This is very very unfair!
Very unnecessary!!!

Bigkenny:


The processing time for a standard visitor application is 3 weeks, and this is just an estimated time because some applicants get it within a few days after submission and some wait longer than the estimated 3 weeks.
 
Anyway, you should have paid for priority service since you're so impatient to wait for UKVI to decide on your application.

Some guys only have Coke money, but they are hungry for champagne.

Use klm then when it gets to payment, select pay at the bank.
You will be sent a reservation email, just print it and submit. Thats what I did. Didn’t pay a dime.

tunyuz:

Hello, yes I have gotten all the documents, but im yet to reserve flight. Can you tell me how you got your return ticket. I dont want to contact travel agent.

You can drop your email. Will send it to you.
Thanks

Teslas:
Congratulations and nice documents.

Please can you share the cover letter that contains the day-to-day details of itinerary.

Or the ⁠introduction letter that contain the day-to-day details of itinerary.

Thanks

Documents submitted:
Filled Application forms
1 passport photograph for adult
2 passport photographs for each child
Introduction Letter
Employment letter
Pension certificate
Work ID card
3 months payslip
3 months salary account statement
3 months personal USD account
No objection letter
Return flight reservation
Hotel reservations
Disneyland hotel booking
Insurance

Extras added For the kids:
Consent letter signed by both parents
Sponsorship letter
Birth certificates
Parents passport data pages
Last term school report sheet for each child

Note that:
1. Sponsorship letter had names of the 3 kids in it but photocopied into 3
2. ⁠introduction letter was done separately for each child with day-to-day details of itinerary
3. ⁠flight reservations, hotel bookings, bank statements and evidence of employment was submitted only for myself (the adult) since the applications are in one group so no need submitting one for each person.
4. ⁠insurance was from aiico and for 12 days duration. Cost us around 20k total for 4 of us.
5. ⁠children bellow 12 yrs don’t need to attend biometric. Just make sure you snap them passport according to the size on France website. 2 passports each child.

If I remember anything else then I’d add it. Or pls feel free to ask for any clarification.

Do you think it has something to do with it? This my most recent application, my insurance was only for 11 days yet they gave me 5yrs visa.
I really don’t know how they make these decisions. I fit faint if I see 2 weeks 😂

pufframmy:
on your next application try and increase your Insurance

2 weeks? Jesu! Ah! I am short of words. My sister manage it o. Better than denial.

Purpleivy:
I just got my second France Visa yesterday. Tell me why they gave me a 2weeks Multiple entry visa 😭😫 even though my first visa was 1month, I thought I would be getting more duration this time around.

How much are you earning a month that you’d spend 250k on one child? Even as adult I put 60k for myself.
I don’t know much though, speaking from my personal experiences.

solid3:


Ha, me put 250k

Despite not paying bills themselves, you should still put an amount. I put 30k for my older kids then 40k for the younger one.

solid3:
Hello people, please can child expenses per month be ₦0 since they dont pay any bills?

You’re welcome dear.
Yes I have 10yrs Uk, unused Canadian visa, valid US visa as well.
Likewise all my kids.

Marcgrace:
Hello @Blessedsteph
Thanks a lot for taking time to list all of these.
Do you also have the 10-year visas for UK, Canada or USA?

Date of submission - 10th May 2024 (4 applicants)

Documents submitted:
Filled Application forms
1 passport photograph for adult
2 passport photographs for each child
Introduction Letter
Employment letter
Pension certificate
Work ID card
3 months payslip
3 months salary account statement
3 months personal USD account
No objection letter
Return flight reservation
Hotel reservations
Disneyland hotel booking
Insurance

Extras added For the kids:
Consent letter signed by both parents
Sponsorship letter
Birth certificates
Parents passport data pages
Last term school report sheet for each child

Note that:
1. Sponsorship letter had names of the 3 kids in it but photocopied into 3
2. ⁠introduction letter was done separately for each child with day-to-day details of itinerary
3. ⁠flight reservations, hotel bookings, bank statements and evidence of employment was submitted only for myself (the adult) since the applications are in one group so no need submitting one for each person.
4. ⁠insurance was from aiico and for 12 days duration. Cost us around 20k total for 4 of us.
5. ⁠children bellow 12 yrs don’t need to attend biometric. Just make sure you snap them passport according to the size on France website. 2 passports each child.

