1. For the sole purpose of verifying the identity of the visa holder and/or the authenticity of the visa and/or whether the conditions for entry to the territory of the Member States in accordance with Article 5 of the Schengen Borders Code are fulfilled, the competent authorities for carrying out checks at external border crossing points in accordance with the Schengen Borders Code shall, subject to paragraphs 2 and 3, have access to search using the number of the visa sticker in combination with verification of fingerprints of the visa holder.
2. For a maximum period of three years after the VIS has started operations, the search may be carried out using only the number of the visa sticker. As from one year after the start of operations, the period of three years may be reduced in the case of air borders in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 49(3).
3. For visa holders whose fingerprints cannot be used, the search shall be carried out only with the number of the visa sticker.
4. If the search with the data listed in paragraph 1 indicates that data on the visa holder are recorded in the VIS, the competent border control authority shall be given access to consult the following data of the application file as well as of linked application file(s) pursuant to Article 8(4), solely for the purposes referred to in paragraph 1:
(a)
the status information and the data taken from the application form, referred to in Article 9(2) and (4);
(b)
photographs;
(c)
the data entered in respect of the visa(s) issued, annulled, revoked or whose validity is extended or shortened, referred to in Articles 10, 13 and 14.
5. In circumstances where verification of the visa holder or of the visa fails or where there are doubts as to the identity of the visa holder, the authenticity of the visa and/or the travel document, the duly authorised staff of those competent authorities shall have access to data in accordance with Article 20(1) and (2).