₦airaland Forum

jide4lagos:
I remember when I first came here to ask questions, just want to use this to motivate someone.

Everything is doable in as much as the options are there for you to choose from.

Congratulations sir!

Are you an artist or a researcher?

LafCaf:
Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share this good news with you guys!

It’s my first try at a Schengen Visa (France) and I got the Visa🎊

I applied for a 7days Tourist Visa
Biometrics was done on 10th of July, 2025
Was asked to come and pick up July 28th, 2025

I went to pick up today and I got a 1month Visa.

Thank you everyone😇

Congratulations. Do you have any previous visa like UK, US, Canada etc?

Also, it'll be nice if you can share some little info about your application (i.e. submitted documents).

Congratulations once again, enjoy your trip!

Linkz247:
aaah 3yrs long gan but anyhow wey Dem want make e be Sha... make network just dey but they should try and run on a different hosting.

MTN fit messup one day and it will also affect 9mobile simultaneously

MTN is also using some of 9mobile's infrastructure so there's really no ulterior motive for them to "messup" because it could backfire.

vital123:
Why should you port when you enjoy cheaper calls, data and sms on 9mobile. The agreement approved by NCC between MTN & 9mobile is for 3 years before any further review. No need to panic.

Exactly, I don't see why anyone should want to port. It just creates unnecessary drama when everybody starts trooping to other network's offices because "they want to port"

And, this deal between MTN and 9mobile has been in the works for long just to make sure everything will work fine when they finally roll it out for the public. With time (and conscious effort from 9mobile), all of their customers will start enjoying again.

As an avid 9mobile user like many people, I've been following this their news of roaming on MTN network. In fact, it should have been done since last year I think but due to regulatory issues (with NCC and National Assembly) which they've finally resolved.

For those who don't understand the whole deal, what it means is 9mobile will be using MTN's infrastructure that enables their (MTN own customers) to be able to make and receive calls to increase their own reach and have good network coverage and strength again.

Meanwhile, in return, MTN will be using 9mobile OG infrastructure from the early Etisalat days that were built for improved network in densely populated areas or during bad weather.

If you remember well, in the 2010s, Etisalat, unlike others doesn't suffer bad network when it is raining or in congested places like Ikeja computer village. It's because of the advanced infrastructure they had at that time.

This is what MTN too will be getting to use in return for allowing 9mobile to roam on their network.

So, it's a "scratch my back, I scratch your back" kind of deal and we the customers will be the one to benefit.

hunee:
You were denied once last year; you reapplied and got a 6month multi entry. How many times did you use this visa during that 6months?
what exactly is your purpose for traveling? This is summer period. Is your purpose for traveling relative? I always say timing and planning visa applications are important.
There would be more cases of such if people are not mindful of these theoretical questions i have raised? Even so you are a frequent traveler, time your applications.
Sorry about your refusal, re apply during winter or you can gamble visa shopping. We never can tell you be lucky again.


@Abikeadebey

Hmm. I think I'm tapping some sense from this. Basically, if you're applying in summer season, make sure your itinerary has "summer-themed activities".

And like you said, maybe this person only travelled once with their multi-entry visa. Although, there's no problem in that but visa officers can be sus in all sort of ways.

Jomacokwu:
What format should the number be? +2340708... or +234708...

The second one.

Whenever you're using +234 there's no need to put the first zero in a phone number. Although, some platforms now 'understand Nigerians' so they'll delete that zero even if you include it.

Minajesty18:
Please I need your help oooh please.
I’m stuck at Tour reservations, hotel bookings, letter of intent and travel insurance

Please I need assistance

Hi there,

Let me step in to help a little.

For tour reservations, check the websites of these companies Viator, Get Your Guide.

On their websites, you'll find book now, pay later tours. And for some tours, you have to pay now but make sure those ones are fully refundable.

For hotel reservations, check the websites of Booking.com, Agoda, etc. For hotel, you can filter by pay at the property, or book now pay later.

For travel insurance, I think the best option is still AXA Mansard insurance for Schengen countries. Although, it's relatively expensive but they offer guarantee of refund in case of visa rejection.

