A fresh exchange on 31 July 2026 in the r/SchengenVisa forum reveals unofficial benchmarks for Belgian long-stay (D) visas filed through VFS Global in India. Applicants shared timelines showing an average of 40–45 days between the FPS Foreign Affairs’ email registration and a decision by the Immigration Office. One user, who lodged papers in Delhi on 22 June, remains without an update five weeks later, prompting worries about missing university orientation. Belgian consulates outsource biometric intake to VFS centres, but once files are couriered to Brussels, decisions rest solely with the DVZ/OE. In peak months (June-September) the department receives thousands of student files alongside family-reunification and work-permit cases. Although Belgian law allows up to 90 days for a visa decision, universities expect non-EU newcomers to be on campus by late August for housing check-in and Dutch/French language tests. Education-sector relocation specialists advise students to pay tuition deposits early and collect attestation letters that can be shown to border police if arrival is delayed until after classes begin. Some universities have started emailing “late-arrival certificates” that satisfy landlords and insurers. Meanwhile, corporates sponsoring trainee programmes should anticipate that any dependants applying as “student-family” may face the same backlog. With no formal fast-track, the only lever remains filing complete dossiers—especially proof of funds and recognised diplomas—to avoid a so-called “Annex 15” request for additional documents, which pauses the clock. Mobility teams should track each applicant on the DVZ status portal and plan arrival flights flexibly until final approval is stamped in the passport.
Source: Reddit r/SchengenVisa
