This question is actually borne more out of curiosity than anything else. But recently, I applied for a visa 'D' for exchange studies. Normally when you apply for a visa, you just come back after the elapsed time as stated by the embassy.
Mine took a while so I could bring the passport back but in the visa page, the embassy staff stamped it with a remark "Visa 'D'" as well as the date that the application was submitted. I was just curious as to the reasons for doing so since I can see no other benefit to it aside from informing another embassy that I am in the process of applying for a visa?
Unless the visa sticker is to be pasted over this stamp?