₦airaland Forum

Hi everyone!

There's this question that has been reccuring about whether you can travel with your sticker visa without "converting" it to an evisa, and the answer is YES. A family member of mine visited the UK recently (July, 2026) with their sticker visa (no evisa) without any issues at all.

Just thought to share for anyone in these shoes.

All the best!

Hi,

If you use the self service option, you only need to upload your documents, you do not need hard copies for your appointment. Follow instructions provided by VFS to upload. Alternatively, if you want VFS to upload, you will need to print all supporting documents and take along. They charge a fee for this.

All the best!

Lawalemi:
Please I have an interview next week. Do I have to print out these documents or basically upload them?

I pray you hubby find his passport too.

Hi,

You are on the wrong thread.

Spanish visit visa is submitted through BLS (a 3rd party like VFS). Google BLS Spain and it should lead you to the link you need.

All the best!

tonididdy:
Please I need direct link to apply for a Spanish visit visa


Gracias in anticipation

Hi,

Someone recently posted here that they successfully traveled with a sticker visa without any issues.

All the best!

kksamm:
@cashmadam, @VisaZest, and @giselle237, etc., please, i need your input.

Hi,

If you are not in a hurry, I will recommend you wait for 3 months during which you can be deliberate about your disposable income.

That said, if you decide to go ahead, you may want to print your statement from January since it shows significant disposable income. Plus, explain the fluctuations in disposable income e.g. for the May rent, attach evidence of your rent agreement. This can also serve as an indication of your ties to Nigeria. As @cashmadam said, give detailed explanations of your savings and how they they grew over time. Your stocks are a strong pointer to the fact that you are building your networth over time.

Btw, that table you created is a great snapshot. I am not sure why you said your disposable income is 100k given that the table you shared shows an average of 500k.

All the best with your application!

katily2:
Hello everyone, please, I need some clarification regarding my UK tourist visa application.
I was discouraged about my disposable income, which was pretty low, and i stopped the application, but my friend, who has been to the UK twice, is arguing with me that i will still get it. @cashmadam, @VisaZest, and @giselle237, etc., please, i need your input.

My profile:
Status: Single.
My monthly salary is between #1,750,000 and #1,789,170.80 naira. My bank balance is #6m+.
I have a mutual fund of #6m+, Afrinvest bonds(FGS) of #1m+, for which I get interest frequently.
, Stocks via Bamboo of $1,600+, and savings in Risevest of $2,000+.
I analysed my expenses and realised my disposable income is #100,000+. I did not have any disposable income for May, i spent 2m+ because i paid my rent and monthly bills, which resulted in spending my whole salary and more.

7days trip,
bank balance is #6m+ and $500 in my Dorm account
Budget: £1,300
accommodation: Hostel in London e,g Astor Victoria Hostel
Based on my profile, do i need to proceed with my application or wait for some months.
Travel history: West Africa, 5 days in Ghana, 2 days in Cotonou, a pass-by in Togo

Hi,

In your new application, I suggest you include a cover letter that acknowledges the concerns they raised during your last refusal and how you are addressing these points this time around. Do this bullet point per bullet point to give your points clarity.

The UK wants to see a flow from- 1) this is what I earn 2) how I earn it 3) the amount I spend and 4) the balance after expenses (savings and investment). Each of these must be backed with evidence.

In your last application, you seem to have left out your salary account plus evidence of your side hustle (invoices, receipts, contracts etc) Even if you receive the funds in USD and then transfer to a Naija account, there should be a trail. If any part of that picture is missing, the ECO may interpret this as you are just gathering money from others and the funds don't belong to you a.k.a what Nigerians call proof of funds where an applicant borrows for a time to beef up their account for a visa application. This is a VERY red flag.

Also, you may want to review the amount you intend to spend relative to the number of days you intend to stay. Your figures should be realistic but also not too high. Alternatively, you can adjust the number of visiting days.

All the best!

Hiyeps:
Please 🙏 I need help and advise: I was refused in January and I want to apply again in June. I did not submit my salary account, submit only payslip, introduction letter from company, work ID card, savings account (6m pof) and evidence of my freelance side hustle payment receipt. But Here's the feedback from UKVI..

