)renFK ePEassy KLres 9)6 *loEal to proFess 6FKengen vLsa

As of 0arch the French embassy in Suriname will no longer process the Schengen visa for a short stay in France. The French will reportedly follow the e[ample of the 'utch embassy by letting VFS *lobal handle the reTuests for the Schengen visa. The 'utch embassy in 3aramaribo will issue the Schengen visa to people with normal passports for all Schengen members states.

The French embassy will process the Schengen visa for a long stay and will also handle reTuests from people with a diplomatic or a service passport who want to visit France regardless of their nationality.

Antoine -oly, French ambassador, e[plained that this measure will improve the service to people who reTuest a visa for French *uyana and French overseas areas. He pointed out that last year 00 people asked to travel to France by reTuesting visa at his embassy. The number of people that actually went to French *uyana is much higher. VFS *lobal reportedly issued ,000 Schengen visas for the 1etherlands in 20 . The diplomat also e[plained that the new measure will speed up the process for reTuesting and receiving a visa. The French embassy issued free visas for French *uyana in case of cultural, sports and tourist affairs under one condition. The reTuest must be made via a French *uyanese organization or a certified travel agency. The office of VFS *lobal is located along the 3rins Hendrikstraat and is open for business from 0onday through Saturday. A Schengen visa costs ¼60 and the service fees amount to ¼2 . An appointment for reTuesting a Schengen visa can be made online via VFS *lobal.

A Schengen Visa is the document issued by the appropriate authorities to the interested party for visiting travelling to and within the Schengen Area.

The Schengen Area is comprised of 26 countries that have agreed to allow free movement of their citizens within this area as a single country. Of the 26 countries bound by the Schengen agreement, 22 are part of the E8 and the other are part of the EFTA.