Echinedu1:


No, wait for "document is ready for collection"..status

Newmum0615:
We submitted on the 23rd of December, received it on the 13th, yesterday via courier. The delay was probably due to the holidays in between and also courier distance from Lagos to Calabar.

Echinedu1:


from my own experience my father submitted is passport on Monday and was told to come back after 2 weeks but by Thursday night ..i have a ghost update from cic and l check his online application and i see the line for Document Status with document counterfoil ..so i track the application on vfs website and it passport status updated ..so l contact the vfs on Friday morning and l was told the passport is available for collection and it was picked up on Friday and visa issued

Newmum0615:
Hi everyone,

My dad's application was approved today. Applied on the 15th of October, Biometrics done 23rd October. Biometrics Validity letter update 19th of Dec (don't understand the purpose of this letter), Passport request letter received 20th Dec. I thank God. It was silence all through, and they stuck to the 64 days timeline. E be like say dem remain say Christmas na next week and they rushed it out.

So, for those that have used VFS Lagos, I know that someone can submit the passport for him, but can someone collect on his behalf. He is not in Lagos and I don't want him spending flight money to go and collect the passport. The VFS site states that someone can collect for him but I have heard from people that they don't allow it. Can someone with experience confirm please? Also, where can I download the VFS Consent form? I can't find it anywhere on their site.

Thanks.

purplerain1:
They are currently not issuing visas for birthing also if you apply for visit or tourism, you either get called on the phone or an interview, if you are pregnant, you get banned 5years





A refusal it was.
Applied Nov 2nd
Refused : January 6
Based on family ties in Canada and Nigeria and also purpose of visit
Majority have been refused but don’t come back to tell.
For those applying next,your application should be tight,I don’t know how else tho or mybe applicants should write to embassy and ask if Canada is still going on birth tourism at this point.
Success to those waiting!

dilodavid:
You can make use of 3 months bank statement for your visa application. It's better to make use of a concise 3 months bank statement than to submit 6 months bank statement with inconsistent transactions that might lead to refusal. I hope you understand.

DMainMan:


You don't need to book any flight.

Also, your disposable income in this instance is 230k. When doubled, it is more than twice your budget. This is very good. You can also lessen your monthly expenses to 60k if it reflects in your bank statement. If not, leave it as it. It is very okay.

Converting your current budget to pounds which gives 829 pounds (oanda rate)

Now what you need is to write a succinct letter of introduction and also detail your itinerary as below
for an example:
Using Oanda conversion rate of Nov 19, 2019.

Flight (economy return) from Muritala Muhammed Lagos International Airport to London Heathrow Airport (please see attached reserved flight ticket) 218,000 naira (462 pounds)
Public transport and taxi from airport to hostel: 25 pounds
Public transport and taxi from hotel to airport when going back home: 25 pounds
Hostel Accommodation for 7 days: 40,000 naira (84.8 pounds)
Feeding: I have budgeted 20 pounds per day. For 8 days i.e including the day of departure, therefore, it is going to160 pounds.
Transportation within: I will purchase Oyster weekly bus and tram ticket for tourism. Will love to visit museums, Buckingham Palace and other lovely sights: 21.20 pounds
Miscellaneous/Unforeseen expenses: 51 pounds

Total: 829 pounds

Include all necessary documents and illustrate your home ties and supporting documents.

Good luck.

iyaaliyah:
I have a running US visa, been to up to 5shenghen countries, SA, UK and some African countries that I don’t think count. balance was about 1m plus. I think 1.1m. In salary account and about 35k I’m personal account. Documents submitted 1. Bank statement - salary account and personal account. Insurance, dummy hotel (I did free cancellation) and flight bookings, appointment letter, letter of introduction from office that’s all.

iyaaliyah:
Okay, I got the visa-multiple. It took about 4/5 working days. Submitted on Tuesday 5th November. Received a message that passport is ready for collection yesterday Tuesday,12th November.
Wish everyone waiting for theirs good luck!

