Elena Marchetti
Senior Writer — European & Schengen Mobility
Immigration researcher focused on Schengen, EU Freedom of Movement, and European long-stay residence permits.
"A visa article that doesn't link to the official government source isn't an article — it's gossip."
Areas of expertise
- • Schengen short-stay (Type C) visas
- • EU Blue Card & intra-company transfers
- • ETIAS travel authorisation
- • Italian & French consular procedures
About Elena Marchetti
Elena spent seven years at an immigration law firm in Milan before joining The Visa Index in 2021 as our lead European mobility writer. She holds a Laurea Magistrale in International Relations from the Università degli Studi di Milano and reads every Gazzetta Ufficiale update on consular fees so you don't have to. Elena has personally applied for, or helped family members apply for, Schengen visas from seventeen consulates across four continents — an experience that informs every checklist she writes. When a country changes a rule, Elena's first instinct is to pull the original decree in the local language rather than trust the press release. Outside work she trains for half-marathons and is slowly learning Arabic to cover Gulf consular work more deeply.
Guides written by Elena Marchetti
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How to Get a Schengen Visa: Complete Step-by-Step Guide 2026
Everything you need to know about applying for a Schengen visa — required documents, application process, fees, processing time, and tips to maximize your approval chances.
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10 Most Common Visa Rejection Reasons (And How to Avoid Them)
Understanding why visas get rejected is the first step to getting approved. Learn the 10 most common reasons for visa refusal and exactly how to address each one in your application.