We scan your documents on your behalf

Visa application 1

August 2021

Ankara

I’m at the TLScontact appointment centre, a third party company that arranges visa appointments for the Swiss Consulate. It’s a common approach for consulates to appoint a third-party company to collect visa applications. It is rarely the consulate itself the visa applicants visit for their compulsory visa appointment.

TLScontact is a teleperformance company that advertises themselves as “Your partner in Turkey for all your visa applications for Switzerland” [1].

[1] https://ch.tlscontact.com/tr/splash.php accessed on 12.01.2023

­­ Their tone on their website, particularly in this welcome message, sounds as if they are a coffee house or even a guest house partnering with me for my pleasure, preparing me for an entertaining visit. Oh I don’t think so. On the very same website, when you select which centre* 

* When you apply for a visa to enter Switzerland from Turkey, you can either apply in a TLScontact centre in Ankara or in İstanbul. In case you live in any other 79 cities in Turkey, you have to travel either to Ankara or İstanbul. Convenient and expensive.

you’re applying from, they even ask “How can we help you?” [2]

[2] https://ch.tlscontact.com/tr/ank/index.php accessed on 12.01.2023

and show you two paid options for a smoother visa application:

Prime Time Appointment (“Too busy to come to our centre during standard opening hours?”) for an extra 562.00 Turkish Lira, and

Express Courier Return (“Avoid unnecessary travel, save time, and avoid the crowds by having your passport returned to you by courier.”)** 

** I wish I could avoid unnecessary travel and not spend hours preparing a visa application and visiting a visa application centre to scan my fingerprints. Oh, here is an idea for a new work: count the time it takes to prepare for a visa application from start to end. You might name the work “statistically speaking”. My imaginary friend Georges Perec would have loved the idea.

for an extra 245.00 Turkish Lira.

I’m at the TLScontact appointment centre. Before coming here I had to take some mandatory steps [3].

[3] https://ch.tlscontact.com/tr/ist/page.php?pid=procedure accessed on 12.01.2023

Step 1: Register on TLScontact Website

Apparently all you need to register is an e-mail address, just a few seconds, and your personal data.

Step 2: Prepare all required documents according to your customized list [4]

[4] https://static.tlscontact.com/media/tr/cultural_and_sport_event_en.pdf accessed on 12.01.2023

consulate general of switzerland in istanbul. required documents for schengen visa c: cultural and sports (maximum 90 day’s), the schengen visa application has to be submitted at tlscontact: https://ch.tlscontact.com/tr/ist/splash.php please submit all documents in following order and do not staple them, visa application: duly completed (german, french, italian or english) with a blue or black pen, personally signed in the foreseen box, if your fingerprints are already stored in the schengen system an authorized person in possession of a dated and signed letter can submit your visa application, valid passport: issued within the last 10 years, minimum 2 empty pages, valid at least 3 month after leaving the schengen area, copies of passport (pages 2-3) and previous visas with entry/exit stamps non-turkish nationals: proof of residence in turkey, valid three months beyond the intended date of departure from the territory of the member states, 2 recent, identical, biometric passport pictures (not older than 6 month), statement of family register (entire family) «tam tekmil vukuatlı nüfus kayıt örneği», accident and health insurance (original and copy): signed and stamped, minimum coverage of eur 30.000.- / usd 50.000.- / chf 50.000., valid for all schengen countries and the total duration of the intended stay, the insurance must cover the costs of any repatriation for medical reasons, emergency medical care and/or emergency hospitalization, flight reservation (roundtrip), if the trip is by bus: reservation of bus ticket, if the trip is by car: driver license and «green card / triptik» from turkish touring club, proof of accommodation, evidence of financial resources: current personal and company bank statement of last 3 months, proving the source of regular income, with stamp and signature of the bank, salary proof of last 3 months, cultural event: dated and signed invitation from the organiser of the event or/ the contract concluded by the cultural service provider or/invitation to a creative work, purpose and length of the stay, details on cooperation between the inviting party and the applicant, information on who will cover the cost of the stay, contact details and position of the person signing the invitation, sporting event: dated and signed invitation from the sports club/sports federation or/accreditation confirming the participation in the sport event, information of the level of the sporting event, purpose and length of the stay, details on cooperation between the inviting party and the applicant, information on who will cover the cost of the stay, contact details and position of the person signing the invitation, supporting document from the turkish sports club or sport federation, employer and employee: original: employment certificate with company letterhead (dated and signed by the person authorised to sign): personal details, passport number, date of start of employment and function of the employee, purpose and duration of stay, length the leave and whether it is paid or unpaid leave, additional: copy of company register extract from the chamber of commerce (faaliyet belgesi), not older than 6 months, copy of signature circular of person with signature authorization, copy of statement of trade paper, copy of current tax table, sgk-entrance (sgk işe giriş bildirgesi) of the employee as well as sgk-history (sgk tescil ve hizmet dökümü), both documents must be readable and with qr code, lawyer: admission bar association (baro kaydı), farmer / agriculturist: proof of certificate issued by chamber of agriculture, retirees: proof of retirement with bank statement which confirms the retirement salary, school students: confirmation of school stamped and signed, university students: student certificate from the high education council turkey (yök) with readable qr code, minors, travelling alone: current notarial declaration of consent of the of legal representative (muvafakatname) original and copy, the original will be given back, legal representative: divorce decree with child custody or death certificate, minors, travelling with 1 parent or accompanying person: current notarial declaration of consent of the of legal representative (muvafakatname) original and copy, the original will be given back, legal representative: divorce decree with child custody or death certificate, accompanying person, valid passport and valid schengen visa, visa fee: payment: only in turkish currency and cash: adult: 80.- €, child, 6 -12 years: 40.- €, child, 0 - 6 years: 0.- €, visa fee’s for spouses of swiss or eu/schengen citizen are free of charge, the swiss consulate general reserves the right to request further documents and / or to invite the applicant for a personal interview.

