The article and their website explicitly say that for the majority of people, the application is processed within minutes, unless you’re on an interpol/europole watchlist and/or have a lengthy criminal record. The fee is $8/person, and if you can afford a plane ticket to Europe, $32 for a family of 4 is a drop in the bucket. And with the exception of business travellers, most people should be planning their trip well in advance.
As someone from the rest of rhe world it is that bad. Sometimes you can’t get a visa in time. Costs are crazy, especially for a family.
The article and their website explicitly say that for the majority of people, the application is processed within minutes, unless you’re on an interpol/europole watchlist and/or have a lengthy criminal record. The fee is $8/person, and if you can afford a plane ticket to Europe, $32 for a family of 4 is a drop in the bucket. And with the exception of business travellers, most people should be planning their trip well in advance.