For letter of intent (aka cover letter), dig through this thread well, you should see some samples that you can tweak to fit your cousin's plans. Or search online for Schengen visa cover letter samples.

luvablesam:
I bought a new dell latitude 3190 from Jumia and I have been stuck on the 'let's set things up for work or school' screen for 2 days now. Please help. I have tried all my emails and it didn't work. Please help.

You're supposed to be able to only sign in with Microsoft account so any email address you're trying that is not associated with a Microsoft account will not work.

There's a way you can bypass it. Read this guide to learn how to do it

https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/install-windows-11-without-microsoft-account

LadyCaplin:
Option 1.

Make sure it is stamped and signed by the relevant officer of the department in charge.

All the best!

Thank you!

Just wanted to add that, it's just the CEO and some few staff (me and others all on the same level/department). So, is it fine if it's the CEO signing the payslip?

Morning everyone,

Let's say I'm working for a (small) company that doesn't use a payroll system. But I'm earning high enough to be able to afford traveling, how do I get a payslip?

Based on my research so far, these are the options I can think of:

1. Get the company to give me a typed break down of my monthly income for the past three months on a company letterhead. (Not sure of this but with some convincing I can pull it off.)

2. Submit my statement of account that shows my salary and use highlighter to indicate the salaries

3. Submit my statement of account without any indication and hope the visa officer will find the salaries for the period of three months.

N/B: I'm using the same account I use for my salary as my personal account so money comes in and goes out steadily. And it is this same account I'll be using it's statement for the visa application.

sirrotex:
VISA ALERT!!!
Submitted and did Biometrics on the 27th of May
Received passport return email on 20th of June
Picked up Passport on 23rd June with a month single entry visa.
Hope this rekindles someone's hope.
Best wishes to those still waiting

Congratulations!

Please share your info. First time Schengen applicant or not? Any travel history? Your personal profile (married, single, business owner, employee, etc)? Submitted documents?

I believe all these can help others too plan accordingly or so.

Congratulations once again! I hope you enjoy your travels.

Nanyavikz:
How many days would you advise to put in as a first time applicant for tourism?

From what I've read online sha, it's best to have at least 30 days before your intended travel dates.

If you're a frequent traveller and already have some Schengen visas in the past, you could even get your visa in a week but as a first timer, they'll take extra time looking into your documents so if possible send, submit 60 days ahead of your intended travel date.

There's no harm in making the time too long but it can be dangerous to make it short.

Chimzy09:
May 19.



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


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

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.

Labelle:
Got my visa today, 3 months multi. Submitted on the -13th of May. First time applying to Schengen but have travel history, plus US/Canada Visa.

Good news. Congratulations!

[quote author=CGEH post=135516786][/quote]Sorry about this dear internet fren. Better luck next time.

As per the first reason here, what documents did you submit. Was there any one that's not clear or seems shady?

I understand you might not be in the right mood for questions because of this but I'm just asking in case some of us too can learn from your experience.

CGEH:
Denied

What was the reason for the denial. Can you share the denial letter?

maziemeka2024:
Hello guys please how do I get an affordable refundable ticket for August? Even if it's not refundable, I can change the dates and use it later.

Air France have refundable tickets. But make sure you're booking the truly refundable tickets. You can call their customer care to be sure the ticket is refundable.

Someone also shared a trick for booking with Wakanow, such that you won't pay for the flight until you've gotten the visa.

auxtin1:
I am having issues with booking appointment, at the bottom of the page they asked

Fingerprints collected previously for the purpose of applying for a Schengen visa* Yes or No I chose yes because I have applied for France visa before provided biometrics they now asked under it - Date of validity from* I typed the date 11/21/2018 and they system was telling me "Date cannot be earlier than 59 months ago" Does it mean than once my biometrics is more than 5years old I cannot fill it in that I have submitted biomterics before? Should I just click on "No" and proceed. What does the "Date of validity from*" imply here? Please I need help am stuck here

Yes, once it's been long since you last got a visa you have to redo the biometrics. So, just select no but make sure to add a copy of the previous visa you got as part of the documents you'll submit.

JumaiAdama:
Highlights of my itinerary include:
• July 7: Arrival in Paris and check-in at Campanile Prime Paris 19 – La Villette,
• July 8–10: Visit Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Champs-Élysées,
Montmartre, and take a Seine River Cruise,
• July 14–16: (Paris): Musée d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Galeries Lafayette, and attend a live
performance (e.g., Moulin Rouge or Opera Garnier)
• July 18: (Paris): Final exploration and leisure shopping
• July 19: Rest day and prepare for departure
• July 20: Check-out and return flight to Nigeria.