Step 2.1: Complete your visa application form [5]

[5] https://static.tlscontact.com/media/tr/visumantrag-schen-2020-en-de.pdf accessed on 12.01.2023

application for schengen visa. this application form is free. surname (family name), surname at birth (former family name(s)), first name(s) (given name(s)), date of birth (day month year), place of birth, country of birth, current nationality, nationality at birth, if different, other nationalities, sex, civil status, parental authority (in case of minors) /legal guardian (surname, first name, address, if different from applicant’s, telephone no., e mail address, and nationality), national identity number, where applicable, type of travel document, number of travel document, date of issue, valid until, issued by (country), personal data of the family member who is an eu, eea or ch citizen if applicable, surname (family name), first name(s) (given name(s)), date of birth (day month year), nationality, number of travel document or id card, family relationship with an eu, eea or ch citizen if applicable, applicant's home address and email address, telephone no., residence in a country other than the country of current nationality, current occupation, employer and employer’s address and telephone number. for students, name and address of educational establishment, purpose(s) of the journey, additional information on purpose of stay, member state of main destination (and other member states of destination, if applicable), member state of first entry, number of entries requested, intended date of arrival of the first intended stay in the schengen area, intended date of departure from the schengen area after the first intended stay, fingerprints collected previously for the purpose of applying for a schengen visa, date, if known, visa sticker number, if known, entry permit for the final country of destination, where applicable, issued by, valid from, until, surname and first name of the inviting person(s) in the member state(s). if not applicable, name of hotel(s) or temporary accommodation(s) in the member state(s), address and e-mail address of inviting person(s)/hotel(s)/temporary accommodation(s), telephone no., name and address of inviting company/organisation, surname, first name, address, telephone no., and e-mail address of contact person in company/organisation, telephone no. of company/organisation, cost of travelling and living during the applicant’s stay is covered, by the applicant himself/herself, by a sponsor (host, company, organisation), please specify, referred to in field 30 or 31, other (please specify), means of support. place and date, signature (signature of parental authority/ legal guardian, if applicable).

I converted the whole form into lowercase. My imaginary friend bell hooks would have laughed.

Step 3: Make an appointment online and print your notification

“Select a convenient time for you to come to the TLScontact center to submit your organized documents.” The first available convenient time for an appointment could be in 2-3-4-5-6 weeks. Plan well for your visa application and book flights even before the details of your purpose-of-visit is set. It’s your problem if things change last minute - although they do, no? It’s your problem anyway.

“Be aware that if you don’t attend your appointment, all your personal information will be deleted later that day. To make a new appointment, you will have to re-register.” So be on time, don’t be late.

Step 4: Submit your application and provide your biometric data at the Visa Application Centre

“An experienced agent will check all your documents and ask you a series of questions, as requested by the Consulate General of Switzerland in Istanbul.”