SA44LA44:
Hello fam, this is just to give back as i see that a lot of persons are not willing to write about their visa application process to Italy.
I am presently on a business mission to Italy and i applied for a tourism visa (type c) for my wife and it was granted on a virgin passport (1st time traveller - although she had been to dubai on her previous passport, but we didnt mention it in the application neither did we submit the previous visa or visa stamps on her previous passport). Her stati schengen multiple entry visa was issued for six months

She did her biometrics in vfs abuja on 17 October and by 25 October a decision has been made and her passport was delivered by UPS on 31 October to the address she used in portharcourt.

The following documents were submmited;
ITALIAN VISA APPLICATION FORM
TWO IDENTICAL PASSPORT PHOTO
VALID INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT
COLOURED COPY OF BIO DATA PAGES OF INTERNATIONAL PASSORT
BIO DATA INFORMATION
SCHENGEN TRAVEL IINSURANCE - go schegen travel insurance
ROUND TRIP ITINERARY - Got 3 weeks confirmed booking from https://www.flightreservationforvisa.com/
PROOF OF ACCOMODATION - i sent her my hotel accommodation documents
PROOF OF MARRIAGE – MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
COVER LETTER - she wrote about her intentions and requesting for multiple entry plus assurring them that she is aware of the 180/90 rule.
VACCINATION RECORD - e-yellow fever card with records of yellow fever, meningitis, OPV innoculations.

then i supported her with the following documents;
LETTER OF EMPLOYMENT
LETTER OF INTRODUCTION FROM MY HOME COMPANY
SALARY ACCOUNT BANK STATEMENT
MONTHLY PAY SLIPS
LETTER FROM MY ASSET MANAGEMENT COY SHOWING MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENT
EXTRACT OF MY CONTRACT
MY NULLA OSTA
COPY OF MY ITALIAN VISA - type D
INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT DATA PAGE
COMPANY IDENTITY CARD
AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT - Letter showing my support for her to come stating my financial position and immigration status.

total amount paid was N33,350
Visa fee = N20,600
VFS fee = N8,200
Courier fee = N4500
Nipost fee = N50

my advice, if your intentions are good and you have all the pre-requisite documents, visa application processes are seemless. Explain in your cover letter to the consular officer all that you intend to do during your stay and how long you wish to spend. Then back them up with as much documents as possible that show your honesty..Thats all.

Good luck Guys!!

pufframmy:
you have to book a date not like before u go direct and submit

hageebola101:


They don’t accept land receipt.....only A Certificate of Occupancy (CO),Deed of assignment

Globetrotter101:



I don't know but I think you want more details on purpose of visit and to me that means what your cover letter should cover...so my little insight goes thus:


1.First introduce ur self stating your name,name of your company, your position in the company, what the company does, make reference to show evidence of your company's registration which u have submitted. Evidence of your company's activities

2.Second paragraph should talk about the trip, what it means to you or your company, what you would gain from the trip,its importance. What you intend to do there during your stay

3.Here on the third paragraph, state how u intend to fund the trip, from where the money is coming from with references

4.Now on this paragraph state places you intend to visit ,mention names and addresses, also state where you would stay

5. Conclusion, state your Itinerary like from where you intend flying from and your first point of contact. Then your subsequent activities with time schedules until you depart and then mention your destination after departure with references to your flight Itinerary.

I hope this helps somehow

richcasey:
Approval Alert!

I read through the 72 pages here before i applied, I'd travelled to the UK twice in the past and a daily reader of the canada visa thread, so I'm familiar with the visa processes but not for schengen so I had to read through because with these Visa Officers you just can never know.

I plan visiting my fiancee in the Netherlands and then proceed to France to attend a film festival in which my film has been selected to show.

