My engineer and I applied for a business visa late July, to attend a technical training in France on one of our products. The processing time given (from the instruction date) was 15 working days. The date went by still, no text message from the vfs. I called french embassy up myself, early this week and the French guy asked for my last name. While still on the line, he called out my mobile phone number, as appeared in his phone screen and asked if it was the same number I provided in the application form, to be sure. I guessed he requested the info to track and locate our file because it was a group application packaged inside a single file wallet. On getting to the vfs, we opened our passport and met the visa inside. Contrary to people's wrong opinion about the embassy, I think they are still lenient with visa. Above all, we prayed to God, who showered His mercy on us.

French Embassy is far better than Belgian Embassy.

I think so. I've never been to belgium before though. I wouldn't know much about their embassy and visa procedure. I guess those applying for tourist visa will always have to wait much longer because business visa does attract more attention than tourist visa. The guy that submitted the same day with us told me he had not received any text message from there. We exchanged phone numbers that day. He was going to France on vacation.

Yep

I think it all depends on the documents you present and above all, God on your side. I've heard people in this forum say France is stingy when it comes to visa do people shouldn't near them... but it's not true. Some even said no matter how prepared you are, if you're applying with a virgin passport, you'd be refused, that's also far from being true. My engineer who applied with me has never been to any country before. He was issued a single entry visa. The funniest part of the story is, we applied on the 27th of July and the instruction date( despatch date) was 28th July, while the processing time as indicated on the vfs printout was 15 working days. The processing time went by, no news from the vfs, no text message. On the 25th August, I called the french embassy myself and a dude picked the call. I explained to him we've been waiting for ages oooo. He said ok, please give me your last name and your phone number, which I did. He now paused for 2 minutes, after which he said to me 'ok sir, have a nice day!'. Barely 3 hours after I called the guy, I received a text message from the vfs that your passport vide bla bla bla is now ready for pickup up at bla bla bla. So I went straight there. The guy that attended to me said sir, this one is ''iroyin ayo ooo''. Meaning this one is good news ooo...lol. I guessed he discovered that the courier pack was lean, only containing my passport, no documents were returned alongside the passport. That's all. Prior to this time, I had never applied for a french visa before. The various discouraging experiences people shared, which I had also read in this forum had scared me already, I only summoned courage. Though I've been travelling before but it's not a criterion for granting a french visa . I had seen a company's director who was refused a German visa, even with a valid US visa on it. I saw it myself when he was ranting at the security post agyerbibjad collected my paali with GmbH visa on it last year. All his 2 staff were issued, except him and they were to travel together .Our invitation letters were notarised by the French chamber of commerce and industry with their bold logo embossed on each . Though it was still God, because we prayed a lot, especially die to the scary report about french visa on nairaland . It's good to be positive too. The balance on our company's bank statement was just 2.2m. Though we had a lot of millions outside but clients were not paying at the time we applied. My advice to a would be applicant...be positive, present genuine documents, even if your account balance isn't much, be honest. Lastly, don't wait till the vfs contacts you ooo. Call the embassy yourself, once the processing time given you expires. For our visa to be issued the same day I called...as a matter of fact, within 3 hours after I called them, it's a clear indication that applications are just being dumped there and the visa officer only treats the applications he can lay his /her hands on daily and leaves the rest till the following day or another day. But if you call them, especially when your travel date is near, it could help hasten the process. Cheers.

I am happy for you. I have applied for french visa last year and it was rejected .
My husband applied on the 8th of august 2015 and today he got a message to come and collect his passport, hope it is positive since it took less than 15 days

Thank you very much @ Floxymart . Don't be discouraged. You could reapply. About your hubby's case, applicants' mission differ. If what he's going for is urgent and the date is close, the embassy could expedite the process. If the inviting institution in France had also made a case for him at the embassy that his mission in France is important and urgent, he could be attended to, ahead of others. Again, if the visa officer doesn't have much applications to treat, the process could be faster. I'm speaking from experience with other embassies though. For instance, the day I went to pick up my visa, there was no single head on the seats outside, as if it was holiday . I used to enter France via Germany and other eu countries. I had never applied to French embassy for visa before. This was my first time. I hope his result comes out positive. Cheers.

imperialebony:
Thank you very much @ Floxymart . Don't be discouraged. You could reapply. About your hubby's case, applicants' mission differ. If what he's going for is urgent and the date is close, the embassy could expedite the process. If the inviting institution in France had also made a case for him at the embassy that his mission in France is important and urgent, he could be attended to, ahead of others. Again, if the visa officer doesn't have much applications to treat, the process could be faster. I'm speaking from experience with other embassies though. For instance, the day I went to pick up my visa, there was no single head on the seats outside, as if it was holiday . I used to enter France via Germany and other eu countries. I had never applied to French embassy for visa before. This was my first time. I hope his result comes out positive. Cheers.

Please what number did you cal the French embassy on

tariy:

Please what number did you cal the French embassy on

Here's the embassy's contact details with phone number :

French Embassy
Visa Section
French Consulate
1 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive,
Ikoyi,
Lagos.
01-4628484

imperialebony:
Here's the embassy's contact details with phone number :

French Embassy
Visa Section
French Consulate
1 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive,
Ikoyi,
Lagos.
01-4628484

Oh ok thank you and please were you the one sponsoring your engineer that has never traveled before or he submitted his own personal bank statement.

tariy:

Oh ok thank you and please were you the one sponsoring your engineer that has never traveled before or he submitted his own personal bank statement.

