A Little Introduction

Hello guys, I have been a member of this forum for quite a while now, and I believe I should give back to this platform by way of sharing my ideas. Perhaps someone might find it beneficial.

As a way of introduction, and as you may have rightly guessed from the title of my thread; I GOT A SHENGHEN VISA ON A VIRGIN PASSPORT. I had never traveled out of Nigeria before, but I have always wanted to. I had never entered a plane before, or even came to entering one, well apart from the AIR PLANE MODE OF MY ANDROID PHONE. In my 30s, and I was yet to dis-virgin my international travel life.

I would spend days reading about travel stories from around the world. I would spend hours on Nairaland travel section digesting the countless travel stories and experiences members shared. And when I felt down and depressed about how low we have fallen as a nation; how irredeemably bad living standard has become, and how lives are lost in droves fueled by the silence of the political elites; I would go to Explorers profile and read about the interesting developments around the world. Then I say to myself, “This world is a beautiful place, all hope is not lost!”

I wanted to see the beautiful world out there. I wanted to cross the boundaries of our country and see people of other races. I wanted to see how they live, how they work, what they eat, how they dress, how they love or un-love, their approach to certain issues of life and so on. If I could, I would have done a trip to Ghana, just to satisfy my curiosity, but my bank account strictly advised me not to cross River Niger . Oh, I live at the East.

So I kept waiting and believing GOD.

Then opportunity presented itself for a trip to Austria, Europe. I was to attend a particular event in Austria. My friend over there sent me invitation letters from the organization organizing the event.

And then the visa processing started; schengen visa on a virgin passport .

NB : What I will be sharing here are my personal experiences during the course of my travel. Should you not entirely agree with the information I put forward here, just understand that I am writing from my view and experience as a virgin traveler.

Congrats bro.

Wish you all the best.

Pray i share mine someday.

Documents Submission And Collection

Well in case you don’t know yet, Austria, and indeed most Shenghen countries don’t conduct interviews for those applying for short term visas. You only need to submit the required documents to the VFS either at Abuja or Lagos and then go home and pray. When they take a decision on your application (normally 3 weeks), they will invite you to come for your passport, whether the decision is positive or negative.

In my case, I submitted my documents at VFS Abuja.

The following were the documents I submitted:
- Invitation Letter (sent by the inviting organization)
- Medical Insurance Letter ( sent by the organization) ,but you can use a Nigerian Insurance company if you want.
- Bank Statement of Account (in my case, the organization agreed to take care of my living expenses in Austria, so they sent in their bank statement to back it up). If you are self sponsored, you will attach your statement of account, and make sure it’s fat.
- Flight Reservation – you need to show your flight reservation showing the day you enter and leave the Schenghen area. Just meet a trusted flight booking agent, they will make a reservation for you for a small fee. You don’t need to pay the flight fare till you get your visa.
- Schenghen Application Form – to be downloaded online from their website. Fill it carefully
- Letter Of Identification from your workplace (if you are a worker) or from your school (if you are a student)

Infact the whole documents needed are well listed here http://www.vfsglobal.com/Austria/Nigeria/Short_Stay.html

I submitted mine and after three weeks, I got a mail from them saying I should come and pick up my passport. I traveled to Abuja, got to the VFS, collected my passport and gently lifted it up to the Great Ruler Of All Things. I prayed fervently “ In case they didn’t give me the visa, Lord this is the time to do it. As I open my passport, I want to see my visa smiling back at me”.

Gently I opened my passport, the first page was blank, next page blank. I checked next, it was blank. Next, next, next – blank, blank, blank. I too went blank . Thank GOD for one fan ID guy (I just hope he didn't stay back in Russia as he said ) who I had been gisting with. He took my passport and gently scanned the pages, looked up with a big smile and said “guy GOD don do am for you, never come back to this country again”. Beholding my visa brought a big smile to my face. My heart started beating again. Austria Here I come.


UPDATE! I guess this is the best place to add this.

