How to Get a Schengen Visa (3)

In my last two articles on this topic, I have explored six steps to getting a Schengen Visa. This is the concluding part of the article. Enjoy it!

7. Prove that You Need the Visa You are Applying For: Getting a visa is not easy (I must confess). If you doubt me, ask those who have been refused visa many times without any tangible reason after all said and done.

Sometime last year, I read an interview in a newspaper which a consular said it is not their responsibility to give visa to applicants. If this is anything to go by, you will understand the reason why embassies are refusing their applicants visa. Every country is restricting access (entry) to its country. That is the more reason why you have to convince the consular or embassy beyond reasonable doubt that you need and merit the visa that you are applying for.

If you really wants to get a visa, there are about (3) conditions that you must fulfil. They are called “ties.”

(i) Family Ties: If you are single (unmarried) or a minor, you can hardly get a Schengen visa except your parents is travelling with you or you are going for study purpose or you have rich travel history or you are holding a foreign passport. These are some of the conditions that you can get a Schengen visa if you are between the age of 16 and 25 (and unmarried). Even if you are an adult and married or you are above the specified age, the Family ties is important to the embassy as they would like to know, “Who are you? What do you do? Do you have a family? Are you responsible? Are you a dependant or self-sustaining? If you cannot fulfil this condition, you are not likely to get a visa.

(ii) Work Ties: Are you gainfully employed? Where do work? What do you do as a person? Do you run business of your own or do you work with a company or organization? They need to ascertain these too before giving you a visa. If you run a business of your own you need to show proof by providing a certificate of incorporation. If you are working with a company or organization, you need to be get a reference from your company all that.

(iii) Country Ties: Among other things, the embassy would also like to know what would bring you back to you home country after getting a visa. Of course, your family, work, business, children, relative, etc are some of the things that would make you come back and not “disappear” if you are given a visa. These are some of the things or pre-conditions that the embassy would like to ascertain before giving you a visa.

8. Filling the Schengen Visa Application Properly: The Schengen visa application says a lot about the visa applicant. You can make your visa application successful or mar your chances of getting visa (even for life) with the information you provide on the two-page or four-page visa application.

This form has a lot of information about you (the applicant), where you are working, your family, your inviting organization (or host), your sponsor, your source of fund and the type of visa you are applying for. So, it would do you a lot of good if you take time to fill the form meticulously by providing the right information needed. If you think you are not knowledgeable in filling the form you can seek the help of a travel agent or consultant.

9. Book a Visa Appointment: After this, you need to book a visa appointment. Some embassies have ‘walk-in’ interview – you don’t need to book an appointment. Just make yourself available for the interview.

10. Pray: Having done your own part by crossing the ‘I’s’ and ‘t’s’, it is important to commit it to the hand of the Almighty God to do His part. With your visa application in His hand, your Visa is sure.