*You do not have to go with the originals of anything because you're not gonna get your documents back, make colored photocopies of everything. You will only get your passport back after you application has been processed.*

Documents submitted
-Completed signed schengen visa form
-registration receipt -you get this after completing your form online.
-Passport photograph - do make sure this is the required size as I was delayed at the submission center and asked to take a new photo just because my face appeared smaller in the photo I took there.
-Invitation letter (My purpose of travel was to attend a film festival in Paris where my Film had been selected to screen but I decided to stop first in The Netherlands to visit my Fiancee and we drive to Paris from The Netherlands). So I submitted invitation from Paris and from my fiancee.
-My fiancee's passport data page
-Pictures of us together.
-Pictures of our whatsapp call log (I didn't add our chats because it's private)
-Health insurance from Mansard. ( I covered for 21 days even though i planned to use 14days.
-My fiancee's tenancy agreement for I stay with her in The Netherlands and an unpaid but confirmed booking of my hotel in Paris.
-My father sponsors my trip so I submitted his
Statement of account
Company registration papers
Passport data page with Visas to USA, UK etc
His share certificates to other companies
Sponsorship letter from him on his company letter head
-My employment letter
-Leave letter
-Cover letter from work
-Proof I'm a shareholder in my father's company
-A letter from me to detail my itinerary and also to inform the visa officer of my hometies as a first son in my family and my responsibilities to my father's companies.
-An unpaid flight ticket from turkish airlines website which had only 48hrs before expiry, I did this because it's clearly stated everywhere online not to book a real flight as if your visa is rejected, you lose your money.

Oh! One more thing, I requested for 14 days single entry visa but i was given a 30days multiple entry visa to which i an grateful as i can go back to The Netherlands after Paris and fly back with my fiancee.

AnonymousAAA:
Hello Nairalanders,

Thanks to all those that contribute to this platform weather or not they were granted Visa. Your impute is greatly appreciated.
Although I didnt ask questions, just reading personal testimonies and guidelines from many of you gave me all the information I needed. Now let me share mine.

Firstly, my Schengen Visa through france only took 5days. My appointment was 23rd January 2019, I got notification that my application has been transferred to Visa office on 24th Jan, on the 31st Feburary I got a mail to come pick up my passport. Getting the mail to come pick up my passport made me kinda worried, cos decision process was so short. But I refused to be worried. I went to the VFS office today 1st Feb, to pick up my passport and Lo my passport was stamped with 30days short stay visa.

I intend going to Paris and Venice a total of 7days with my boyfriend, sisters and their husbands. I explained this in my cover letter and also mentioned I will be travelling to Paris from London. These are the documents I submitted:

Cover Letter
Already paid Uk flight return ticket
Already paid France flight return ticket
Intl passport
Travel insurance: I used "insure and Go" its a uk based insurance company, my boyfriend did that for me.
France and Venice Hotel booking: from booking.com, I didnt pay, I just uploaded my credit card details
6months Payslips from my office: I earn 130k a month
Proof of Pension
Contract letter from my office
Promotion letter from my office
Leave approval
3months bank statement from sponsor
Sponsor payslips
Letter of introduction/sponsorship from sponsor
ID of sponsor
My own work ID
I did not submit my own bank statement I wont be sponsoring the trip.

I took all these alongside my application form on wednesday last week and thursday this week my visa was approved.

I hope this helps someone

P1P2:
Hi all,

Kudos to you all who are in one way or the other helping to answer questions inorder make life a bit easier for us.

Please i am about to apply for French visa, my sister's husband is going to send an invite.

My question or rather my fear is that i dont know if i will be granted visa based on the following;

1. I applied for American visa last year but was denied due to lack or no enough tie to my country. I am married but when I was filling the American visa application form i filled single for a reason but i am planning to fill married on my French application form. I just want to know if there will be an issue with this. i was told that this western countries have a central system which they have everyones information that has applied to a country bfor.

2. At the moment i am not working i resigned in other to start up my own company and am in the process of setting it up. so i just wanted to quickly visit my sister and her huband bfor the business starts properly. I have my certificate of incorporation already but i havent started yet cause am still processing other certificates particularly for this my line of business.

3. i have a landed property

4. i have a personal bank statement of about 3m

5. i am living in a rented apartment which is in my name

6. i have been to dubai once, thats the only travel history i have.

Please my question is this, based on the above do you think am eligible? And what other things must i add or do to make me eligible.

Please kindly list supporting documents i can submits to help secure thier visa please.