I’m at the TLScontact appointment centre. My supporting documents are in the correct order, not stapled. The appointment confirmation email asks people to arrive 15 min early to their appointment. Upon arrival:

• The TLScontact worker shows me a list and asks me to order the documents according to that list. My documents are already ordered.
• I arrived 15 min early. The TLScontact worker noted my name down and asked me to wait outside.
• I was called inside when it was my turn, irrespective of the appointment hour, no need to say it was way later than my official appointment time. So I wasn’t late but they were. Their personal data was not at risk due to their being late.
• The TLScontact worker didn’t ask for my printed visa notification. That page, as well as the rest, is a waste.
• The TLScontact worker didn’t accept my compulsory travel health insurance document because there was no stamp on it, it was bought online. I was asked to leave the appointment centre, buy new health insurance, and come back after their lunch break.
• I went out and searched for the nearest branch of my bank and bought a new health insurance from them with a stamp on it.
• I’m back at 13:30 to bring the new health insurance document, stamped. At 13:50, they are still on their lunch break. 12:30-13:30 was supposed to be their lunch break, the sign on the door says.
• Around 14:00, I handed my new health insurance document, stamped, to the TLScontact worker.
• In cash, I paid the visa application fee: 800 Turkish Lira (87.99 CHF as of the application date), and a TLScontact service fee: 367 Turkish Lira (40.36 CHF as of the application date). The School of Commons reimbursed these fees.
• I left the premises.

Step 5: Track your application

The easiest step, from the comfort of my computer screen.

Step 6: Pick up your passport

Some weeks later.

I'm at the TLScontact centre, collecting a sealed envelope that carries my passport in it. I leave the premises, open the envelope, and check the visa page. It is approved. I am eligible to travel to Switzerland and to other Schengen countries for one year.

Visa application

2 October 2022

Ankara

A bit longer than a year after the first visa appointment, I visited the same centre again, to apply for a visa to travel to Switzerland, again.

I’m at the TLScontact appointment centre, a third party company that arranges visa appointments for the Swiss Consulate. TLScontact is a teleperformance company that has been “officially appointed by the Swiss Consulate to collect visa applications on its behalf in Turkey. As such, TLScontact is the only entity authorised to manage visa appointments for Switzerland in Turkey”. [6]

[6] https://ch.tlscontact.com/tr/ist/page.php?pid=scamalert accessed on 12.01.2023

This authorisation makes me question the business model of visa applications. While questioning, I

repeat Step 1: Register on TLScontact Website

repeat Step 2: Prepare all required documents according to your customized list 

repeat Step 2.1: Complete your visa application form

repeat Step 3: Make an appointment online and print your notification

repeat Step 4: Submit your application and provide your biometric data at the Visa Application Centre

I’m at the TLScontact appointment centre. My supporting documents are in the correct order, not stapled. Upon arrival:

• The TLScontact worker asked me to leave my phone and any other sharp objects with the security. I handed my phone, and the security guard locked it in a small box. The box was so small that my phone barely fit. They were probably designed pre-iPhones, but still during surveillance.
• Before passing the security, the TLScontact worker reminded me that all the visa fees had to be paid by cash. I did have cash with me, but I told them that on their website it is written that the fees could be paid by card. Another TLScontact worker showed up when they heard the disagreement. They didn’t believe me until I showed them the print. Aah, it’s the English version, check the Turkish version, we need to update the English version, they said, and went back in.
• Throughout the previous conversation, both TLScontact workers were speaking in UPPERCASE. I started laughing, and asked the TLScontact worker why they mimic authority. He seemed shocked by my question, we are authorised, he replied.
• After writing my name down, The TLScontact worker asked me to wait outside. I said I would like to wait inside. He said you cannot. I asked why. He didn’t reply. The other TLScontact worker showed up again, let her wait inside, she is causing problems, they said, and disappeared.
• I went inside, waiting for an agent to call my name. The security was closely watching me, as there was no one else in the room, everyone else was waiting outside. I started to scan the absurdity of the place with my eyes. I wish my phone was not locked in a tiny cute vintage box, I could have provided you with evidence. I looked to my right and saw a very large vinyl print of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [7]

[7] https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/2021/03/udhr.pdf accessed on 12.01.2023

by the United Nations. Article one, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” You read the rest, it’s linked for your convenience and pleasure.

repeat Step 5: Track your application

repeat Step 6: Pick up your passport

Some weeks later. I'm at the TLScontact centre, collecting a sealed envelope that carries my passport in it. I leave the premises, open the envelope, and check the visa page. It is approved. I am eligible to travel to Switzerland and to other Schengen countries for two years. It is my probably-fifteenth visa, but it’s the first time it is as long as two years. That’s convenient. See you in October 2024.