Hey all!

My girlfriend is Turkish. Until she turned 25, she held a Turkish green passport (hususi pasaport), which let her travel to the Schengen area visa-free. She's aged out of that now and needs to apply for a regular Schengen visa to visit me in the Netherlands.

A few questions for anyone with relevant experience:

1. Does her (extensive) travel history in Europe (built up while she had the green passport) help her case, or make consulates less strict with her application?
2. When applying, can we request a longer-validity visa (eg, a multiple-entry visa valid for, for instance 3 months, letting her come and go as she pleases), or do we need to specify exact travel dates for a single trip on a first application?
3. Basically: is there any way to leverage her travel history to get a more flexible/longer visa, or do we have to stick to specifying exact dates for a first-time (as a "new" applicant) visa?

Any insight — especially from people who've dealt with Dutch/Netherlands consulates or similar cases would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot in advance!

Denied under point (10), the information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable.

• Flights booked and paid for
• Accommodation & excursions booked but pay later.
• Travel itinerary for the 7 days
• Motivation letter for multi entry for 6 months, showing plans to travel later this year (hotel booking)

Flights booked for 4 weeks time, not much time to allow plans to change.

Anyone had success with appealing, any advise appreciated!

Hi everyone,

My parents are visiting me in Sweden on a short-stay Schengen visa. Their maximum allowed stay ends on September 10th, but their SAS flight home to India is booked for September 11th via Copenhagen (CPH).
This means they will face exit passport control at CPH on Day 68—a 24-hour overstay.
Rebooking the tickets or buying new ones is astronomically expensive right now, so I need to find another way to protect their travel history.

My questions:

1. Short-Stay Visa Extension: Has anyone successfully gotten Migrationsverket to extend a regular Schengen visa by just 1–2 days due to flight schedules? Do they ever approve this for "strong personal reasons," or is it strictly for medical emergencies?
2. Danish Border Enforcement: How strict are the Danish police at CPH with a 24-hour overstay? With the automated Entry/Exit System (EES) active, will a 1-day discrepancy automatically trigger a fine or future visa ban, or do guards show flexibility if shown the airline itinerary?
3. Are there any other Swedish or Danish administrative workarounds for a 24-hour gap that I'm missing?
   Thanks for any insights

I have been selected into the EMJM MATHS-DISC program for 2026/2027 intake, and will be starting at University of Verona in September this year. I’m an Indian citizen, but I have done my bachelor’s from the USA, and have been residing in the USA for past 4.5 years on F-1 visa. My USA visa is about to expire in December, so I need to apply for Italy Student visa from my home country India. I just have a few questions:

1. How can I satisfy “Proof of Education” requirements? From my university in the USA, I have official diploma and official transcript. If I get CIMEA, do I still need additional apostille/attest?

2. Since I have resided in the USA for last 4.5 years, do I need additional documents other than the visa checklist to assist my application?

Please help!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a Europe trip from India and wanted practical advice from people here.

My itinerary is:

1 Oct: Delhi → Amsterdam
1–2 Oct: Amsterdam, Netherlands — 2 days
3 Oct: Belgium — 1 day
4–5 Oct: Paris, France — 2 days
6–8 Oct: Zurich, Switzerland — 3 days
9–10 Oct: Interlaken, Switzerland — 2 days
11–14 Oct: Italy — 4 days
15 Oct: Return to Delhi from Italy

So country-wise:

Netherlands: 2 days
Belgium: 1 day
France: 2 days
Switzerland: 5 days
Italy: 4 days

Since Switzerland is where I’m staying the longest, my understanding is that I should apply for a Schengen tourist visa through Switzerland, even though my first point of entry is Amsterdam.

I have zero interest in visa shopping. I’m only trying to follow the rule of applying through the country where I’m staying the most. I wanted to start in Amsterdam simply because I’ve always wanted to visit Amsterdam first, and I have already booked my Delhi → Amsterdam flight.

My concern is practical: I’ve seen online debates where people say immigration/border control may question travellers if their Schengen visa is issued by a country different from their first entry point.

So my questions are:

1. Is this itinerary okay for applying through Switzerland?
2. Is it normal to enter through Amsterdam with a Switzerland-issued Schengen visa if Switzerland is the main destination?
3. Should I carry anything specific at Amsterdam immigration to avoid issues?
4. Should I seriously consider cancelling/changing my flight and starting from Switzerland instead, or is that unnecessary?