For those advising me not to disappear in Austria, I never planned on disappearing in Austria. My visa was for a month, but I spent two weeks and back to Naija. I still love my passport and the many open doors that will flow from it. Am sharing this experience from Nigeria.

Lemme book space before I book visa

Flying To Austria

The first thing I did was to book my flight. My travel date was already close, barely 3 weeks away, so I needed to get my ticket urgently as the prices were soaring high. I still got KLM at 328K, return ticket. I also went for the Yellow Fever immunization, did mine at Port Health Lagos. I made payment of about N1000, took the injection and got the Yellow Fever card. It was a very fast and smooth process.

On the appointed day, I arrived early at International Airport Lagos. I got to the airport around 1pm for a 10pm flight. I heard people are not allowed to take edibles into the plane, so I branched to the buka and ate enough fufu and draw soup. I was ready for the long night ahead of me.

On entering the arrivals part of the airport, one woman who claimed to be from Quarantine dept rushed me and ordered me to park my Ghana must go bag one corner. She asked if I have foodstuffs inside and I answered in affirmative. She said I will bring 5K for searching, processing and quarantining my bag . Aha aha, aunty I no carry dead body nah, small food stuff you want quarantine . All the grammar na for make I drop something. We started bargaining and arrived at 2k. I gave her the money and carried off my bags. I know my village people must looking for ways to ruin my trip or even cancel it entirely, but GOD pass them.

I queued up at the KLM check-in area. It was time for checking in and the queue was growing speedily. All my bags passed the allotted kg checks. I was checked in and directed towards the Entry gate.

Now I brought out my camera and the party started

Baba God abeg help me oo make I share my diary also ooo..Amen

One day I will go and only return when the going is good

I've alighted. Destination is Vienna abi Austria.

Nice one!!! another great Topic to be shifted to Front page!!! ....I'm here reading bumper to bumper.....

Sorry for the delay guys

So I was able to locate my boarding gate and queued up for boarding when it was time. We passed through the necessary checks and lined up to enter the plane. We were directed through a narrow tube that kept winding left and right and would bounce you up with every step. It felt good, I felt good too.

Then we came to a door where two white female KLM crew stood smiling at every one and muttering some word I could not hear from afar. But by the movement of their hands, I could tell they were directing people somewhere. But where? Perhaps the final stop and search point. But I thought we have done all the necessary checks? These oyibo people too dey suspect blacks sha. Little did I know

It was now my turn, standing right on the door that seemed to be vibrating from underneath, I could not make out the nature of the cozy environment I just found myself in. Perhaps this is a scanning machine about to scan us for weapons I was still lost in my world of imaginations when the lady demanded for my boarding pass. She looked at it and motioned me to the next door. Two steps through the door and the reality hit me. This is an airplane I mean AIR GODAMN PLANE! The first couch (if that is the right word) was almost filled up, as my seat number falls in the second.

Then that claustrophobic feeling started setting in on me. And with each step I took, I felt as if I was going into a tunnel of no return. I wanted to turn back and leave, at least to set my eyes on the starry sky one more time, if not the last time. But the long queue of passengers pushing through behind me only forced me to go forward. I have been desiring this moment all my life and the moment is right here. Guess I wasn't prepared psychologically.

I located my seat and sat, and immediately went into the mood of prayer. A second later a woman touches me and with an American accent said am seating on her seat. She was gentle. She was calm. Short of words, I handed her my boarding pass, she then told me that the next seat in the middle is where I should sit. Right next to her. I adjusted. And so the frenetic movements of passengers continued until everyone was settled on his/her seat.

A female crew passed by my side and perhaps noticed me handling with my phone camera. She offered to take a picture of me and I obliged. She asked if could help me with anything else. Fly the damn plane to Holland and set me free , I muttered under my breath.

