Escalating crisis for Turkish citizens: Black-market sales, automated systems worsen Schengen visa appointment shortage
Istanbul, Turkey
Turkish citizens are grappling with a fresh set of challenges as securing appointments at foreign embassies becomes an increasingly arduous task. The widespread utilization of automated bots and exploitation by intermediaries compound the problem left by high Schengen visa rejection rates.
Recent data signifies a modest decrease in rejections, yet securing interviews remains problematic. The growing reliance on automated software and bots to secure scarce appointment slots is alarming. These AI-powered tools are capitalizing on their lightning-fast response times, swiftly scanning appointment systems, auto-filling forms, and overwhelming them with synchronized entries.
This mass hoarding of appointment slots is then sold on the black market for exorbitant prices. Consequentially, the validity of appointment systems is jeopardized, creating artificial scarcity and potentially shutting out genuine applicants.
In an effort to combat the issue, VFS Global - a third-party visa and passport management service provider for various diplomatic missions - has implemented countermeasures. Sertan Aslantürk, VFS Global's Deputy Regional Head for Turkey and Azerbaijan, stated, "We take action every single day. Initially, we introduced virtual point-of-sale systems due to bot interference. Subsequently, we implemented virtual keyboards, IP address restrictions, and blocked VPN-based access."
Moreover, Aslantürk revealed the introduction of a digital "waiting room" mechanism to mitigate the manipulative tactics employed by these applications. Applicants face the daunting task of spending days stationed before their screens, hoping to snag an available appointment slot. Some, detered by the extended wait time, opt for intermediaries, who demand hefty fees.
Orhan İşcil, the managing director of a visa services company, shared his concerns with private broadcaster NTV, stating, "Some agents are demanding between 500 and 1,000 euros, sometimes even as much as 3,000 euros. It's a completely unregulated market. I urge our citizens not to trust advertisements they encounter on social media. Many have handed over money, only to be met with silence - no appointment, no recourse."
To alleviate the issue of automated bot interference, measures such as implementing digital waiting rooms, utilizing CAPTCHAs or other verification methods, implementing regularly updated algorithms, partnering with tech companies, and launching public awareness campaigns can help ensure fair and secure access to visa appointments for Turkish citizens. Strict legal measures against offenders can further curb the practice.
- The high Schengen visa rejection rates in Istanbul, Turkey, have led to a surge in the use of automated bots and intermediaries, creating a problematic situation for those seeking appointments at foreign embassies within the realm of general-news and business.
- As a consequence of the exploitation of automated tools, appointment slots for visa interviews are increasingly being hoarded and sold on the black market for exorbitant prices within the crime-and-justice industry, casting a shadow over the legitimacy of the appointment systems and potentially denying genuine applicants an opportunity.
- VFS Global, a service provider for various diplomatic missions, has introduced countermeasures to combat the issue in the midst of the growing reliance on AI-powered tools, employing virtual point-of-sale systems, virtual keyboards, IP address restrictions, and blocking VPN-based access in the tech industry.
- In face of the manipulative tactics employed by these applications, Turkish citizens are left with the difficult choice between spending extensive time waiting for an available appointment slot or turning to intermediaries demanding hefty fees within the finance industry, leading to significant financial strain and potential exploitation.
