Unveiling the German Visa for Indians: My Remarkable Experience at VFS Chennai!

Location of VFS Chennai

If you’re getting ready for your VFS appointment to obtain the German Visa for Indians and feeling a little nervous about the experience, I’ve written this blog to provide you with every detail, ensuring you have a more comfortable visit. In this blog, I’ll be sharing my experience at VFS Chennai, where I had my appointment in mid-May 2023 to obtain the German Visa. Located at Ethiraj Salai, Egmore, Chennai, VFS Chennai is approximately 1 kilometer away from LIC metro station which is easily approachable from Airport or Railway Station by Metro.

Pre-Visit to VFS Chennai

A month prior to my appointment, I visited Chennai VFS to inquire about slot availability and booking. Although they couldn’t provide me with specific slot information, I gained a good understanding of how the appointment system works.

VFS Appointment Day

Reaching the VFS Chennai Center

My appointment was scheduled for 1:30 PM, and I arrived at the VFS center by 12:30 PM. Upon reaching the gate, a security guard checked the time and informed me that I would be allowed in at 1:15 PM. Make sure to have your passport and appointment letter copy readily available.

Is Premium Lounge really required?

I showed them to the security guard and entered the gate around 1:10 PM. Inside, VFS staff members approached me and informed me about the premium lounge and its benefits, trying to persuade me to choose that service. They mentioned that non-premium lounge users might experience longer waiting times. However, I decided to opt for the regular service, as I was comfortable with a potential wait. In my opinion, pay for Rs. 2,363/- for refreshments and free photocopies only if you can afford the extra expense; otherwise, the regular service without additional charges is perfectly fine. Just ensure that you have all the required documents with you. Additionally, there is a photocopy shop located outside the building that can cater to any emergency requirements.

Can you carry laptop or tablet to the VFS Center?

The VFS staff will guide you to the 3rd floor of the VFS office, which handles Germany visa applications. On reaching, there will be another security check and they will verify your appointment letter and passport. They have a list of appointments and will mark your arrival. It’s important to note that laptops or tablets are not allowed inside, but, if necessary, you can deposit them for a fee of Rs. 300/-.

Process inside the VFS Center

Verification of Documents

After passing the security check, you will be issued a token number. Once inside the waiting area, a TV display will show the ongoing token numbers and their corresponding counter numbers. In my case, my token number was called within a minute, and I proceeded to the designated counter. Having organized and signed all my documents, I handed them over to the staff. For the complete list of documents for VFS, do check out this article about documents for VFS. It also has sample documents like Letter of Motivation, Cover Letter, etc.

Verification of Biometric Size Photos

They arranged the documents in a different order than the checklist I had prepared. The staff then requested my biometric photos. Although I had taken my biometric photos with a grey background as per the checklist, they insisted on a white background due to scanner issues. They directed me to a photo booth on the 2nd floor to get new photos taken. After rechecking all my documents and confirming they were in order, I was instructed to go downstairs for the new photos. This process took approximately 15 minutes, and by then, it was 1:30 PM.

I went to the photo booth, where I got new photos taken and paid Rs. 200/- for four copies. This process took an additional 20 minutes, and by now, it was around 1:50 PM. Returning to the 3rd floor, I was instructed to wait for the biometrics process. I waited for nearly an hour before being called in.

Biometric Process (Fingerprint Scanning)

After being called in, an officer guided me to a chair and conducted initial verifications in front of a camera. They asked me to raise my arms, flip them, state my name, date of birth, and the purpose of my visit. It was a straightforward process. The officer then checked the photos for compliance. Unfortunately, the photos provided by VFS didn’t meet the specifications, so the officer asked me to get proper ones again. I informed the photo copy guy about the issues with the previous photos, and they promptly provided me with four new copies. Returning to the officer, everything was in order this time.

The officer scanned the photos, and I was informed that the process was completed for the day and that I can leave. I completed the entire process and left VFS Chennai around 3:15 PM.

Additional Tip!

Also, since you will not use the courier service provided by VFS, you will be informed that if you have already paid the courier fee online while booking the slot, you can send an email to “Info.germanlongterm@vfshelpline.com” to cancel the courier service and request a refund.

That’s a wrap! I hope this information was valuable.

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