The best practice is to type out the dates individually with one or two activities only per day instead of combining like July 14 - 16. If you're within Paris, you can have 2 or 3 activities but if you're going outside the city like the case for the day of the Versailles trip, 1 activity is fine.

Also, for some of those events, e.g. the Versailles trip, Live performance, it's advisable to always get the entry ticket, print it and add it to the documents submitted. You could also even go ahead to book train tickets to and from Paris for the days you're going outside the city and add those tickets too.

It's always recommended to book refundable tickets but you might not get refundable ticket option for some. If there's extra money, go ahead and book it even if you won't actually use it. It gives you a strong ground, especially if you're a first time Schengen visa applicant.

JumaiAdama:
Proof of Strong Ties to Nigeria

• I am engaged in an ongoing Masters program in Business Administration (Human Resources)
at Ahmadu Bello University (currently in 3rd semester).
I enrolled for the MBA Program after my Masters of Engineering (Structural Engineering).
The program was to of having a broader understanding of Human resource management which
has greatly helped in management of my company.

There seem to be a typographical error here and it appeared in your original post too but I think it's something very trivial

JumaiAdama:
• Last Visas obtained

Based on this, one can deduce that the applicant has travel history but just to be sure which countries has he been to? That will help to know if they can actually count as "travel history"

JumaiAdama:
You think appealing is a bad idea right and also looking for conference in France and reapplying won’t also look suspicious like we are desperate. What should be the next step hold on for now or re apply almost immediately and if we are reapplying how much do we need to have in both personal
And Bussines account.

Appealing is not a bad idea, but you already submitted strong documentation so you might not even know where you got it wrong, hence also not know what to appeal based on.

Don't have much experience other than this but I know for sure that applying with another country will definitely look suspicious and if you're reapplying soon it should be with France but then the general advice would be to address the reason for the rejection well.

Judging by all you said was submitted, there was no reason for the visa to be rejected so you can actually sue them. I've heard someone mentioned that but dunno how effective it is.

It'll also be nice if you can share full cover letter here (remember to redact identifiable information) for reference in case others too want to have a look at it.

Due to my inexperience beyond, I'll advise you talk to a travel agent that's versed in applying for Schengen visas. There's a lady I know who works for Ufitfly but I dunno if this thread welcomes sharing recommendations.

Recently, she helped about 3 - 4 people secure France tourist visas so it might be worth talking to her. You can approach for a consultation first and then seek her advice on the next steps too.

If you care for contact, send me a mail from my profile.




By the way, the land title documents you submitted was it the deed of assignment only or was there additional documents you added for the land?

JumaiAdama:
Hello guys,

My boyfriend just got a Visa rejection from France Embassy after 6 day of submitting application and he is a first time applicant. It is funny how we submitted all the required documents and I have been on this thread for a very long life plus I am leaving in Europe so I have a bit of experience with visa application. We had the closing balance of 40m in both his bussines and personal accounts we carefully state his source of income, award letters of contract and landed properties that he owe and many more I am really shocked that his application was refused with this reason.

I don’t know what to do gurus in the house

Kindly advise the plan is to visit Europe to see me and go back to Nigeria.

Ties to home country-I have strong and verifiable social, professional, academic and economic ties to Nigeria, which ensure my
timely return:
• I am the active CEO/Director of my company, with ongoing commitments that require my
physical presence.
• My company is engaged in official contracts with the Federal Government of Nigeria, including
the recent one with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
• I am engaged in an ongoing Masters program in Business Administration (Human Resources)
at Ahmadu Bello University (currently in 3rd semester).
I enrolled for the MBA Program after my Masters of Engineering (Structural Engineering).
The program was to of having a broader understanding of Human resource management which
has greatly helped in management of my company.
• I am an owner of landed property in Nigeria, with legal title documents included.
• I have employees and clients who depend on my leadership and availability.
• I have close family ties and responsibilities in Nigeria.

I hope other experts too will contribute on this but I'll share my opinion.

