Schengen Tourist Visa Refusal/Approval
This blog is about how I prepared and succeeded in getting a Schengen Tourist Visa, considering that I am travelling outside of India for the 1st time. I understand that many people who are planning to go aboard for holidays find applying and securing a visa to be very daunting. And that's why they go for travel agencies that promise to handle the visas. I too did the same and found out the hard way that trusting travel agents for visa is futile.
The Refusal
I planned for a holiday in Paris and Rome, booked a package with a travel agency who promised to do the visa for us (Biggest mistake). Prepared all documents and sent to the agency. After 2 weeks agency told me that our visa has been refused. So I started investigating.
Reason for Refusal: Justification of Purpose and conditions of stay
Reapplication and Success
First and foremost I learned that it is way better to do a bit of research yourself and apply for (any)visas than trusting any travel agency with this. So what are the secrets for making a successful application.
Covering Letter: The covering letter is the most important part of the application pack that you are going to be submitting at the embassy and they read it. So write the letter yourself (do not fill templates found over the internet or given by travel agents) giving a brief of your travel plans, with dates, emphasize when you'll be leaving. Clearly mention if you need multiple entry.
Documents: The objective of document submission is to assist the embassy in the determining that your intention is tourism only, you'll return to your country at the end of the trip and you have finances to support your stay. Therefore flights and hotel reservations are checked thoroughly upon submission
Submit flight tickets in and out of Schengen Area (all entry and exits).
Submit Hotel reservations and if possible email from the hotel confirming the reservations.
Note: If either flight or hotel booking is not live, the visa will be refused.
Employment/Family/Property: To prove that you have strong ties and commitments back home, mention about family in the covering letter. Submit employment letter and Leave approval from your employer on company letter head. If you have own house, any other property, car or any assets mention those in covering letter.
Finances: To prove that you'll be able to support yourself, submit bank statements for 6 months (with enough money, regular inflow of cash), Income tax returns (3yrs) and Salary slips (6 months). If you have a sponsor, same financial documents of the sponsor are required, additionally you have to show that you have access to your sponsors funds and why the sponsor (person/company) is funding your trip.
Travel medical Insurance: This is mandatory requirement. Health insurance for the period of stay, minimum EUR 30,000, from an approved insurance company. You can find out the list of approved insurance companies in India by visiting the VFS site for the country you'll be applying from (for example: google 'VFS Italy')
Note: For Schengen visa the first thing is to decide which country's embassy to apply from: And this is easy
The country where you are planning to stay for most duration or most night stays
If you are going to stay the same (max) no. of days in more than one country, then apply at country where you are first entering the Schengen area