Moments later, a voice from the cockpit started speaking and I could barely pick out few words. Perhaps, Pilots are trained to fly and not to talk. Same way doctors are trained to cure and not to write. Good luck trying to decode a prescription written by a doctor Then I heard something like drop in air pressure, oxygen, in case of emergency evacuation, emergency exit , I prayed even more, hoping it will not be my portion At least none of my village people is aware of my travel

We were all set for take-off. The cabin crew did their job and prepared everyone for take off. The pilot fired up the engine, sped on the run way and up we went into the sky. Few seconds after take off, I felt the plane falling backwards, a feeling I would get in my subsequent flights. I am yet to understand why that happens. Up and up into the sky we went, on our way to Holland.

Explorers
justwise
Ugosample

The time was 5:30am and we were about to land in Holland. I was so exhausted from fear and worry. I worried about every thing that went on on board.

I worried about the sharp sshhshhh sound coming from behind us, if it was the engine failing. The lady by me explained it was the toilet being flushed.

But why is the plane dancing shaku shaku in the air nah, she said is nothing to worry about.

I don't like the way the flight attendants are walking up and down with speed, is anything the matter? She said they are just trying to be nice by hastily meeting with the needs of the passengers.

I slept and woke, then slept again and woke. I watched The Black Panthers, barely paying attention to it. I read my Bible at intervals, reminding GOD that am still here oooo , 38000 feet above sea level. These pilots don't know how to play sha.

I felt relief when the pilot announced, cabin crew prepare for landing . Finally am getting off the plane to catch some fresh natural air. before boarding another one to Vienna . If only they will give me my change, let me trek the remaining shebi Vienna is not far again

We landed at 5:30am and the sun was already up and hammering. By 5:30am? Nawao Longer days and shorter nights, that's what they call it. We disembarked from the plane and moved towards the security check points. It was smooth, except for the fact that we had to remove our belts to cross one security gate. As I pulled off my belt, my trouser rushed towards gravity. I was quick to catch it before any damage was done. I didn't come to Holland to show my over-sized dic

Done with security, I headed to find my boarding gate for my onward trip to Vienna. The airport was so massive and everywhere looked similar. How do I start finding my gate? I asked an airport official, he pointed towards a direction where almost everyone went. I followed them and even overtook them. I kept walking until it was clear to me that I was just walking round the airport. I asked a very harsh airport security guy, off handedly he replied, the signs will tell you. The signs tell me na im I come still dey ask you?

Finally, I met a good guy who directed me well. I passed through the immigration check point and there I was stamped into the Schengen area. At this point I need to remind you that there is a separate queue for US Passport holders, separate queue for EU passport holder, and then a queue for the rest passport holders. Well, sorry to disappoint you. I joined the queue for US passport holders until an official spotted me and calmly explained you do understand that this queue id for US passport holders. I apologised and asked to be directed to the right queue. Sincerely I didn't know 10 minutes wasted like that.

By the time I got to the flight entrance, the attendant exclaimed, oh there you are They were actually waiting for me, the only black man on board. Luckily I sat by the window and was ready to see the action from land to air.

As usual,the plane taxied and took off, into the sky -then apparently started falling backwards, or so I felt. I was looking out through the window as the land and its inhabitants disappeared beneath us. We were tearing through layers of clouds.

No time to fear, no time to worry, after all, I now have a flying experience. All the way from Naija to Holland, can you beat that? Confidently, I brought out my camera and smiled to the clouds far away

observing

Okada please park me her. Carry chair and popcorn.

following

@kenevision


How can someone get such type of invitation.I really need such.... U can help a guy out,naija don tire me sha

Explorers:
Congrats bro.

Wish you all the best.

Pray i share mine someday.

Amen and me too

congrats dear, I know God will answer my prayers soon

Okada stop me here...
my leg go enter yankee dis year
Amen!

who is the last person??




abeg i day your back

Me too

Abeg upload pictures o

Coota wey you nah?

I have plans to visit 3 west African countries next year.. But I think it did be fun if we were in group.. Say NL'ders exploring Africa should be opened and then we can discuss logistics.. What say you?

Beautiful thread....

Ok

Brb

OK na