I have refused your application for a visit visa because I am not satisfied that you meet the
requirements of paragraph(s) 4.2 of Appendix V because:
• You have applied to visit the UK for 15 days for tourism.
• In support of your application, you have provided letter of employment, personal bank
statement and hotel booking.
• You state you are employed with monthly income of ₦6**,*** (£348.71 exchange
rate at £1= ₦1,914.91 @oanda.com on the 14/01/2026), you declared monthly
expenditure of (£127.81). You state your trip to the UK will personally
cost you £2500.00.

• I acknowledged you have provided personal bank statement and a payslip. Whilst I
acknowledge that you appear to have sufficient funds for the proposed spend, I am
not satisfied that you have made an accurate representation of your financial
circumstances. Your bank statement does not indicate any salary credits, and the
source of the income entering your account is unclear. Furthermore, you appear to
be receiving large deposits from unexplained sources that are not in line with your
declared salary. This damages the credibility of your application.

• You state your trip to the UK will personally cost you £2500.00. I note you intend
spending your entire bank balance. This degree of expenditure for your visit appears
disproportionate to your current economic circumstances and leads me to doubt your
stated intentions in seeking to visit the UK.


Improve I have done now before reapplying is saving account has 8m (pof) and I'm submitting my salary account this time around. Just hoping it will suffice.

Hi,

From other people's experiences, it is taking about 7 weeks in recent times for people to get a response from the French Embassy.

However, no one can be sure how things would evolve between now and August when your appointment is scheduled.

Let me offer you 2 solutions:
1. if you have some flexibility with dates, change your travel dates to 2 months after your biometrics appointment. This removes the pressure of expecting a quick decision. You don't need to cancel your biometrics appointment, just make sure all flights, hotels and co booking match the new dates. Then on appointment day, inform TLS of the changes.
2. if your trip is urgent and strictly time-bound and you are not particular about the Netherlands, you can try other Schengen countries

All the best!

Labelle:
Hi guys please I need your help. Please if you are a silent reader, help respond to this post.
My question: I just applied for Netherlands Visa through France and the earliest date I was able to find is Aug 10. My trip is on September 6th. Do I stand a chance to hear back from them before my travel date? Is there anyone here that got their passport back within 3 weeks in the last 3 months in Lagos? Please let me know if I should just withdraw the application or hope for the best? This will be my second Schengen visa through Netherlands. Thank you.

Hi,

As a working professional, you should ideally sponsor yourself- this shows you can afford a leisurely trip without a strain on your finances. While I see no problem in your uncle offering accommodation, your cousin paying for your flights raises questions the question- why?

If you have savings that can support your estimated budget, I would recommend you present yourself as the sponsor. When you get your visa, your cousin can then pay for the flights.

All the best with your application!

Komfo:
Please Help with Visit Visa!
Hi everyone, I would appreciate some advice. I am employed as a sales executive earning between £900–£1,000 per month. I would like to travel to the UK to visit my uncle for 2 weeks. I am married and have a 2-year-old daughter.

I will be travelling with my first cousin, who is employed, married, and has two children. He has travelled to the UK and other countries many times before. He would like to sponsor our flight tickets, while my uncle in the UK will provide accommodation and food. I will cover my personal shopping and pocket money expenses.

Would it be advisable for my cousin to sponsor the flight tickets, or could this negatively affect my visa application? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,

1. There are several questions on the form asking about your savings, your monthly earnings, your monthly expenses, any other income. Each financial statement you add to your application supports your answers to these questions and this determines which statements to include. I said that to say- your mutual funds show your disposable income and should be included. In assessing your financial situation- how you move from salary to savings to disposable income must be coherent to the visa officer not merely having huge amounts in your statements.
2. You need an estimate based on your flights, accommodation, tours/activities, transportation and daily feeding. The money you plan to spend will be based on this estimate. It's okay to spend from your savings but take care not to have an estimate that's several times above your monthly salary.
3. Countries share immigration records plus when you scan your passport, they'll see the Canadian visa. In my opinion, having a Canadian immigration visa is a positive, however, this impacts on you proving ties to Nigeria (as your home country since your "home country" is changing).

All the best with your application!