In my opinion, the second reason is the strongest one why they rejected the visa. It's just a case of "when things are going too smooth that you start to become suspicious"

So, the visa officer might be thinking that someone with 40m in their account might be looking to abscond to the country hence "reasonable doubts to return". Also, they might just be thinking you've gone to falsify some of these documents to look big.

I wish him success in future endeavours but I think for someone in his shoes, it'll be better to apply using a conference. For example, if you find a conference that spans 3 days, you can apply to attend that conference then add that you want to visit some site tourist sites after the conference, hence asking for 10 or more days.

You can search for conferences related to his field on 10times.com


Also, when doing that/reapplying, too much money is always suspicious unless you have strong travel history

djbaju:
Good morning house,
Pls can I use An E statement I downloaded, I have gotten my reference letter from the bank branch.

Yes

auxtin1:
Please does anyone have a sample of this Certificate of Employment?

Tell your HR to give you a letter of confirmation of employment. It's the same thing. If your company doesn't issue one, you can search for templates online, prepare the one you like and give it to your HR so they can put it on company letterhead and stamp it

Masorich:
Visa alert….
Hello everyone, I’m so happy. I applied for my friend’s visa, she is a first time applicant and she has no travel history. She got a 1 month visa to France.
Biometrics date: 9th May, 2025
Passport ready for collection: 16th May, 2025

Documents submitted:
Application letter
Letter of intent
Bank statements
Office ID card
Letter of employment
Confirmation of appointment by my employer
Land documents
Marriage certificate
Kids birth certificate
Family photo
Tour reservations
Flight reservation
Hotel booking
Health insurance

Hi there, Congrats!

Regarding the land document, was it just the deed of transfer/deed of assignment you submitted or it included C of O and land valuation documents?

Minajesty18:
Hello, I read through your response and I thought I ask; is it possible one uses a land property document belonging to husband but states that am next of kin, as property is in my care and my spouse is out of the country

This one is a bit sketchy ooo. For example, the visa officer might actually be thinking since the property owner (your husband) is out of the country won't you be planning to also go out of the country? (i.e. they might be suspecting that you'll overstay your visa).

If you have kids that you must return to to take care of them, then it eliminates this doubt.

I'd say, don't use the documents unless there are other strong factors you can tender and that one is just a supporting factor.

Minajesty18:
What’s Naira Card abeg?

Your normal ATM card denominated in naira that you use for day to day activities.

Arymed777:
@Hunee & Co,

Dear All,

I am a first time traveller and was able to book appointment for Lagos for 08th August, 2025. However, my proposed travel date is 28th August. Hope this is not risky considering the time for processing and departure date?

Is there any advise on this?

This is not even up to the minimum required 15 days. And for a first timer, I'll advise to have at least 30 days between your submission and travel date.

Better change your travel date if you've not submitted the France visa application form. But if you've submitted it already, I think I read above in this thread that some people called TLS asking if they can change their travel date on the printed form and they got a positive response that they can change. Not so sure, so check well in the thread or call TLS yourself.

Why not try this?

Print the old application then fill a new one and print that one too. When you get to the submission centre, submit the new one and if the TLS staff want to be difficult (i.e not allowing you to submit the new one), then go with the old one.

But I don't think the TLS staff that will receive/process your file knows your intended travel date until you've submitted your documents.

Labelle:
I would like to change my travel date from May to August. Is it possible to fill a new form and attach it with my application? This new one will have hotel accommodation and flight for August. My appointment is next week. Please advice.

sirrotex:
Congratulations Learned One. Please i need clarification on submission of documents, is it physical copies to be submitted or there is a place to upload the documents?

You'll submit physical copies only. No provision for uploading anything.

Make sure to make at least two copies of all your documents before going there. The cost of photocopy is usually higher at the visa processing centres and its environs.

Wow. Congrats!

Jane111:
Visa Type: Tourism:

Applied for 3 months with wify and we were granted 3 months exactly.

First Schengen visas for both of you.

Car ownership papers.

It's very generous of them to give you 3 months on your first Schengen visa. Did you have travel history? If yes, what and what countries?

The car ownership papers. Was it only the purchase receipt you submitted or everything that a police officer will usually ask for "Oga, your particulars" at a check point on the road.

Thank you. I'll continue to check.

Chimzy09:
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