You're most welcome! I sponsored him. We put up a group application. We made copies of documents each, but submitted together inside a single file jacket provided by the vfs staff and labelled each application 1/2 and 2/2. The vfs staff folded our documents separately and kept inside one file so both applications could be treated together.

tariy:

Oh ok thank you and please were you the one sponsoring your engineer that has never traveled before or he submitted his own personal bank statement.

You're most welcome! I sponsored him. He provided his personal/salary statement too. He receives 150k net, monthly. I also submitted my salary account statement in addition to the company bank statement. We put up a group application. We made copies of documents each, but submitted together inside a single file jacket provided by the vfs staff and labelled each application 1/2 and 2/2. The vfs staff folded our documents separately and kept it inside one file so both applications could be treated together.

imperialebony:
You're most welcome! I sponsored him. He provided his personal/salary statement too. He receives 150k net, monthly. I also submitted my salary account statement in addition to the company bank statement. We put up a group application. We made copies of documents each, but submitted together inside a single file jacket provided by the vfs staff and labelled each application 1/2 and 2/2. The vfs staff folded our documents separately and kept it inside one file so both applications could be treated together.

Alright then information cool and how can I send a direct message to you...

@Imperialebony please I tried the mobile number but talking in French..... What Next

tariy:
@Imperialebony please I tried the mobile number but talking in French..... What Next

Please speak to them in English. That was the language I spoke to the guy who picked the call that morning and he responded also in English . Please keep trying. Call around 10am, they will be patient to attend to you. Cheers

tariy:

Alright then information cool and how can I send a direct message to you...

You can always send your enquiries , right here. I'll be pleased to attend to it all. Cheers

where u or ur engineer not called for interview despite the fact that ur engineer is a first time traveller? thanks

[quote author=imperialebony post=37634405] You can always send your enquiries , right here. I'll be pleased to attend to it all. Cheers[/quote
@Imperialebony thank you have been able to reach them back and Was granted 1year already picked up yesterday......
Cheers

[quote author=tariy post=37652284][/quote]

did u apply for a long stay visa? and what are the documents u submitted? thanks

antonreal:


did u apply for a long stay visa? and what are the documents u submitted? thanks

No it's a short stay visa with maximum stay of 90days and am a frequent traveller.....
List of Docs are:
Bank Statement
Filled online application form
Filled Questionairre
Insurance
Flight Reservations
Hotel Reservation
Copies of all expired visa
Business Certificate and Tax payments

tariy:

No it's a short stay visa with maximum stay of 90days and am a frequent traveller.....
List of Docs are:
Bank Statement
Filled online application form
Filled Questionairre
Insurance
Flight Reservations
Hotel Reservation
Copies of all expired visa
Business Certificate and Tax payments

Please I need link for Online application form and questionnaire.

tariy:

No it's a short stay visa with maximum stay of 90days and am a frequent traveller.....
List of Docs are:
Bank Statement
Filled online application form
Filled Questionairre
Insurance
Flight Reservations
Hotel Reservation
Copies of all expired visa
Business Certificate and Tax payments

how about if my company is sponsoring my trip to france,do I still need to take any document to the interview since my company is the one sponsoring everything including my hotel,and feeding?

[quote author=tariy post=37652284][/quote] That's good news! Congrats.

antonreal:
where u or ur engineer not called for interview despite the fact that ur engineer is a first time traveller? thanks

Nope, he wasn't called for any interview. I'm a frequent traveller and since we're going together and our applications were packaged in a single file, I guessed that was why he wasn't called for an interview. Maybe my travel history also spoke for him.

imperialebony:
Nope, he wasn't called for any interview. I'm a frequent traveller and since we're going together and our applications were packaged in a single file, I guessed that was why he wasn't called for an interview. Maybe my travel history also spoke for him.

how about if my company is sponsoring my trip to
france,do I still need to take any document to the
interview since my company is the one sponsoring
everything including my hotel,and feeding?

antonreal:


how about if my company is sponsoring my trip to
france,do I still need to take any document to the
interview since my company is the one sponsoring
everything including my hotel,and feeding?

You still need to take your own documents there, in accordance with their requirements . France will only ask for photocopies though, except your bank statement and coloured copy of your passport bio data page. You must endeavour to convince the VO,that you will come back after your intended visit, even though some don't . Please go with your personal bank statement which will reflect your monthly salary for 3 months . Include your children birth certificate and marriage certificate, if you're married . Last but not the least, your employment letter copy. Commit it to God and be positive too.

Hi, pls which that is good for tourists? Thanks. Goodafternoon.

iyaaliyah:
Hi, pls which country of the shenghen aside France that is good for tourists? Thanks. Goodafternoon.

Please try France, Hungary, Germany, Greece or Czech republic . They have amazing sightseeing places and historic monuments.

Good Afternoon,

I am a recent graduate awaiting mobilization this October and i have been invited to attend a Conference on Climate Change. KINDLY ADVISE ME ON WHAT I CAN DO TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL VISA APPLICATION.

Prince1007:
Good Afternoon,

I am a recent graduate awaiting mobilization this October and i have been invited to attend a Conference on Climate Change. KINDLY ADVISE ME ON WHAT I CAN DO TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL VISA APPLICATION.

Which country is that? I may offer a piece of useful advice that would guide you.

Its in Paris,France.
Its a Climate Change based conference happening between November 25th and 29th and i have already paid for my registration package which covers my inland travels and accomodation. Documents attesting to this are already sent. As i said earlier,i am a recent graduate of Biochemistry since June,22 years old with a Virgin International Passport awaiting Mobilization for youth service.
How can i package my documents to avoid rejection?