Please all, i eargerly look forward to your responds. thanks and God bless.

ekpotek:


Yes you can re apply and address the ECO concern as stated. Also provide proofs that you send her 100K monthly. In the re application package let your sister include a copy of her passport and visa, that she will be traveling with her. The key thing is to explain every inflow into your mum bank account to demonstrate that you send her money regularly for her upkeep. Good luck.

pufframmy:
yes oo i got this notice from a nairaland friend i wanted to post it yesterday for others to know about it

ekpanbaghi:
For 1: Justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not provided.
• The relevant documents were not submitted.
• The documents submitted could not ascertain your purpose of stay (did you include any Tour Tickets, for example, if for Tourism?).
• The existence of a family relationship was not substantiated with adequate documentary evidence (If invited by a family member)
• The requested duration of stay is not consistent with any leave entitlements (date on letter of Intro from office different from that applied for).
• The previous visas granted on the invitation of the same host have not been used to enter Italy, although the visas have been given for this purpose.
• The flight and hotel reservation submitted has been canceled in the meantime.

For 2: Proof of holding an adequate and valid medical insurance was not provided.
• AXA mansard insurance might not be recognized by the Italian Embassy. Use the Following - AIG c/o AIICO Insurance PLC, AXA/ Inter Partner Assistance c/o UNIC Assurance PLC , CORNERSTONE Insurance, ELVIA c/o Air France, EVASAN c/o Unitrust Insurance Co. Ltd, FAC International c/o EKINOX Projects Ltd, FILHET-ALLARD c/o MBC International Bank Ltd, HYGEA International Ltd. c/o Mutual Benefits Assurance Ltd, INDUSTRIAL AND GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED. These are on their website: http://www.italy-ng.com/pdf/List_of_Insurance_Companies_090814.pdf.
• Was the Insurance submitted ADEQUATE & VALID? Is the cover in line with Schengen requirement? Are the dates different from the form's?

For 3: The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable
• You have made contradictory statements on the purpose of stay.

Hope these help. Goodluck

Monmarri:


Cover letter is just making explanation of what u want the ECO to know. This guidance will give us glue on what to write.

Date
Address of UK Embassy in Lagos or Abuja
Dear sir/madam

Cover letter for tourist visa
Name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, standard visiting visa.

I am writing in support of my application. You start to discuss every details in paragraph. Write what u feel the ECO should know about. For example:-

Inflows of cash
My salary is my main source of income that enters my account, explain any big credit entries if you have any.

Savings
If you have savings explain

Other assets if you have

Itinerary
Talk about your itinerary (attached as well).

Accommodation
Talk about your accommodation if someone else is taking care of accommodation for u.

budget
Air ticket
Accommodation
Living expenses
Shopping / Miscellaneous

Total estimate of xxxxx which will be funded from my savings account or salary from first bank and GTB.

Mention your supporting documents.

Finally convince the ECO that u are a genuine visitor only seeking entry for a tourist visa as stated in your application and will definitely return to your own country after your vacation is over. Give ties you have in Nigeria that will convince the ECO that u will come bk home.

Thank you

Signature

Name

Livlivuk:
Hi Gurus of the House,
I am quite new here and it's been a pleasure reading all the updates on here. I am hoping to get your advice on a refusal I received for my Mum.

Background
My mum is retired. She used to have a shop but no longer has it and she is just living her best life at home in Nigeria. She does not have any pensions, etc. She lives with my sister and brother in Lagos Nigeria. Every month, I send her some support of N100000 (100k naira) for her needs. My sister and brother also give her some cash here and there but does not show in her account.

She applied for a UK visa in 2011 to attend my M.Sc grad but was refused because she did not show enough funds. We did not know how to apply properly. She has not applied since then. This year after my husband and I got our ILR (Permanent residency) we decided to invite her again. My husband was the main sponsor and these were documents we supplied with her application:
- Husband's Payslips (3 months)
- Husband's Current Account showing salary (3 months)
- Husband's Savings Account showing funds for her visit
- Invitation letter stating husband will sponsor her for everything and ensure she lives, yada yada
- Utility Bills
- Mortgage Documents
- Title Deed for the house.
- My birth certificate
- Our marriage certificate
- My Mum's bank statement (from December 2018 to May 2019)-> closing balance 100k (mind you she is fully sponsored so we though they won't look at this document)
- Tenancy agreement of their house in Lagos (in my sister's name).
- My husband and I's passport
- My husband and I's BRPs
- SUO7 Sponsorship Form