If I remember anything else then I’d add it. Or pls feel free to ask for any clarification.

Marcgrace:
Congrats @Blessedsteph
Please could you list the supporting documents that you submitted?
Thank you.

Thank you.
You may be right. I am just thinking “what if”
I have emailed them anyway and let’s hear from them.
Meanwhile this also goes to prove that there’s no set rule to these visa stuff. Remember someone here said that after 1year visa, the next visa you get is 3yrs. So I was actually expecting 3 years for the 4 of us but look at me landing 5yrs visa just like that. Had to check the date well.

Zoey1:
In my opinion, no need.
Considering that either one day or 5years …it’s same €80 unlike UK where you pay different rates and the issuance is at the discretion of the VO.
I think you shouldn’t question this.
It’s fair enough.
Congrats again.

Passports picked up.
But there’s variation on expiry dates.
I, the mum was issued 5yrs visa while 2 of my kids were issued 3yrs visa each. But my last child who is 3yrs old was issued only 2yrs visa.
Is this normal?
I intend to write to the embassy incase it was an error.
Any input?
Meanwhile this is our second Schengen visa.
First time was 1yrs for all of us.

Blessedsteph:
Received collection mail this afternoon for all 4 applications but was quite busy at work.
Will pick up tomorrow. Will notify you all if it was successful or not.
Never been denied visa before so giving myself high hopes😂😂

Received collection mail this afternoon for all 4 applications but was quite busy at work.
Will pick up tomorrow. Will notify you all if it was successful or not.
Never been denied visa before so giving myself high hopes😂😂

Blessedsteph:
My first Schengen visa was from France. Applied for 8 days single entry for myself and my kids and we all got one year (didn’t even know it was one year initially…till I took a closer look at the dates).
The visa is expiring next month (June 2024) and we have just applied and submitted yesterday in Abuja. Will update once it’s out. We applied for 11 days single entry this time.

Congratulations! Wow French sticker…where is your point of entry?

Ikebabay:
Visa issued. 3 months multiple entry. 30 days per stay. I was surprised to see a French sticker. I thought it would be Netherlands.

Let us know when you pick up. Share details. Congratulations in advance

Ikebabay:
I submitted April 30 and got a notification today that my passport is back at TLS. Note that I applied for Netherlands through France (i.e the French Consulate processes Netherlands visa in Nigeria). My first Schengen application though I have a travel history to over 10 countries.

Hopefully, you get an application update soon.

Wow and we are here arguing about my 1 year.

Meshach171:
Not entirely true.
My first and only Schengen visa so far, I got 2 years.

And I applied for just 3 days visit.

No, they’re not. My first child is 8yrs old and didn’t require biometrics. I submitted for all for them. Just make sure you snap a clear passport in white background and in the France visa size specifics.

icu4:
Hello House, I am on the verge of applying for a france visa with my 3months old. Pls Are infants required to attend the biometrics appointment.

I’m a lady o.

mamawa123:


No argument bro

Yes that was what I concluded because I wasn’t expecting that at all.

pufframmy:
yes i thought as much, they have no doubt about you and your family with the visa on the passport Already

I have gotten it! Myself and my kids!
The way you all argue about things and insist on it as if you know it all.

mamawa123:


You saw another one today! This is going on, and no one from our Nairaland family has gotten it yet or come out to confirm it.

Anyway, I will take your word for it.

