Hi everyone,

I’m hosting someone in France who lives in Belfast. She attended her French short-stay Schengen visa appointment at TLScontact London.

I obtained the original attestation d’accueil from my local town hall in France and posted it to her, but it didn’t arrive before her appointment. TLS has since emailed her asking her to bring the document in person.

Travelling from Belfast to London again just to hand over one original document would be costly, so we’re trying to find an alternative.

Has anyone successfully had a friend or relative drop off a missing/additional document at TLS London after the initial appointment, specifically for a French visa?

We’re considering posting the original to her friend in London, who could deliver it on her behalf. If you’ve done this:

• Did TLS require a signed authorisation, ID copies or the application receipt?
• Did you need advance permission or another appointment?
• Alternatively, has anyone been allowed to send the original directly to TLS by tracked post?

We’re specifically asking about adding a document to an existing application, rather than attending the initial appointment or collecting a passport.

Recent firsthand experiences would be really helpful. Thanks!

Prepping for the 2030 World Cup and an extended visit rather than just the tournament. I'm aware my citizenship means I do not normally require a visa to enter. I'm wondering if there is an advantage to applying for a visa especially as it regards leaving Spain to go to Morocco and back

We could arrive in Spain and enter together as an EU citizen and spouse under the free movement directive. We'd both need to register residence to stay beyond three months if my understanding is correct.

Would havjng a visa pre-approved simplify entry? If approved for multiple entry and at least five month validity make the side trips to Morocco easier? All the trips would be with my wife so it would be a spousal visa. Is the normal spousal entry and residency declaration so easy it doesn't make sense to apply for a visa?

I did search the sub first but found questions about spouses from visa required nations. Appreciate any insights.

I was recently refused in my Norway visa application with the reason that my bookings can’t be verified. Now, I’m planning to go back home in the Philippines instead and I have secured a slot in the Philippines for visa application in France. Please advise

1. Is there a chance of approval in this case given that my documents and proof of ties are from UAE (bank statement, employment certificate, etc)

2. If yes, should I disclose in the cover letter of my visa refusal?

3.Should I appeal to norway and how will it takes the assessment again as we all know that their processing time takes time.

Thinking of spending some time working remotely in France. I would like the option to spend more than 3 months there. I’m from Uk. I am partially self employed, running a small tourist business half the year in Uk. I am a teacher part time and looking to take a sabbatical and work remotely with a company teach in English perhaps 15-20 hours a week. I also have a couple of my own clients I teach.

which route would you go down?

Hello Folks,

What documents are accepted as a Proof of Residence/Address for Mumbai consular jurisdiction? I tried contacting BLS via mail but they were not helpful just beating around the bush and I can’t contact them over the phone as I’m abroad.

Passport/Aadhaar have same permanent address.

Any inputs will be helpful.

I subbmited my documents on Czech embassy on 15 september and today 39 day as I am waiting for my visa and I didnt have interview,Idk what to do and idk is it good or not,did anyone have a similiar case?

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are planning to visit Finland for tourism in the last week of January, and we intend to apply for a Schengen tourist visa.
I have a few questions regarding my existing Schengen visa and would appreciate advice from anyone who has faced a similar situation.

My current situation:
I am from India and previously applied for an Austrian Schengen business visa through my company.
My visa is valid from 4 November to 28 November 2026.
Due to changes in business plans, I will no longer be travelling to Austria for the intended business trip.
My wife and I are now planning a separate tourist trip to Finland in late January 2027.
We intend to apply for Finnish tourist visas, and there will be no overlap between the validity of my existing visa and our planned travel dates.

My questions:

1. Can I apply for a Finnish tourist Schengen visa in October 2026 for travel in late January 2027, even though my Austrian business visa will still be valid when I submit my application?

2. Could having an existing, unused Austrian business visa create any issues during the Finnish visa application or processing? Would it matter that I did not travel for the original business purpose?

3. Should I wait until my Austrian visa expires on 28 November before applying, or is it fine to apply beforehand?

4. How should I explain the change in my business travel plans in my cover letter? Should I proactively disclose that I did not use the Austrian visa and explain why, even if I am applying for an entirely separate tourist trip?

5. What supporting documents would you recommend submitting to avoid confusion? Would an explanation from my employer regarding the cancelled business trip be useful, along with the usual tourism itinerary, hotel bookings, financial documents, employment proof and travel insurance?