ADEE24:
Hello Gurus,

Trust you are all having a good day, Wanted to seek your advice to apply for visitors visa to the uk. I plan to travel in August for two weeks

I did my undergrad and masters in the uk but haven’t been back since I left in 2015 after graduation , I have a valid US visa which i haven’t used yet and a valid Canada immigration visa (this is recent so haven’t relocated yet ) . Combined monthly salary of 1m from 2 Jobs , I save about 650k monthly and I have some savings of about 11k usd In a domicillary account and about 6.5mil In mutual funds and some in stocks ..my company also gives leave allowance of 1.3mil yearly when you are going on leave. Kindly assist with my questions below :

1) I don’t save my money in the account my company pays me, I move it to my mutual funds account so do I need to print the statement of the mutual funds? or just the statement of the domiciliary account and my payslip is enough

2) How much is safe for me to put as money I plan to spend, does my monthly salary , leave allowance and savings suffice ?

3) Do you suggest I attach my Canada immigrant visa so they know I have no plans of remaining there or its not necessary

Hello,

It is advisable he submits both as they can serve different purposes.

A business account statement shows business activity and your financial status i.e. how well your business is performing and this can serve as a strong tie to Nigeria. You are communicating "I have a good business doing well, I have no reason to run away." CAC alone cannot give a complete picture. Additionally, the business bank statement also serves as proof of where the funds in your personal statement came from.

Personal statement shows the funds available as disposable income which can be expended towards the trip you are planning.

MsAnonymous:
Hello guys
Pls does a business man need to submit business acct statement for France visa
Or only personal statement with enough funds for the travel
Alongside CAC

Hi,

Yes, in Nigeria, France processes visit visas for Lithuania and also Netherlands.

Juliacruss:
Sorry, I need a little clarification , does French consulate accepts and processes visit visa for Lithuania?

Hi.

Yes to both questions. You can get a biometric date within a week of filling your form. Decision within 15 business days.

All the best!

Damodamo:
Good day every one, I currently have a 6 weeks Schengen visa ( Expires June 22). I want to apply for a UK visit visa so I can visit some of my friends in the UK as well. I have more friends in the UK than the Schengen area. So I would like to ask if I apply to the UK now, will I be able to get a biometrics date and response between now and June 22. I’ll appreciate your response!

Hi,

If you stated on the form that your monthly income is 1.5m and they took that as your annual income, then I think you should definitely write a complaint.

Two of their reasons for denial were based on the assumption about your annual income i.e. they said credits exceeded the stated annual and you intend to spend 44 times what you earn monthly.

That said, for the 3m, how would a customer "mistakenly" pay it into your private instead of corporate? Do you have a corresponding outflow that shows you "refunded" your business after the error? This is a point you need to be able to clarify.

Furthermore, why is there an assumption that you use your personal account for business? Whatever patterns they saw that made them think this, I hope you have a good explanation. Address this in your complaint.

Finally, emphasise your travel history and the fact that for all 13 countries, you have abided (I hope so o!) by their visa regulations and never overstayed your visa duration.

All the best!

Arry110:
Noo, that’s an error on their end LoL, I still have my form, I never put that as my annual income

Hi,

If the information you want to change on the France-Visas form are travel details (dates, accommodation, etc.), TLS can change these details on the day of your appointment.

All the best!

mrbourdillon:
Hello House. I have a confirmed TLS appointment for May but I need to change the France-Visas application that is linked to it. I tried to delete the TLS appointment and create a new one but the TLS site won’t let me. I called TLS yesterday and today. They keep saying the site is down, that I should check back tomorrow or I should call the embassy.

Has anyone been in this position? What would you suggest?

I can’t use the current France-visas that is tied to the appointment because travel plans have significantly changed (travel dates etc).

From my experience, do both. The old passport showing the stamps and sticker visas gives more authenticity because they can see it live.

All the best with your application!

cucumbar:
Can I submit my recently expired passport to show travel history or making copies of past visas is enough?

This is correct. The last time I applied for myself, I made photocopies of past visas but TLS also accepted 2 of my old passports

sirrotex:
Not true. Frenchembassy collected all my previouspassports.

