₦airaland Forum

mrbourdillon:
Has anyone successfully completed their appointment at TLS after booking the appointment with a slightly inaccurate passport number (eg using letter O instead of number 0)? Will they allow me correct it during my appointment ?

From past experiences, they insist on you booking another appointment with your correct passport number; no O for 0 allowed. Unless that has changed very recently.

Lekan2348:
Okay I understand you now but that is not recommended. If you use air France to Switzerland by default, you would not be stamped at your stopover which would be in France. But you can actually decide to leave the airport because it’s still the same visa for France & Switzerland (Schengen) but this is highly discouraged because it is recorded that you entered Schengen through France and not Switzerland. So you may encounter problems when applying for Schengen again.

This is actually incorrect. If you are traveling to the Schengen zone with a connection in a country within the zone other than your destination county, you get stamped at that country which is your first point of entry into the area.

For example:
An international flight of a country in the Schengen Zone like Air France will get to France first before you join another flight to your final destination. You will pass through passport control and be stamped in in France, then you will board another Air France flight (regional) to your final destination where you will get your luggage without passing through immigration again. Same applies to leaving, if you use Air France from say Venice to Lagos, you will be stamped out in Venice even if your flight still lands in France before you connect to the one taking you to Nigeria.

You only get stamped in at your destination country for flights on airlines like Turkish, Ethiopian, Qatar, etc., because they are not in the Schengen zone.

Your earlier “New York with a connection in France” analogy does not work because the arrival gate and route is different for those traveling within Schengen. (Edited to add that you can decide to go into France if you have a valid Schengen visa, in which case, you will clear immigration and get stamped in when you leave the airport and out again when you go back to join your flight to New York)

okeleye200:
please house , how I go pick date .. I click on the time but it not moving or telling me to confirm my appointment time and date please someone to help .

Look for dates highlighted in blue. Those will be the available ones. All the best.

Nanyavikz:
Sorry just to confirm. You mean you used the Mutual Benefit Assurance for your travel insurance for France?

Yes. 3 times.

Nanyavikz:
Hello people.

I have two questions please and I hope someone can guide me.

1. Is it fine to print the Visa application form in black and white or must it be colored?
2. Can I use Mutual Benefit Assurance for my travel insurance. I mean is it accepted? Want to use it because it happens to be the cheapest I have seen so far.

Thanks in advance 😊

1. Yes you can. They didn’t even collect mine in Abuja. They printed a new one bearing the biometrics date. I can’t say for Lagos, as I didn’t ask my people
2. Yes. I used it earlier this year, and my cousin did as well.

Malevonent:
Many thanks, really appreciate your incisive response .
I learnt the TLS office in abuja was sealed by fccpc, wonder if thats why early dates are a bit scarce.
The news said germany and UK tls office...
I wonder if the TLS is operating from 1 location in abuja for UK and other schengen countries

Omo, all the 29th july dates are gone...only 31st july remaining...just checked now 12.40am june 23rd
Anybody knows the day they release new earlier dates,?.us visa used to be sunday evening or friday mornings

ALSO PLS CLARIFY THAT ONE CANT CHANGE DATES AFTER MAKING PAYMENT, IE IF I PICK THIS 29TH JULY OR 31ST JULY DATE, THAT I CANT CHANGE TO AN AN EARLIER DATE WHEN/IF IT BECOMES AVAILABLE

Lol that’s true. I wrote about the temporary closure when it happened and completely forgot to put that into consideration while responding. The closure could be a factor; however, they are working on it.

Yes TLS handles France, Italy, and Belgium, while UK is at VFS.

As regards rescheduling, I have never tried it because a message pops up after you click on the reschedule tab, informing you that you’d lose your current booking and have to pay again. I have not been bold enough to find out whatever that means, and people I know typically just forfeit and rebook.

Malevonent:
Changed numbers and tried sms, it worked.
Now the issue i have is..only july 29th and 31st date available for abuja....and my travel date is 19th aug

Is it best to pay for the dates and keep checking to change dates (is this possible?..on the US visa appointments this is possible)....or to hold on without paying and keep checking.


Lastly if i take the gamble to go on with the july 29th date. Would the embassy deny my visa if the date has passed...or perhaps they would bump up the visa issue/commencement date from when it was issued
Do advice on best option pls.

1. You may proceed with the 29th…risky but not impossible. It is about 13 business days from your travel date. Average turnaround time in Abuja is 7 business days — not set in stone, and definitely on a case by case basis. I got mine in 3, and people I know have gotten their passports back within 4-7 days. Hopefully, you don’t intend to prepay for your flight, so you allow a wiggle room in the event of a delay

2. Only pay when you have a suitable date. Dates open up often, and you may get a date even for this week.

3. No to both questions; as long as it is for tourism.

Malevonent:
Am stuck here.
Otp never comes, tried sms and whatsapp option.
Pls what could i be doing wrong?

Try SMS

cretin:
YOU KNOW why it was sealed?
strange it wasnt in the news,
wonder the cause

It was on blogs yesterday and now in today’s papers.

TLS Office in Abuja has been sealed off by FCCPC till further notice 😮‍💨

firebreather:
Thank you for sharing your timeline. Did you explicitly request for a multi-entry visa or it was just at the discretion of the visa officer?

Also, kindly recommend sites you use for book now, pay later tours. I'm not getting much credible results from Google.

It wasn’t mine, my cousin’s.
It was at the VO’s discretion.