I wish we can bet on this. So I show you proof…make I chop your money. I am the proof. No be say person tell me. My visa and that of my 3 children are all 1 year and that was our first Schengen visa ever. Though I was pleasantly surprised because I also had that misinformation that they’d never give us a visa for one whole year being first timers.
Please let’s stick to verifiable facts.

mamawa123:


The procedure for getting 1 or the 3 year shengen visa is as @ashirioluwa pointed out in her comment. That is just the rule, and you can read this on the shengen visa information manual.

I’m not saying that you’re lying, but I have not seen anyone who gets a 1-year for his or her first Shengen visa application.

I know those with extensive travel history do get 3-month visa for their first shengen visa applications, not one year.

My first Schengen visa was issued for one month while that of my partner was 2-week visa.

Today, we both have 3-year visas.

The conditions for the 1year visa is not entirely true.
May 2023 was my first time of ever applying for Schengen visa, same as my 3 children. We were all granted 1 year multiple entry visa through French embassy. That visa expires next month (June 2024).
Bear in mind that in our application, we requested for an 8 days single entry visa.

Ashirioluwa:


This is the truth about Schengen 1- or 3-year short-stay visitor visas.

Applicants don't ask for 1 or 3 years on their application, but they will be automatically granted if they meet the requirements for the 1- or 3-year visas.

Applicants who wish to get a 1 or 3-year visa must apply for a short "multiple" stay visa and meet the following requirements:

For the one-year visa, the applicant must have used three short-stay visas in the last two years and can provide proof of those visas and visits to the Schengen countries.

Also, to get the 3-year visa, the applicant must have previously used a one-year visa within the last two years.

Yes, both myself and 3 kids all have 10yrs UK visit visa, US and Canada but we are yet to use the Canadian visa.
Kids been to the US only twice. I have been there multiple times in the last 10yrs. So I guess that counts?

pufframmy:
really do you have travel history to USA or Canada before?

My first Schengen visa was from France. Applied for 8 days single entry for myself and my kids and we all got one year (didn’t even know it was one year initially…till I took a closer look at the dates).
The visa is expiring next month (June 2024) and we have just applied and submitted yesterday in Abuja. Will update once it’s out. We applied for 11 days single entry this time.

Zoey1:
To the gurus and frequent travelers on here, please I’d like to ask.
1. Which of these Schengen is most generous with duration, not a first timer though.
We used to think it was France but people have been saying otherwise recently.
2. Which of them is less stressful, I know Nigerians avoid Belgium due to not getting their passport back on time etc
3. Does showing multiple itinerary months or weeks apart guarantee multiple entry?
Thanks for your anticipated feedback.

This isn’t doable! Complete your form and then appointment booking will go through. They have dates for May and June so you should probably say your travel date is August which makes sense as it’s summer time.

Marcgrace:
It displays : "The France-Visas form should be completed before appointment booking for a visa."
How can I book the appointment first before I complete my visa application form?

I doubt if this is possible.

Biggyman11:



Book your appointment first before you finish your visa application form. With that, you are sure of your dates.

Only reason number 2. The second consultant probably don’t know his job or wants to rip you off.

BigshotAsola5:
Hello everyone!
I had applied for a tourist visa to France in 2018 and I was denied.
According to the letter of denial with several reasons, my consultant said the the asterisk one is the reason for my denial..
And I think of reapplying for this Olympics game and I met another consultant who says that every reason stated was why I was rejected. I am confused. How true is this? See attachment!
I'm new here. A response will help. Thanks.

It must be separate applications. But in your cover letter, it’s okay to state that you intend traveling with your brother if the visa is granted.
You can make flight reservation for both of you (2 passengers). Print 2 copies, 1 for each person. Do the same for hotel. But you should probably book a hotel that has 2 single beds (twin room).
Since you both are adults, each person will need his or her own proof of fund, insurance and any other required document.
Good luck

Purpleivy:
Congratulations to everyone getting their visas approved.

