Admissibility

Article 19(1): the consulate verifies that the application was lodged within the Article 9(1) window, contains the form, travel document and photograph, that biometrics were collected and the fee paid. If so it is admissible and examined (Article 19(2)); if not, Article 19(3) requires the consulate to return the documents, destroy the biometrics, reimburse the fee and not examine the file. Admissibility is the one route to a fee refund; a refusal after examination is not (Article 16(7)). The 15-day decision clock (Article 23) starts on the date an admissible application is lodged.