Tours- Getyourguide dot com or tripadvisor dot com

patricia23:
Congratulations!! When did your cousin submit?

May 19.

Marcgrace:
Hello @Chimzy09

Congratulations to your cousin! Could you please provide a list of the documents your cousin submitted?
Does your cousin hold any previous visas for the UK, US, or Canada?
Thank you.

pufframmy:
Congratulations
is the person a frequent traveller?
can you share the document submitted thanks

None of those visas, not a frequent traveler, but has been to Asia and about 5 African countries.. documents will be listed below.

Nanyavikz:
Please what did he/she do differently? And how long does france visa typically take. I am applying for the first time as well and need all the help I can get. Thanks!

Took about 15 business days from submission till the passport pickup - 18 when you include the 3-days holiday earlier this month


Documents
Dummy flight booking
Accommodation (pay at property)
Insurance
Reserved tour tickets (pay later)
Explanation letter
Employment contract/leave letter
3 months payslips
3 months bank statements (personal and savings)
Reference letter from bank
Coloured photocopy of previous stamps in passports
New and old passports with the stamps

Chimzy09:
Please has anyone who submitted between May 19-23 in Lagos received their passport? My cousin is starting to get worried.

Update: Cousin picked up Passport on Friday. Granted 3 months, multiple entry. 1st time applicant .

Marcgrace:
Hello @dennis201

I just checked TLSContact Abuja, but the only available slots are in September. It seems I may not be able to change or select a different submission location since I already specified the TLSContact center in Lagos on my application form.

Keep checking, dates open up. You might even get a date for next week.

mrbourdillon:
The delay is probably because of summer peak season. They do not observe Nigerian holidays, only French ones like Easter and Christmas. My issue date on my last visa 1st April 2025 which was Sallah.

Just have same patience. The good news is coming.

Nice to know . Congratulations on your visa renewal 🙌🏽

patricia23:
Submitted 23rd.Nothing yet. I'm equally worried, but I'm guessing the delay is due to the public holidays.

Yes, the holidays added 3 extra business days

Please has anyone who submitted between May 19-23 in Lagos received their passport? My cousin is starting to get worried.

julietlulu:
I submitted since 9th May. Still in progress. I am confused.

diehard:
How long does the embassy hold unto our passport? I submitted since 12th of May and I'm still waiting

I believe Lagos may be relatively slower than Abuja. I got my passport back after 3 days. Frequent traveler though.

maziemeka2024:
Hello house,

Is it a must to include business account, when you are funding your trio from personal account?

No. For a business name, Just your business registration documents and introduction letter will suffice.

Marcgrace:
Hello!
Has anyone had experience filling out this section of the France visa application form, and is it required?

You can describe why you want to visit france and any activity/places you’d like to do/visit. Don’t write your itinerary, and also why include Germany and Denmark?? Malmo is in Sweden, by the way…a long ways from France.

.

.

firebreather:
I'll keep checking on France

When I checked for my sister, I saw June 23 in Abuja, which was close to her travel date. I waited and checked again and got May 14; perhaps someone cancelled. You may be lucky too

puffmama:
Not necessarily, my last 2 applications, my travel insurance was for 7 days only and I was given one Yr.

I didn't get a one Yr till after my 3rd schengen visa.

cucumbar:
not necessarily true.

I submitted a 14 days insurance, requested for 14 days but was granted 90 days multiple entry.

More likely because it is his first shengen visa .

This wouldn't apply for Italy...nice to know France does not look at insurance. I always submit 1 year though.

cucumbar:
not necessarily true.

I submitted a 14 days insurance, requested for 14 days but was granted 90 days multiple entry.

More likely because it is his first shengen visa .

Keyword possibility...not that it was 100%

iamDozzy:
Silent observer here.

Just got my Visa

Submitted 7th March

Gotten 19th March - Picked up 20th

10 days multiple entry. First timer.

Submitted


Insurance ( 10 days )

Congratulations. I'm sure there would have been a possibility of you getting a longer duration if you submitted an insurance policy with a longer validity period...given your current and past visas. Please put this into consideration next time.

beautyuche:
Good Morning, Guys.
Good news..I received my passport today

Application Date- 24 January
Visa Granted- 6th March
Passport Received- 11th March

Congratulations!

SimbiEbune:
I am trying to complete my France visa form. Please does anyone know the current available date for tls Abuja appointment?

cc

hunee:
Vfs are the ones that truly understands this visa thing. how do you fill form first then later book an appointment? Anyone has idea of recent appointment date for ABUJA? Both first timers and frequent travelers. Please advise, anyone?

April 17 for frequent traveler

.

beautyuche:
I have sent them almost 10 emails none responded to them. This is just unfair.

Please check your email, I sent a request.

beautyuche:
Please clarify that I can send a mail requesting my passport from the Italian embassy to submit to Canada while they can continue the process and when ready to issue visa I can submit my passport back.

Requesting for your passport = withdrawal/cancellation of application.

beautyuche:
I submitted 24th January
Response 3rd February ( earl morning Monday morning)

This same thing happened to my brother. Italy had his passport when Canada requested for his passport after his biometrics. Just do the Italian Consulate an email explaining why you need your passport within 25 days.

However, this is your 13th work day, so I'm hoping that with or without the email, your passport will be ready by next week; though an email will help expedite it. I do not think you should withdraw your passport just yet I miss the days decision came faster - My passport for my first Italian visa was returned 5 days after submitting in 2022 (you can imagine my shock lol), 2nd and 3rd took less than 15 work days.