Please I need someone to enlighten me.
I and my brother want to visit France together, are we to apply separately or I can apply for both of us under one application. If it’s one application, are we submitting documents like POF, Cover letter, assets, flight/hotel reservations, Insurance etc Separately? Or how is it done? We are both close to 30years

I have an expired France Visa that I used in March.

Thanks 🙏

How convenient!!!!!!!

Osivao:
Gurus in the house. Greetings to you all.
Please my sons visa was initially refused on the ground of sole custody which was initially included in the application.
Few months later the other party died.
So I want to re-apply again using the death certificate and the sole custody.it this advisable to use both.

Congratulations.
Please how can someone book a flight reservation just for France visa without paying full fare?
Didn’t use that service when I applied so don’t know how it works. Thanks.

Ashirioluwa:


Her application was approved, and a 3-year visa was granted.

- Application submitted on Friday, January 12
- Ready for pickup email received on January 17
- Pickup today January 18.

* She had a 1-year Schengen visa that expired last year.

Thank you.

sirrotex:
Thank God you got your visa. Have a safe trip

Already shared timeline.
Submission - 22nd September
Approval - 4th October
Never got an email so had to go to the embassy.

Documents submitted:
Introduction letter from my office
Work ID card
6months bank statement with about N3m balance
6 months dollar account statement with about 3,000usd balance
Declaration of age (was surprised they needed this)
Old and new international passports
2 passport photographs in white background
Flight booking (I paid 3k at the Turkish Airlines desk inside Voya visa)
Hotel reservation.

Remember to keep the white paper they give you after payment safely as that’s the only evidence you have that you submitted your passport with them. No acknowledgement email

My visa is single entry and valid for 3 months but 15 days maximum stay.

sirrotex:
Please also share documents submitted and timelines

UPDATE:
Today is 18th October 2023 which is about 3 weeks after I submitted my application to the Turkish embassy in Abuja via Voya visa. I went to Voya visa to withdraw the application as I have to be in Uk in about a week.
Voya visa said I have to go to Turkish embassy in diplomatic drive for withdrawal of application. Went there and joined the small crowd that came for different things. (you sit outside under a tree and chairs are limited. I stood for a while).
After waiting for about 20mins, a staff member came to attend to everyone and it was quick.
Came back and told me my passport had been ready for over 2weeks that he’s surprised I didn’t receive an email for pick up. Wrote the date and asked me to go back to Voya visa. Went there and picked up my passport with visa.
The overall experience was stressful for a country I plan to visit just for 3 days. It’s not worth the stress.
Plus the cranky and very rude chubby lady at the reception acting as if she’s the consular herself.
Anyway, for your info: passport collection is only at 2pm, if you go earlier you will stand outside the gate and wait.
This information is not on their website or anywhere. You find out at the gate.
Overall, voyavisa services is very terrible and needs to be scrapped. I won’t go through such stress again

Blessedsteph:
My application experience at Voya visa Abuja
I submitted my application today 22nd September 2023.
I went on Voya visa website to get an appointment.
Then from the checklist, I gathered all necessary documents.
* they claim appointment is from 9am to 2pm but at 11:30am, they stopped letting people into the premises. Only those already inside will be attended to.
* Please ensure your bank statement was printed a day before your appointment. I was sent back to bank because mine was about a week earlier.
* you can do flight and hotel reservations there. I paid 3,000 naira just for flight reservation.
* printing is expensive there at 500 a page so pls bring everything you need including the appointment confirmation page
* total I paid was $205 and it’s paid in cash there. Ensure the dollars notes is from year 2013 and above. I had a 100 dollar note from 2009 and they rejected it. Had to pay 3,000 to change the dollar to a recent one outside there. They said 5k so I bargained down to 3k.
* the process took me about 2hrs plus ups and downs. The form is easy and just a page.

I will update timeline when and if my visa gets granted. I applied for single entry tourist visa.