Interview for a Swiss Tourist Visa?? What does the visa officer want to ascertain?

Question

I wish to travel with my family of two adults and a 9 year old kid for a week to Switzerland. On submitting my tourist visa application with all documents requested, I have been asked to appear at a personal interview at the Swiss Embassy at New Delhi? Am curious to know what they want to know at this interview.

Answer 1

You will need to bring:

- hotel, flat or holiday house reservation with complete address

- travel ticket (air, rail, bus /coach to and from Switzerland or via Switzerland to final destination); package tour confirmation by travel agent; car registration and insurance, authorisation from the owner if this applies) and hotel reservation

They are just checking that you are who you say you are, you aren't going to violate the conditions of your visa (such as work), that you have sufficient funds for your stay and that you are of good character.

If you are traveling to Switzerland after November this year, you may travel freely anywhere within the Schengen borders (mainland EU plus the EEA countries) as this is when Switzerland plans to implement the Schengen visa. This also means that visas issued by other governments in the Schengen are also valid for travel to Swizterland.

Answer 2

The usual:

How long you will be going.

Where you will be staying.

Why you are going.

How are you financing this trip

And of course, that you will return home at the end of your stay.