I don’t want to risk a rejection or immigration issue, so would appreciate practical advice from people who have done something similar or know how this usually works.

Thanks!

Bls spain gave me a visa. They lost my passport. And now wont give me a new visa on my new passport unless I go through the appointment process. Even though I already got the visa. Now i have to miss my flight.

Good Day,

I applied on the 4th of June for a single entry into Spain via BLS Manchester, and unfortunately I’ve had no update. Status on their tracker still says ‘processing at mission’.

Does anyone know how I can get in touch, I’ve tried to email both BLS and the consulate to no reply, and when I’ve tried to call I’ve had no answers either.

Has anyone got their visa processed?

Hi everyone,

I recently got my Spain Schengen Tourist Visa approved, so I thought I'd share my complete experience in case it helps someone.

Timeline

• Appointment booked: 30 June 2026 – 10:00 AM (BLS Bengaluru)
• Reached BLS: Around 9:30 AM
• Token called: Almost immediately
• Entire process (document verification + biometrics + payment): Around 15–20 minutes
• 30 June: Application status changed to Processing at Mission
• 2 July: Received SMS saying Passport dispatched via DTDC
• 3 July: Passport delivered with visa

Overall, the process was surprisingly quick.

Documents I submitted

Mandatory Documents

• Completed Schengen Visa Application Form
• Original Passport + Passport photocopies
• Passport-size photograph
• Cover Letter
• Confirmed round-trip flight booking
• Hotel reservations for the entire stay
• Travel itinerary
• Travel medical insurance (€30,000 coverage)
• Employment Letter + No Objection Certificate (NOC)
• Last 3 months' salary slips (company-stamped)
• Last 3 months' original bank statement (bank stamped & signed)
• ITR-V acknowledgements (last 2 years)
• Self-attested PAN card copy
• Registered rent agreement

Additional Documents I carried

I also carried these, but BLS did not collect them:

• CDSL Demat Holding Statement
• Company ESPP Holding Statement

So don't be surprised if they don't accept investment statements.

Bank Balance

My closing balance was around ₹4 lakh. (4200USD)

The BLS officer was mainly looking at the latest balance and completeness of the statement. My statement ended up covering about 4 months because my original 3-month statement was missing a couple of days.

Cover Letter

I included:

• Purpose of visit
• Complete itinerary
• Employment details
• Approved leave
• Travel history
• Mentioned that my parents are financially dependent on me
• List of enclosed documents

Kept it concise (2 pages).

Interesting incident

On the same day I submitted my visa application, Kuwait Airways cancelled my confirmed flights due to operational reasons.

I was worried because those were the tickets I had submitted with my application.

I did not email the consulate or book new tickets immediately. I waited for the visa decision first, and my visa was approved without any issues.

Visa Granted

• Type: C
• Entries: Multiple
• Validity: 23 Aug 2026 – 20 Nov 2026
• Stay: 30 days

Hope this helps someone preparing their application. Happy to answer any questions about the BLS Bengaluru process or the documents I submitted.

Good luck to everyone applying!

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for people who have actually been through something similar.
My fiancé is a UK citizen who was deported from Norway and received a 5-year Schengen entry ban after serving a prison sentence (5 months but he got released after 3 months).

We fully understand why the ban was issued, and we’re not trying to argue with the original decision.
Since then, almost 2 years have passed, and his life has completely changed. He returned to the UK, has stayed out of trouble, is studying, and has a potential job opportunity waiting for him in Norway if he is eventually allowed to return.
Our lives have also changed. We are now engaged and have an almost one-year-old son together. I live in Norway and I’m an EU citizen from another European country.

From what I’ve read, it seems that after two years it may be possible to apply to UDI to have the entry ban lifted if there are new circumstances.
- Has anyone here actually done this?
- Were you successful?
- What kind of evidence did you provide?
- Did having a child or family ties make a difference?
- Did you hire an immigration lawyer, or did you prepare and submit the application yourselves?
- Is a lawyer worth the cost, or is it realistic to write the application directly to UDI if you have good supporting documentation?

I’m looking for both legal advice as much as I’m hoping to hear real experiences from people who have been through this process.

Please be kind. We know the mistakes that were made in the past, and we’re simply trying to build a stable future for our family.
Thank you.

Is the Turkish Airlune Flexible H. H class Ticket 100% refundable?

I saw in their Fare rules it was stated " Full Refundable ( before the first flight) but still i can't trust.