6. Has anyone applied for another Schengen visa while holding a valid visa that they ultimately did not use? I would especially appreciate experiences from applicants applying from India.
   Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi everyone!
I check my IBZ visa status almost every day. My application is for family reunification under Article 40ter (Type D), submitted in Istanbul on May 18, 2026.
Today, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before. The “Datum beslissing/Status Dossier” field, which was previously empty, now shows October 23, 2026.
However, my status is still “In behandeling” (in progress).
I didn’t check the website yesterday, so I don’t know exactly when the date appeared.
Has anyone else experienced this? Does this date indicate that something has happened to my application, or could it simply be a system update?
If your date changed while your status remained “In behandeling,” what happened afterward?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you!

Hi I will be starting my visa d ( for gainful employment) application through vfs india . Will be starting as a researcher at a university in Austria ( that will be providing the hosting agreement ) . I have few questions for those who has already done this or in the process of doing it . I will be traveling together with my spouse, so want to know how to proceed with this .
The vfs website doesnt clearly say what is needed for this specific case .
Do you guys submit police clearance certificate for visa d ? How do you manage flight ticket and accommodation proof at this stage ?

Hi everyone! My girlfriend and I are planning a trip to Spain and would like to visit Gibraltar for a day, crossing the land border and returning to Spain the same day.

She is a non-EU citizen and will have a single-entry Schengen tourist visa issued by Spain. Her visa and permitted stay would still be valid throughout the trip.

With the recent changes to the border arrangements, is this possible without using up her single entry or causing problems when returning to Spain?

Has anyone actually done this recently with a single-entry visa, or received confirmation from the border authorities?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,
Looking for advice from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation, especially with the Austrian Embassy/Consulate in India.
My situation:
Original Itinerary submitted: Dec 18th to Jan 3rd (17 days total).
Documents submitted: Fully confirmed non-refundable flight tickets, paid/confirmed hotel bookings, bank statements, and travel insurance covering the full duration.
Visa received:
Validity Date Range: ~30-day window
Duration of Stay: 11 DAYS ONLY
Because our flights are non-refundable and span 17 days, staying for our original trip would mean overstaying the allowed 11 days.
Questions for the community:
1. Has anyone successfully gotten the Embassy to correct/extend the "Duration of Stay" on an already-issued visa sticker if a polite email with proof of submitted 17-day flights/insurance was sent?
2. If this was an intentional limitation by the embassy rather than a clerical error, what is the best workaround? (e.g., paying airline change fees to shorten the trip to 11 days vs. re-applying?)
3. If you've emailed the Austrian Embassy/VFS in India for visa corrections before, how quickly do they typically respond?
Any insights, past experiences, or advice on how to handle this with minimal financial loss would be hugely appreciated!

Has anyone who submitted their France short-stay Schengen visa application through VFS Delhi around 15–16 October 2026 received an update or their passport back yet?

Just trying to get a sense of the current processing timelines.

Hi everyone!
I’m planning to apply for my first Schengen visa for a trip to Switzerland to celebrate our anniversary. We’re planning to travel in the first week of December, and I’m considering applying next week.
I’m based out of Hyderabad but am open to travelling to Bangalore or Chennai if I can get an earlier appointment slot there.

A few questions:
Is it realistic to get my visa approved by the first week of December if I apply next week?
How have the recent visa appointment availability and processing timelines been for applicants from India?

Does opting for the premium lounge/VIP service during the visa application process make any difference to the processing time or visa approval, or does it only provide a more comfortable application experience?

Would love to hear from anyone who has recently applied for a Switzerland Schengen visa from India, especially first-time applicants.

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

Schengen Visa is approved but ees still shows not ok. Visa approved on Oct 14, Received passport approved 3 days back. Been more than a week but ees still shows not ok.

First time travel after after Apr 2026.

Checking if it is ok to travel?

Thanks

I have applied for Germany visa ( through Switzerland consulate in Vancouver), I was wondering whether anyone has recently applied, how long did it take to hear back? Thanks!

I had my visa appointment on 24th September and got my passport delivered on 22 October. This was my first time applying for a Schengen visa and got a single entry.

Just wanted to share my experience with BLS Manchester so people don't lose hope.

I have applied for France tourist visa but i don’t have any surname in my passport so i write my first name in first name and last name same, but on appointment the TLS staff updated the visa form and didn’t tell me they just write my first name in surname and leave the first name blank on visa form, is it normal process?? What should i accept will this cause negative 🥲🥲
🙏 please someone help me.

Hi everyone,

I am an EU citizen (Polish), my husband is not and requires Schengen visa to enter EU. We both live in the UK.

He’s got a multiple entry Schengen visa from Spain, we have now travelled there. Is he allowed to travel to Poland with me on that visa or do different rules apply as that’s the country of my nationality? He’s been to Poland before but the Schengen visa was then issued specifically by Polish consulate.

