attempt to reduce the risk of abuse, writes the Turkish newspaper “Sözcü“, quoted by BTA.
According to the newspaper, countries such as Italy and Hungary have already introduced the so-called “system for proper control of the use (of visas)“ – regulation obliging Turkish citizens who have obtained visas for the respective countries to send their passport stamps to the respective consulates by email every time they return to Turkey after traveling to the Schengen area.
The main aim of the measure is to prevent the practice of obtaining visas in countries where Turkish citizens have a higher chance of being approved, and their subsequent use in other Schengen countries, notes “Sözcü“.
According to the regulation, Turkish citizens who have obtained a visa from Italy or Hungary and are caught in another country without first entering through the country that approved their application will be subject to a fine and a ban on re-applying for the program. "Relevant legal measures" will be taken against those who do not send the stamps proving their arrival and departure from the respective country upon their return to Turkey, the measure also states.