Portal do Cidadão - Delay in processing visit visa application embassy of Portugal new delhi India

Dear Sirs
It is with regret that I put forward this complain about the handling of a Schengen visa application (visiting family member residing in member state) by the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi India which contravenes the EU guidelines stipulated in relation to processing such applications. EU guidelines states that such applications must be dealt with in 15 days of receipt however this is not being adhered to by the Embassy in Delhi. My mother Ratanben Sorathia date of birth 12/18/1949 bearing Indian passport number U4509532 has applied for a family visit visa to Portugal to visit me Vijaycumar Capdi.
I am a legal resident in Portugal under D7 category. Her plan was to visit me and then visit her other family members in the UK during this summer holidays. After being given the appointment on 06/30/2022 at VFS Ahmedabad she applied on that day, her application was sent to the Embassy for processing on the 07/01/2022. The travel dates were set to 07/22/2022 – 08/22/2022 in Portugal and accordingly travel arrangements were made i.e., the tickets were purchased, and travel insurance arranged as advised by on the Embassy website, other travel arrangements to and from and within the UK were also paid. No decision has been received so far. An email was sent to the Embassy on 07/22/2022 seeking the reason for delay and requesting to process the application at an earliest, no response has been received. It has also come to our attention that the applications in the same category that were received before my mother's application are also pending. While it is appreciated that the Embassy is facing an unprecedented number of applications for long-term national visas from countries in subcontinents however that cannot be a valid reason for holding applications of short-term visa applications governed under the Schengen rules. The other member states are delivering decision in timely manner as seen from other friends and family's experience. If the Embassy intended on holding short term visa applications for any reasons, then such intentions should be published and the applicants ought to be informed in advance, so that they can make an informed decision whether to apply or not to avoid disruptions in their travel plans also in such events the Embassy should refrain from holding the applicant's passport while their application could take long to process, doing so restricts the applicant's freedom of pursue their travel plan; in our case my mother cannot travel to the UK to visit other family members because her passport is being held by the Embassy for processing of a Schengen visa which should have been processed within 15 days. I hope the matter above will be resolved as soon as possible. Sincerely V Cumar