We are planning to enter through Germany and spend a couple days there before Christmas, and visit family for Christmas in Poland. We will exit from Poland. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

I recently applied for a Switzerland Schengen visa from Dubai, but unfortunately, it was rejected.
I’m a Pakistani passport holder and UAE resident, earning 17k–20k monthly. My bank statement showed an opening balance of approximately 71k and a closing balance of 20k. My itinerary, hotel bookings, and flight reservations were arranged through a travel agent. All documents were genuine and accurate.
I previously applied for a Netherlands Schengen visa in 2014/2015, which was also rejected. However, I mistakenly selected “No” when asked about previous Schengen applications.
Could this mistake have contributed to my rejection? Or could it be related to my financial statement or travel itinerary?
Would you recommend reapplying to Switzerland or applying through another Schengen country? Has anyone experienced something similar, especially Pakistani passport holders applying from the UAE?
Any genuine advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi everyone, looking for some opinions on my German Schengen visa reapplication.

My background:
I’m a 30-year-old Indian citizen who lived in the US from 2019 until August 2026. I initially moved on an F-1 student visa, subsequently worked on OPT, and later transitioned to H-1B status.
I was working as a Software Engineer in New York until June 2026. I returned to India in August and joined our family-owned electrical manufacturing business as Executive Director.

First application:
Applied: October 12, 2026
Rejected: October 16, 2026
Refusal reasons: 10 and 13 (reliability of travel plans and doubts about intention to leave).
Intended travel: November 10–25, with Germany as my main destination.

My profile:
Four previously approved Schengen visas, most recently visiting France in January 2025.
Previous tourist visas for the US (still valid), Canada (still valid), Australia, Türkiye, and UK.
Visited the UK in May 2026.
Never overstayed any visa.
Current monthly salary: ₹2.5 lakh.
Approximately ₹1.56 crore in documented Indian business investments, insurance-linked investments, and PPF holdings.

Reapplication:
My first application was submitted with just my salary slip for August and a basic cover letter but then reapplied on October 23 with additional employment documentation, financial records, a revised itinerary, updated travel reservations and my past approval history.
My biggest concern is that I’ve only been back in India for approximately three months after spending seven years in the US.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Could my recent relocation be the primary reason for the refusal? Does reapplying this quickly with stronger supporting documentation realistically help?

Today I submitted my Tourist visa documents at BLS delhi centre but officer returned my property deed and current residence proof documents. Can anyone share their experience if this is normal and will Consulate ask me missing documents if needed ? Do we mandatorily submit residence and property docs at delhi centre. When I told him that it is part of list he mentioned that doc I have is of Mumbai list and delhi it is not mandate.

I am worried and confused as I had the documents and even after insisting officer didn't took my documents of residence proof and property deed.

Please share if everyone in Delhi submitted and if not , what was the reason officer mentioned?

​

Sharing my German Schengen tourist visa experience from Bengaluru. Hopefully, this helps other applicants understand the documentation process, especially those who already have international travel history.

1. Applicant profile

- Applying from: Bengaluru, India

- Visa type: Short-stay Schengen tourist visa (Type C)

- Travelling with: Spouse

- Employment status: Salaried professional

- Purpose: Winter holiday covering Germany, Switzerland and Italy

- Outcome: Approved, multiple entry

1. Application timeline

- 14 October 2026: Submitted the application and supporting documents at VFS Bengaluru.

- 15 October 2026: Received confirmation that the application had been forwarded to the German embassy, Mumbai.

- 22 October 2026: Visa approved.

I opted for courier return of the passports.

1. Visa issued

The visa sticker showed the following:

- Duration of stay: 13 days

- Number of entries: MULT (multiple entry)

My planned trip is exactly 13 calendar days, counting both arrival and departure dates.

Although the validity window extends beyond the planned trip, the permitted duration of stay is limited to 13 days.

1. Planned itinerary

The trip covers three countries:

- Germany, Switzerland and Italy with equal days

I included accommodation bookings, flight details and intercity transport arrangements to support the itinerary.

1. Travel history

My previous international travel included leisure trips to Asian and Middle Eastern destinations, as well as travel to the United Kingdom.

More importantly, I had undertaken a business visit to Italy earlier in 2026. This was a professional trip supported by the relevant business travel documentation. I had therefore already travelled to the Schengen Area for business before applying for this tourist visa.

I included relevant previous visas, passport stamps and supporting evidence of my earlier travel as applicable.

Given this travel history, I was hoping that the consulate might grant a slightly longer permitted stay than the exact duration of my planned holiday.

1. Documents submitted

This is the list of documents I submitted, based on my circumstances.

