eu-com-schengen-coop

provide solutions for approval by the whole LSC group. This have been the case for harmonising visa fees,
supporting documents' list, travel medical insurance requirements, issuance of visas to spouses and family
members etc.
3. State of play
3.1 Application of the Visa Code
MS are well prepared to carry out LSC tasks under the Visa Code. The initial learning process after entry
into force of the Visa Code has very much improved and MS are looking forward to the approval of the
new Visa Code. However there are still some requests by MS to clarify the rules which are normally
answered through EUDEL by competent services in Headquarters. There is a frequent communication on
this between MS and with EUDEL regarding especially re-entry documents, travel medical insurance
coverage limits and reliable companies and visa refusals, among others.
3.3 Assessment of the need to harmonise the lists of supporting documents
MS have been implementing the supporting documents' list approved on March 26th 2013, by the
Commission Implementing Decision (C (2013) 1725 final) establishing the lists of supporting
documents to be presented by visa applicants in Jordan, Kosovo and the United States of America
(Atlanta, Bedford, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan, Tampa, Washington). Before its adoption, as per the VC
recommendation, MS's Consulates had already started using the harmonized list.
MS are fully aware that there is a general obligation to implement the content of the Decision, to ensure
harmonized implementation and to update the information to the public through web pages and public
information boards. No particular problems on implementation have been reported. A number of MS asked
EUDEL to add a link on its own websites to include expanded information on Schengen (see
http://www.euintheus.org/what-we-do/policy-areas/freedom-security-and-justice/schengen-area/): a link to
the Supporting Documents list, in the section on Schengen General Info, and a link to the COM Decision.
However, according to Headquarters, it was acknowledged that such a link would not replace the obligation
for MS to include the relevant list of supporting documents in their respective webpages in a visible
manner.
The Group has not discussed so far the possibility of amending the supporting documents' list.
3.3. Exchange of information on the visa fee charged – no need for
harmonisation
The conclusion reached by the LSC Group on the first year, recommending that further harmonisation of
visa fees and fee waivers was not necessary, was reaffirmed. The observed differences (e.g. visa fees
varying +/- 12% between minimum and maximum) were not perceived to cause any significant 'visa
shopping', also in view of the low migratory risk from visa applicants in the US (cf. section 3.5 below).
This is also confirmed by the analysis of the visa statistics.
3.4 Common information sheet
Washington LSC was considering the need to have a common information sheet for visa applicants (as
required by art. 48, 2 of the Visa Code), and had mandated accordingly the Working group to further study
the subject. However the COM services informed EUDEL that they were starting the preparation of a
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