Hello everyone, I need an advice please.
We as family members of EU citizen - myself (a non-EU) spouse and my non-EU dependent mother - applied for Lithuanian Schengen visas at the visa centre as we will be travelling with my Irish wife together and benefit from Directive 2004/38/EC. Despite us asking to apply at the embassy, free of charge, w were told that it is permitted in exceptional circumstances. I know that this is not the case for family members of EU citizen.
After 1 week, embassy emailed us a form containing questions on whether we have any contact with NATO, where we did any military service, or who owns the Crimea. This form has nothing to do with us or our country of origin. That email from the embassy said the following:
In accordance with Article 21 of the Visa Code, competent authorities require additional information to assess any potential security risks to the Republic of Lithuania and other member states.
Please fill out the attached questionnaire to facilitate the processing of your visa application. You may return the completed questionnaire via email.
It is essential to include your full employment history, detailing previous and current workplaces and job positions. Without this additional information, competent authorities may be unable to evaluate any threats posed by foreign nationals to the internal security of member states, potentially leading to a visa refusal.
We responded with an email saying that the list of documents under Directive 2004/38/EC is exhaustive and politely declined to fill any questionnaires.
After 4 days, a passport of my mother arrived in post (but not mine). It was covered in stains and we were lucky that the ID page was not damaged. The cover page cannot be fully cleaned. No explanation was provided why her passport was returned or what was the outcome of her visa application, which was formally submitted.
I emailed the following day to enquire as to the outcome of her visa application and received no response.
I have submitted a complaint with the European Commission because embassy appears to breach the law (Directive 2004/38/ec and Article 21 TFEU) in making inferences on processing visa subject to filling additional forms that are not required for family members of EU citizen. Similarly, insinuations of a security threat has no basis as I previously has 2 Lithuanian visas and have no criminal record.
I am aware that EU complaints may take a long time and also submitted a complaint with Solvit Ireland.
It should be noted that Embassy was always unreasonable with us, always asking documents not required of us and our complaint with EU Commission against them was upheld in 2022. This is clearly a retaliation.
Tomorrow is the 15th day for the application to be processed. What shall I do? Our trip supposed to be in 4 weeks but everything is in disarray. Embassy does not respond to emails.
Any advice please?
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