After several unpleasant incidents and personal experiences, I can no longer resist drawing a comparison between the relatively liberal American visa regime and the increasingly restrictive European (Schengen) visa policies.

Let me cite a few recent examples that raise a fundamental question: why do major European countries — Britain, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands) treat all Pakistani visa applicants with suspicion and distrust? Why do visa officers — often junior officials — paint all Pakistani applicants with the same brush, as if each one intends to overstay or vanish upon arrival in Europe, regardless of their professional or social standing?

The Schengen Idea

The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985 and implemented in 1995, was founded on a simple but powerful principle: freedom of movement. Its goal was to eliminate internal borders among member states, enabling unrestricted travel for citizens, boosting trade and tourism and fostering deeper European integration.

However, this freedom now comes with high security expectations and increasingly strict visa regulations — even for socio-politically significant individuals. European authorities often claim that everyone, regardless of wealth or status, must follow the same process. Even former heads of state........

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