In her application, I believe the error we made was in the application where they asked how much was the trip going to cost we said £1500 for 3 weeks and she was travelling with my sister. I guess since she was being fully sponsored, I should have out £0 and then under sponsor should have been £1500. They said anyone else paying for the trip and we said yes, my husband and the amount was £1500 (it ow looked like total amount of trip cost was £3000) . Under income, we ticked family provides her regular money every month and total amount for a year 1.2 million. Now to my shock and surprise they refused her and granted my sister 2 years visa instead. Mind you, they both applied together; my sister has come here a few times though. We said my sister will stay with us and sent her invitation letter and mortgage documents + passport + BRP. They accepted all that.

My Mum's refusal:
I have refused your application for a visit because I am not satisfied that you meet the requirements of Paragraph 4 of Appendix V Immigration Rules for Visitors. I have considered your application in the context of your evidenced personal circumstances and funding. You have declared in your visa application form that you are retired and that your propose to travel to the UK to visit your daughter for 3 weeks. You have further stated that you and your sponsor will meet the cost of your proposed visit. However, I must also consider the evidence of your personal circumstances and funding as demonstrated by you.
- As evidence of your own funds and financial circumstances, you have submitted a bank account in your own name. However, I am not satisfied that you have demonstrated the origin of the funds shown and how you are financially supported. I am not satisfied that this account is a reliable reflection of your financial circumstances of your stated ability to help pay for your proposed visit.
- I am not satisfied that you have sufficiently demonstrated your personal circumstances and your own funds or that they are as such that you can be relied upon to meet the conditions of visit entry clearance.
- Taking the forgoing into your account, I am not satisfied that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit. Furthermore, I am not satisfied that you have sufficient funds available to cover your costs whilst in the UK without working or accessing public funds. Your application therefore been refused under paragraphs V4.2 A and e.


Now I am planning to reapply and address the following:
- I will put £0 for the cost of her trip because she is being fully sponsored.
- I will still put £1500 for amount we are willing to sponsor her for.
- I will write a cover letter stating the question for the amount of money for the trip was not clear. We are fully sponsoring her.
- My sister will write a cover letter stating my Mum lives with her and still include the tenancy agreement and she gives her cash gifts here and there.
- We will still include all other previous documents.

Please I will appreciate any advice from your own end.

Thank you.

Lovesarrow:
On that note. My people, my people. Praiseeeeee the Lord.

Timeline
Self service
Biometrics 17th of June 2019
Only communication was to come pick it up 8th of July 2019
Picked up on the 9th of July 2019
Denied US visa twice, only ever been to Dubai once

omoniyi289:
Hello House,


I applied for 5-day priority Visitor visa on the 14th of June and I went for walk-in Biometrics on the 24th of June, 2019. The application was at "Application Received By DMC" stage since the 25th June. I am yet to receive any further update.

The trip is for a conference on the 15th of July and is company sponsored, where I currently work. I have travelled to African countries but I was refused Canadian visa around April this year, it was family sponsored. Please how else can I check the application status?

oluayebenz:


Why still stressing yourself out.....

You dont need travel record, financial records or security deposit to apply for UAE visa. Do you actually wanna play with 1550usd?

Let your sister apply through emirate or wakanow or any trusted agent in Nigeria.

UAE visa is cheap, easy and stress free. It's even non appearance for 2 wks and a month visa

Bsean:
Application for parents and sibling approved.

Application submitted online- June 9
Biometrics request- June 10
Biometrics done- June 20
Review of eligibility started- August 1
BVL- August 8
Application approved/passport request- August 8

Documents submitted -
Application forms
Company docs and operating account statement for my parents’ company
Marriage certificate
Doc showing properties they own
For my sister- birth certificate job letter and letter stating she supports my parents with the business. Also mentioned she is engaged to be married next year.

I sponsored them, so I included my bank statement, paystubs, job letter, invitation letter and IDs