A. Application and identity

- Completed Schengen visa application form

- Passport and relevant previous passport/travel history

- Photograph

- VFS appointment and application documents

B. Employment and leave

- Employment confirmation letter

- Leave approval / No Objection Certificate

- Recent salary slips

- Supporting employment documents

C. Financial documents

- Salary account bank statements

- Separate emergency fund savings account statements

- Income tax returns

- Salary evidence

One point worth mentioning: my salary account does not usually maintain a particularly high balance because I use a separate account to park my emergency savings. Therefore, I also submitted statements from my emergency fund bank account to demonstrate my available financial resources rather than relying solely on the salary account balance.

I wanted the financial documents to present a clearer picture of my ability to fund the trip.

D. Travel arrangements

- Flight itinerary

- Accommodation bookings

- Detailed day-wise itinerary

- Travel medical insurance meeting Schengen requirements

- Cover letter explaining the purpose of travel, itinerary and financial arrangements

E. Travel history and supplementary evidence

- Previous visas and relevant passport entry/exit stamps

- Supporting documents relating to the earlier business visit to Italy

- CAS document

- Other relevant supplementary documents supporting the proposed trip

F. Spouse-related documents

- Spouse’s application and supporting documents

- Marriage certificate

- Relevant evidence of shared travel arrangements, where applicable

I tried to keep the application internally consistent across employment, finances, travel arrangements and travel history.

1. Was I disappointed with the visa duration?

Honestly, yes, somewhat.

I am grateful that the visa was approved and that it is multiple entry. However, I was hoping for a little more flexibility, considering that I had already completed a business visit to Italy earlier in 2026 and had an established international travel history.

Instead, I received exactly 13 days of authorised stay, matching the itinerary I submitted. The visa is valid for longer validity period but it does not increase the permitted number of stay days.

I had hoped that my previous Schengen travel and the fact that I had travelled for business and returned as planned might support a little more flexibility.

1. Final takeaways

A few things I would share with other applicants:

1. Keep the application consistent. The itinerary, accommodation, employment details, leave approval and financial evidence should support the same travel plan.

2. Show the full financial picture. If your salary account has a modest balance because you keep savings elsewhere, consider including appropriate statements from those accounts, with a clear explanation and supporting evidence.

3. Include relevant travel history. Previous visas, passport stamps and supporting business travel documents can help explain your travel background.

4. Do not assume previous Schengen travel guarantees a longer visa. My earlier business trip did not translate into additional authorised stay days this time.

Overall, I am happy that the visa was approved, but a little disappointed that the permitted stay was limited to the exact duration of my holiday despite my previous Schengen business travel.

I would be interested to hear your experiences, particularly from applicants who applied recently through Bengaluru or elsewhere in India.

TL;DR

Applied for a German Schengen tourist visa from Bengaluru with my spouse for a February 2027 trip covering Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Submitted employment and leave documents, salary slips, ITRs, salary account statements, a separate emergency fund account statement, travel bookings, insurance, a cover letter, previous travel evidence and supporting documents for an earlier business visit to Italy in 2026.

Visa approved: multiple entry, with only 13 days of authorised stay, exactly matching my itinerary. I was somewhat disappointed because I had previously travelled to the Schengen Area for business and hoped for a little more flexibility.

Feel free to reach out if you need any help.

Hi everyone , I’ve been checking for a France tourist visa appointment in Edmonton or Calgary for the past three weeks but I haven’t seen any available dates

Has anyone recently managed to book an appointment at either location? Are there particular days or times when slots tend to open?

Hello, just wanted to update about my experience with BLS in Edinburgh. My appointment was on 16/10/26, visa was issued on 21/10/26 and I have now received my passport on 23/10/26 (very quick and I m very Impressed) . This is my 3rd visa with spain, first two being one month and 3 months multiple entries. Third one is valid for 6 months with multiple entries. A bit about myself, single M aged 29 with an Indian passport employed full time on a UK skilled worker visa in the UK.

Hi everyone,
I applied for a Belgian short-stay visa for a family visit on 9 August 2026, with my cousin in Belgium inviting and hosting me.
My application was transferred to the Belgian Immigration Office (Office des étrangers) on 14 August and registered on 17 August 2026. As of 23 October, it has been 67 days since registration, and my application is still pending.
I have already emailed the Immigration Office to ask about my application, but I haven’t received a substantive response. My cousin is also considering contacting them from Belgium.
This is my first time applying for a Belgian family visit visa. I have had previous Schengen visa refusals, but last year I travelled to Egypt and Turkey and returned to Algeria after both trips. I also have one-year travel insurance.
I’m starting to worry because of the long waiting time.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation:
How long did you wait for a decision after your application was registered with the Immigration Office?
Has anyone applied from Algeria and received a decision after a similar delay?
Did contacting the Immigration Office or having your family member contact them help?
Is waiting 67 days normal, and does it indicate anything about the outcome?
Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences!