₦airaland Forum

Reason was given to them. The time the visa got out. The program has finish. No need of travelling. Yet they denied the visa. Maybe it's luck

thelma76:
This is so strange. Perhaps there was something else amiss with the application.

I’ve had about 3 or 4 Schengen visas now. The first one I used was Portugal-issued, I used it and in fact Rome was my first point of entry (there’s no direct flight to Lisbon and this was the shortest route). I was worried I wouldn’t get it the second time (since I wasn’t stamped in by Portugal authorities at all)

This time it was tourist and I used only my statement, I got it from France. Life happened and I didn’t use it because the trip I booked was linked to a London trip and I never got the visa for that so had to cancel it all.

I applied again, I was scared I wouldn’t get it because I didn’t use my first French-issued visa, but I got it (bank balance a little over 2m). I’ve just applied for another one (I even dared to ask for a longer validity in my cover letter) so let’s see how this comes out. Summary is I’m not sure they can deny a visa just because you didn’t use a previous visa but then again, I recall explaining in my cover letter why I didn’t use that visa though.

I don’t think a country should penalize you for not using a tourist visa. The visa fees have been taken from you and if they reject you, it’s non-refundable. In that same vein, you should be allowed to exercise your right to use the visa or not.

Hello house. For France, can you submit 2 tickets for your application ? I have a trip to France in March and another one in May. Do I submit just the March ticket ?

Only March ticket is fine.

mrbourdillon:
Hello house. For France, can you submit 2 tickets for your application ? I have a trip to France in March and another one in May. Do I submit just the March ticket ?

The earliest date at TLS lagos is March. Is there anyway to get an earlier date? I have been checking their portal for the past 2 days

zeezahbee:
The earliest date at TLS lagos is March. Is there anyway to get an earlier date? I have been checking their portal for the past 2 days

Even for frequent traveller?
Please advise

Got the visa ( three months visa)

Princessadedayo:
Greetings to all, I submitted my application for a visa to France on December 30th and received an email stating that the visa is ready for collection yesterday. I am concerned whether this early notification may indicate a rejection, considering that it has only been a week since my application. This is my second time applying for a visa to France. In 2023, I had a 15-day visa valid for one month, during which I stayed for 12 days. Has anyone encountered a similar situation of receiving a quick decision that turned out to be positive?

Congratulations

Princessadedayo:
Got the visa ( three months visa)

Princess. Nice one again

Good day house pls is it a Good Chance
Business Account 500k balance
Savings Account 4 million plus
Fixed Deposit investment Account 10 Million naira
For 7 Days Trip to France kindly Help me oo

Fathy001:
Good day the guru in the house please I need your help am having difficulty to make hotel reservations on the booking.com website same card I use to make make Tour Reservations is same card that's not going through on booking.com pls kindly help me out am about to submit my documents at TLS thank you all.

Could you please share the website you used in making the tour reservations?

GetyourGuide

Good forum and I am so impressed with the level of knowledge acquired here while reading in for the last 4 hours.

Thank you all for all your input and contributions.

Here is my question please. I will like to visit France as a tourist for vacation with my wife and 3 kids (10,8 and 5) by August during the holiday break.

1. Can i start the application process by Feb? , so i can get TLS appointment by April, Since the journey is planned for 3rd week of August?
2. Second option is to see if we can travel during school break in April - Please do you think this can to close since application will start first week of Feb - As passport renewal will be done last week of January?

Thank you in anticipation.

Hello house, I received my Schenghen business visa from the French embassy today (one month visa)

Submitted application on Jan 6th, received collection sms/email today, Jan 14th.

My case is quite peculiar.

Early last year, I won an award with my organization and they decided to sponsor myself and a guest (I picked my mum) to Paris where I would participate as an Olympic torchbearer. I received all relevant info from my company who was a sponsor for Paris 2024 and my mum and I were both denied. I had an active 5-year U.S. visa, which I had used the year before. I also had a previously used Canadian visa and had stamps to Senegal and Gambia. My mum was also actively traveling to Dubai and China for her business, so we were confused.

My organization decided to give me another opportunity as a Paralympics torchbearer and we got letters from the Paris 2024 team, and my organisation's director in Paris and still yet, we were denied again. Emails were also sent to the French embassy from my organisation in Paris but we received no response.

That's how I missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Fast forward to October last year, my company decided to send me to Amsterdam for a training and because I was rejected twice previously, I was scared, but I still applied. Picked up the passport after 2 weeks and discovered they gave me 1 month visa.

Unfortunately, the training was canceled and I couldn't travel and I honestly did not feel like traveling at that time so the visa expired and I didn't use it.

This year, my company decided to send me to Amsterdam to attend a conference in February and because of my terrible history, I was a bit reluctant. However, in my cover letter, I included the reason I couldn't travel (being that the physical training was canceled due to budgetary concerns). I also added a letter from my manager confirming that the training was canceled and including that they were sending me to Amsterdam on the provided dates.

Because I have another trip for Ghana on Jan. 16th, I had asked them to expedite the process in my cover letter, providing the booked flight tickets to and fro Ghana.

I'm just glad that everything worked out and wanted to share here, because I have really benefited by being a silent observer.

To everyone looking to get a visa, I wish you the best of luck.

This is a lengthy post. The summary is that you should apply at least 3 months before your travel date. The current France Schengen appointment booking system (TLS Contact especially) is a nightmare.

My intended travel date was January. I created France Visas and TLS applications in December. On trying to book TLS appointment in December, I saw that the earliest available appointment date is middle of February. It takes 15 working days (3 weeks) on average to process the visa, so this means that the earliest travel date I can now do is March.

I called TLS to explain that my travel dates have changed. They said that if it’s just the travel dates I need to change, I should go ahead and book an appointment, which I proceeded to do.

30 minutes later, I realised that the TLS advice was poor because the travel dates also ought to be changed in the France Visas application, which is linked to the TLS application. It’s impossible to change a submitted France Visas application. I would need to create a new France Visas application with the new March travel dates. If I don’t do this I would be submitting a TLS application that mismatches my France Visas application which will likely lead to an automatic rejection.

I called TLS and explained the above and they said that I can only create a fresh TLS application AFTER my appointment date has passed. So now I have to wait an extra month because of their poor advice and lack of earlier appointment availability.

The only way all this could have been avoided is if I applied 3-6 months in advance. I think 6 months is the safest especially if you’re applying around summer when they are very busy.

Also: I suggest you don’t buy your ticket or travel insurance till AFTER your TLS appointment is confirmed. The same goes for travel insurance. I am now going to pay airline change fees and I have probably lost the travel insurance entirely. Thankfully my hotel booking is fully refundable.

It’s really a shame that the process has become so slow and complicated.

zeezahbee:
The earliest date at TLS lagos is March. Is there anyway to get an earlier date? I have been checking their portal for the past 2 days

As of today Abuja has a lot of February slots

FADEO:
Good forum and I am so impressed with the level of knowledge acquired here while reading in for the last 4 hours.

Thank you all for all your input and contributions.

Here is my question please. I will like to visit France as a tourist for vacation with my wife and 3 kids (10,8 and 5) by August during the holiday break.

1. Can i start the application process by Feb? , so i can get TLS appointment by April, Since the journey is planned for 3rd week of August?
2. Second option is to see if we can travel during school break in April - Please do you think this can to close since application will start first week of Feb - As passport renewal will be done last week of January?

Thank you in anticipation.

Good thing about the France Schengen visa is you can start the application 6months to your travel date so I’d advise you start as soon as possible and decide on what dates you prefer. Because if the visa is granted, it would only be valid from the entry date you indicate and not earlier.

TopZionQueen:
Hello house, I received my Schenghen business visa from the French embassy today (one month visa)

Submitted application on Jan 6th, received collection sms/email today, Jan 14th.

My case is quite peculiar.

Early last year, I won an award with my organization and they decided to sponsor myself and a guest (I picked my mum) to Paris where I would participate as an Olympic torchbearer. I received all relevant info from my company who was a sponsor for Paris 2024 and my mum and I were both denied. I had an active 5-year U.S. visa, which I had used the year before. I also had a previously used Canadian visa and had stamps to Senegal and Gambia. My mum was also actively traveling to Dubai and China for her business, so we were confused.

My organization decided to give me another opportunity as a Paralympics torchbearer and we got letters from the Paris 2024 team, and my organisation's director in Paris and still yet, we were denied again. Emails were also sent to the French embassy from my organisation in Paris but we received no response.

That's how I missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Fast forward to October last year, my company decided to send me to Amsterdam for a training and because I was rejected twice previously, I was scared, but I still applied. Picked up the passport after 2 weeks and discovered they gave me 1 month visa.

Unfortunately, the training was canceled and I couldn't travel and I honestly did not feel like traveling at that time so the visa expired and I didn't use it.

This year, my company decided to send me to Amsterdam to attend a conference in February and because of my terrible history, I was a bit reluctant. However, in my cover letter, I included the reason I couldn't travel (being that the physical training was canceled due to budgetary concerns). I also added a letter from my manager confirming that the training was canceled and including that they were sending me to Amsterdam on the provided dates.

Because I have another trip for Ghana on Jan. 16th, I had asked them to expedite the process in my cover letter, providing the booked flight tickets to and fro Ghana.

I'm just glad that everything worked out and wanted to share here, because I have really benefited by being a silent observer.

To everyone looking to get a visa, I wish you the best of luck.

Wow congratulations. Quite a peculiar case indeed

mrbourdillon:
This is a lengthy post. The summary is that you should apply at least 3 months before your travel date. The current France Schengen appointment booking system (TLS Contact especially) is a nightmare.

My intended travel date was January. I created France Visas and TLS applications in December. On trying to book TLS appointment in December, I saw that the earliest available appointment date is middle of February. It takes 15 working days (3 weeks) on average to process the visa, so this means that the earliest travel date I can now do is March.

I called TLS to explain that my travel dates have changed. They said that if it’s just the travel dates I need to change, I should go ahead and book an appointment, which I proceeded to do.

30 minutes later, I realised that the TLS advice was poor because the travel dates also ought to be changed in the France Visas application, which is linked to the TLS application. It’s impossible to change a submitted France Visas application. I would need to create a new France Visas application with the new March travel dates. If I don’t do this I would be submitting a TLS application that mismatches my France Visas application which will likely lead to an automatic rejection.

I called TLS and explained the above and they said that I can only create a fresh TLS application AFTER my appointment date has passed. So now I have to wait an extra month because of their poor advice and lack of earlier appointment availability.

The only way all this could have been avoided is if I applied 3-6 months in advance. I think 6 months is the safest especially if you’re applying around summer when they are very busy.

Also: I suggest you don’t buy your ticket or travel insurance till AFTER your TLS appointment is confirmed. The same goes for travel insurance. I am now going to pay airline change fees and I have probably lost the travel insurance entirely. Thankfully my hotel booking is fully refundable.

It’s really a shame that the process has become so slow and complicated.

Why can't you forfeit and use a new email...create a new form and book a new appointment

LagosismyHome:
Why can't you forfeit and use a new email...create a new form and book a new appointment

I already tried that. The system won’t let you book two appointments using the same passport number. Even the TLS lady repeated the same thing on the phone without me asking her.

It’s a very primitive system. UK visa application I got my appointment 2 days after submitting my application in the same December and my 10-year visa came out in 7 working days.

mrbourdillon:
As of today Abuja has a lot of February slots

Please does anyone know dates showing for Lagos

mrbourdillon:
I already tried that. The system won’t let you book two appointments using the same passport number. Even the TLS lady repeated the same thing on the phone without me asking her.

It’s a very primitive system. UK visa application I got my appointment 2 days after submitting my application in the same December and my 10-year visa came out in 7 working days.

When you go for your appointment. See if the application can be changed

LagosismyHome:
When you go for your appointment. See if the application can be changed

The TLS lady on the phone already said that the only thing that can be changed at TLS is the travel date.

I am not going for the appointment.

mrbourdillon:
The TLS lady on the phone already said that the only thing that can be changed at TLS is the travel date.

I am not going for the appointment.

I don't know if Germany has a different system but in 2023 I booked for my mum using Germany embassy lagos. When she got there they said I filled a wrong form and she was allowed to do a new form inside and resubmit

The visa was given. I don't know if this different but I trust i would have completed a new form. Then when I get to tsl. I will put passport number and omit the last digit to let it go through to booking. If they are going to deny it wont be because one digit is missing in tsl portal. It would be for something else

But if it's not urgent ... then OK to wait

LagosismyHome:
I don't know if Germany has a different system but in 2023 I booked for my mum using Germany embassy lagos. When she got there they said I filled a wrong form and she was allowed to do a new form inside and resubmit

The visa was given. I don't know if this different but I trust i would have completed a new form. Then when I get to tsl. I will put passport number and omit the last digit to let it go through to booking. If they are going to deny it wont be because one digit is missing in tsl portal. It would be for something else

But if it's not urgent ... then OK to wait

Yes it’s not urgent at all. Let me save my FX sef. I’ll just wait.

