How to successfully apply for a Schengen visa.

The more accurate and truthful your visa application is, the higher your chances of success; however, there is no guarantee otherwise.

Responding to reader Thùy Minh's question about which country has the highest chance of success in obtaining a Schengen visa, a representative from a Hanoi-based travel company offering visa services stated that "there is no guarantee of success when applying for a Schengen visa." Embassies and consulates in European countries all have their own principles for visa processing.

However, the director of a company specializing in European tours said that they usually advise clients to apply at the French embassy. "Among the Schengen countries, France has the most welcoming policy for tourists. Therefore, the success rate for tourist visa applications is high. There are many flights from Vietnam to France, so this is one of the reasons many people choose to fly to France first before traveling to other places," he said.

The Netherlands is the second choice after France, as it also has a high tourist visa approval rate. However, after Covid-19, appointment times for application submission and fingerprinting are limited, so more people are applying for visas to France. Therefore, waiting times are longer. It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to book an appointment and about 2 weeks for the results.

Things to keep in mind when applying for a Schengen visa:

- The choice of which country to enter with a Schengen visa depends on your itinerary. Note that you should apply for a visa through your first country of entry or the country where you plan to stay the longest. For example, if you're traveling to Europe for two weeks, including 6 days in France, 4 days in the Netherlands, and 4 days in Italy, you should apply for a visa through France. Your flight should also be to France first. If you apply through the Netherlands but enter France first, your chances of getting a visa may be lower.

- Honesty is the most important condition and the deciding factor in whether or not you will be granted a visa. If embassy staff discover any dishonesty, you may be permanently denied entry into the Schengen area, regardless of how many times you apply for a visa.

- Consistency of information is also crucial. Visa applications, both initial and subsequent, must be consistent. For example, if you've traveled to Europe before, your first Schengen visa application should be submitted by your travel agency, while subsequent applications should be submitted independently. Any discrepancies between these two documents could result in visa rejection.

- Having a lot of assets doesn't guarantee a visa. Many Vietnamese tourists often make the mistake of trying to prove their own and their family's wealth when applying for a Schengen visa. They might borrow money to put into a savings account. However, sometimes this inaccurate proof of income can lead to inconsistencies in the application.

- When submitting your visa application, remember to be on time and behave appropriately. Your conduct at the embassy or visa office will partly determine your chances of success.

- In case of visa rejection, each embassy will provide an explanation of the reason. Travelers can use these reasons and their own evidence to file a counter-appeal with the embassy.

- In Vietnam, TLSContact is an authorized center for receiving visa applications to France and Switzerland. BLS International handles Spanish visas with a maximum stay of 90 days. VFS Global accepts applications for short-term visas to the Netherlands... For other cases, travelers should contact the embassy or consulate of their respective country.

Tam Anh

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