Has anyone already such experience?

Hi, I'm from Pakistan. I applied for a Visit Visa to Finland through the Netherlands embassy Islamabad but it got rejected on the basis of doubt that I will not return back to my home country. The purpose of my visit was to be there for the birth of my sister's first child and to provide emotional and practical support for her. My intended travel dates were end of August to mid November, 83 days exactly. I am thinking of reapplying or filing an objection to the refusal. However, the timelines is tight and I need to make a decision soon. What should I do?

Hello, I am Armenian and i have a visa with 1 entry Germany. I need to see my lover urgently, so I couldn't wait longer to have an appointment for the Italian Embassy, so I applied for the German one and i get my visa.
I have a flight on 8 of July. I will arrive in Germany at 11:00 and I have a FlixBus at 15:00 to go to Italy. I want to know how bad is it and what problems can it cause.

Thank you so much for every comment.

Hello everyone,

My second post here. I wanted to get an opinion on travel history and its importance when applying for a Schengen visa (Switzerland, Belgium and Amsterdam) for my parents. In the past 5 years they have only traveled to Georgia and my father has been to China for work. Does this make their application weak by any means? According to the agent there’s about 60:40 ratio of approval and we should act quick on it. The dates are available for France and Switzerland if we plan to go late September.

Me (overseas) joining them on this trip could work as my paperwork is much stronger, we have been advised to submit my paperwork with their application. Or is it better to adjust the itinerary and add maybe Czech republic/Austria along with Swiss instead? All of this is has me stressed

Any thoughts?

My Spanish partner and I (Philippine passport holder with an EU family member residence card) will travel to Ireland soon.

As Ireland is not in Schengen, I attempted to submit a tourist visa but the embassy withdrew it stating I am visa exempt.

As you hold an EU Family Card, you are visa exempt and we cannot issue a visa. We will proceed to withdraw your application. Please read the following information.
Persons who hold a residence card issued under Directive* Family Member of EU/EEA citizen,* or which states the* Directive,* Article 10, Article 20, on the card, are visa exempt and, as such, a visa will not be issued to those persons.

Has anyone been in the same situation? How was the boarding process at the airport? How was the immigration process upon arrival in Ireland?

Hi,

I just received my Denmark visa(vignette on my passport)

I would like to know if I have anything further to do like e-visa linking to passport etc.

Thanks.

Hello,

I’m seeking advice regarding the French financial requirements for a long stay (12 months) visitor visa.

Can anyone who has experience (who has applied and received it or has consulted a lawyer) give some advice, please?

I’ve spoken to a few different lawyers and received conflicting opinions, so I’m hoping to hear from people who have gone through the process themselves.

Basically, I have around €14,000 in liquid funds in my bank account, and approximately €100,000 in fixed deposits/time deposits. My understanding is that France generally expects applicants to demonstrate funds roughly equivalent to the annual SMIC (around €17k-18k depending on which rate is used).

I’m wondering:

1. Is it acceptable to leave the fixed deposits as they are and simply provide statements showing both my liquid funds and deposits?
2. Would it strengthen my application if I broke one of the deposits and transferred enough into my bank account so that I have around €18k or more in liquid cash?
3. Has anyone successfully applied using fixed deposits or other savings that weren’t immediately sitting in a current account?

I’ve received different advice from different lawyers. Some have said the deposits should be perfectly acceptable as they’re still my assets, while others suggested it’s better to have the required amount sitting as liquid cash before applying.

Any advice or personal experiences would be much appreciated!! thank you!

my appointment is one week from today!

Hi everyone, so i have a french student visa( long stay schengen visa) that starts from the 20th. My school is in Lille. Can i use this visa to enter belgium on 23rd, making it my point of entry in EU ?
since brussels and lille are very close, it makes it easier for me to travel.

Hi,

One of my friend was originally planning to visit France and applied for Schengen Visa from France. Due to a change of plans, she is now planning to visit only Spain and will neither enter nor visit France during this trip.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Were there any issues at immigration or when applying for future Schengen visas if the issuing country wasn't visited at all?

Thanks,

I don't work right now because i haven't found a job yet. I do have family and friends in France, the Uk and germany.

my question is : what's the minimum amount in my bank (without big deposits few days before the trip) i can have in my bank account to get approved, is it preferable that i apply for a family or tourist visa, and is italy & spain safer? I can meet family there and than be active the schengen area (i want to comeback to my home country, no intent on staying)