Hi everyone, I applied for my France Schengen tourist visa on Thursday the 9th, however something urgent just came up and I need to travel to the UK on Saturday 18TH. Do you think the visa will be out by Friday or should I reach out to them requesting my passport back. I’ve had 2 Schengen visa’s previously and I have very significant travel history to several other countries

Slimbideb:
Thank you and please one more thing, Is it advisable to arrange the documents inside a folder or just a brown big envelope is okay?

Either. You can even carry them in your hand. Just get the documents there in good shape. They'll still collect them and arrange in their own envelopes by themselves.

LagosismyHome:
I don't know if Germany has a different system but in 2023 I booked for my mum using Germany embassy lagos. When she got there they said I filled a wrong form and she was allowed to do a new form inside and resubmit

The visa was given. I don't know if this different but I trust i would have completed a new form. Then when I get to tsl. I will put passport number and omit the last digit to let it go through to booking. If they are going to deny it wont be because one digit is missing in tsl portal. It would be for something else

But if it's not urgent ... then OK to wait

That's a good one. The advantage of dealing directly with the embassy and not these Visa Application centres.

At TLS France, someone filled a wrong form and was turned back and asked to book another appointment (fresh payment and fresh search for dates).

racerve:
If anyone here has used the premium lounge before, was it worth it?

There's not much difference for now. The regular lounge moves quite fast. I even completed my appoinment ahead of a buddy who used premium. Both of us were asked to make new portrait photos though. And the premium lounge users had to queue with the rest of us at the photo booth.

The France photo requirement is quite high. It's better one should just snap the picture with them over there at TLS. It's well priced. Someone gave me this advice, but I still decided to go to a studio to snap, thinking it will be cheaper and standard enough, the reverse is the case 😃

Hello guys.

Has anyone here successfully applied for Schengen transit and how did it go enroute to UK?

Milito:
There's not much difference for now. The regular lounge moves quite fast. I even completed my appoinment ahead of a buddy who used premium. Both of us were asked to make new portrait photos though. And the premium lounge users had to queue with the rest of us at the photo booth.

The France photo requirement is quite high. It's better one should just snap the picture with them over there at TLS. It's well priced. Someone gave me this advice, but I still decided to go to a studio to snap, thinking it will be cheaper and standard enough, the reverse is the case 😃

I remember telling you this. Experience coming from someone that between 2014 to 2024 had travelled to 11 countries (not Ghana, South Africa or Rwanda) A list countries like UK, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Japan, Hongkong and the likes.

They will reject your image no matter how much you try, appears like a racketeering

Milito:
That's a good one. The advantage of dealing directly with the embassy and not these Visa Application centres.

At TLS France, someone filled a wrong form and was turned back and asked to book another appointment (fresh payment and fresh search for dates).

Wow ... terrible ooo

first time seeing someone with USA and canaada visa been denied

TopZionQueen:
Hello house, I received my Schenghen business visa from the French embassy today (one month visa)

Submitted application on Jan 6th, received collection sms/email today, Jan 14th.

My case is quite peculiar.

Early last year, I won an award with my organization and they decided to sponsor myself and a guest (I picked my mum) to Paris where I would participate as an Olympic torchbearer. I received all relevant info from my company who was a sponsor for Paris 2024 and my mum and I were both denied. I had an active 5-year U.S. visa, which I had used the year before. I also had a previously used Canadian visa and had stamps to Senegal and Gambia. My mum was also actively traveling to Dubai and China for her business, so we were confused.

My organization decided to give me another opportunity as a Paralympics torchbearer and we got letters from the Paris 2024 team, and my organisation's director in Paris and still yet, we were denied again. Emails were also sent to the French embassy from my organisation in Paris but we received no response.

That's how I missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Fast forward to October last year, my company decided to send me to Amsterdam for a training and because I was rejected twice previously, I was scared, but I still applied. Picked up the passport after 2 weeks and discovered they gave me 1 month visa.

Unfortunately, the training was canceled and I couldn't travel and I honestly did not feel like traveling at that time so the visa expired and I didn't use it.

This year, my company decided to send me to Amsterdam to attend a conference in February and because of my terrible history, I was a bit reluctant. However, in my cover letter, I included the reason I couldn't travel (being that the physical training was canceled due to budgetary concerns). I also added a letter from my manager confirming that the training was canceled and including that they were sending me to Amsterdam on the provided dates.

Because I have another trip for Ghana on Jan. 16th, I had asked them to expedite the process in my cover letter, providing the booked flight tickets to and fro Ghana.

I'm just glad that everything worked out and wanted to share here, because I have really benefited by being a silent observer.

To everyone looking to get a visa, I wish you the best of luck.