ISLAMABAD, March 10: The visa section of the Italian embassy has made some changes in the procedures for visa appointments and all requests for immigration-related information.

The new procedures will be applicable from March 14, said a press release issued by the embassy here on Thursday.

It has also asked the applicants seeking appointments or information on procedural requirements for family reunion visa to call Italian Service Centre at UAN 111-610-610, 2879762-4 from 9am to 1pm from Monday to Saturday.

The centre will collect applications together with all necessary documents and processing fees and submit them to the embassy for further procedure.

For business visas, applicants can submit their applications directly to the embassy from Monday to Friday between 8am to 10am without prior appointment.

However, it is mandatory to each applicant to turn up in person for an interview at the embassy, the statement said. Applications by mail or through representatives will not be accepted, it added.

The service centre will also provide information on other categories of visa and attestation of documents, as specified and endorsed by the embassy.

The embassy has advised the applicants of tourist or other types of visas or people seeking attestation of documents to write directly to the embassy (fax 051-2829026 - 2275956; e-mail: segreter@embassy.italy.org.pk) to obtain appointments.

Only those requests would be processed which are complete with postal address or e-mail, or fax number of the applicants and with a copy of their passports and the letters of invitation received from Italy. “It is expedient to remind that the processing period for a Schengen visa is 10 to 15 days”, the statement said.— Our Reporter