Hi,

My first Schengen visa, the border officer asked for my accommodation, my flight tickets showing my departure date. My last trip to France, they asked the babe in front of me to show finances proving she could afford the visit. She is African (Rwandese I think) and was quite upset. Best to be prepared

cucumbar:
Na lie, they won’t question you anywhere as long as you have a shenghen visa.

Hi!

Consider these Schengen visa rules:
1. If you are visiting multiple Schengen countries, you must apply through the country that will be your main destination (the country where you will spend the longest time).

2. If you will spend the same number of days in each country, you should apply through the country of first entry

My opinion- you do not necessarily have to start in France. As long as France remains your longest stay, you’re following the rules (but keep evidence, see my message below). Because of our Naija passport, though not compulsory, you can end your trip in France i.e. your flight out of the Schengen zone can depart from France. That way, your exit records will show you passed through France. In the past, my entry/exit stamps carried the name of the Schegen country but now they are transitioning to digital. Either way, your records will still indicate France as your exit point.

Take note- if you choose to arrive another country first, be ready to show that you will spend the longest time in France. Sometimes they can question you more at the first border you landed so be sure to have all documents- eg booked France accommodation, flight/train/bus ticket that show you will end up in France.

If this is your first Schengen, be sure to keep copies of your boarding pass/hotel/France bus/train etc. as evidence that France was your main destination. In case you need proof for your next application.

All the best!

MsAnonymous:
Hello house
Pls I need advice

I got my Schengen visa through France
Must u visit France first?
Planning to visit another Schengen country for few days before going to France
Or must I enter through France

Hi,

If you request for your passport, you are automatically asking them to cancel the ongoing application.

To request for your passport, send an email to visas.lagos-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr and within 24 hours, the French Embassy will return your passport to TLS.

All the best!

Adebayo82:
Please someone should advise if possible to request for my passport for other things while tourist visa application is valid and can't stop them for making a decision and later request for my passport after consular make their decision. I hope is not a red flag and they can't used the opportunity to cancel my visa application.

Hi,

Approvals are very application-specific and many factors come into play. Every country wants to know that if one applies for a temporary visa, they will actually visit temporarily and return to their home country rather than choose to stay illegally in the country they visited.

Two key considerations are:
1. economic circumstances of the applicant i.e do they have a good and consistent source of income that they are likely to return to in Nigeria.
2. ties to Nigeria- family, property etc

N3m is a bit low and I'll tell you why-
1. Depending on the airline you fly, your ticket can cost around N1.5m.
2. Depending on the number of days you intend to stay and the type of accommodation you select (eg hostel vs hotel), accommodation can cost you another N1.2m.
3. You are also expected to have money for daily feeding and activities like tours/ local transportation.
4. Plus some "change" to show you have money to spend after you return to Nigeria.

That said, some people have possibly submitted a bank statement of N3m and scaled through- remember, each application is considered on a case by case basis.

All the best!

Cityview12:
Hello guys, I am new here. I am thinking of applying for a visitor visa to France.
Please, what is the approval rate in the French embassy? Is it low or high? I know the US embassy has a very low approval rate.
And also, is 3 million enough for the bank statement to be submitted

I will apprecaite your input on this.
Thanks

Hi,

I am guessing the message about temporary block comes up after you activate your account.

Try these 2 things, they worked for me:
1. Once you've clicked "activate", ignore that page and find your way back to the login page then login with your email and password.

2. Use the forgot password option. This also works.

Yes, having a recently expired visa puts you at an advantage because you qualify as a Schengen frequent flyer and you can get earlier appointment dates.

Earliest available appointment as at today is tomorrow, October 29 and then there are dates all through next week and beyond.

All the best!

Jane111:
Good morning good people, please I need your input on two things.

Firstly, I have been getting error messages on the TLS appointment website for Frence visa :"you have been temporarily blocked to prevent unauthorized use", please is there a solution to this?

Secondly, does anyone know the current date for Lagos? I am a frequent traveller, I got a 90 day multiple entry Schengen Visa which I used in July 2025 and the said visa is set to expire in two days (26th of October, 2025), please does this fact have any bearing on date availability?

Thank you in advance, God bless you all.

Hi,

It's a passport photo but not the regular passport size. It is square and not rectangular. Plus, it is a little larger than regular passport.

Whoever is printing your passport photo, tell them you need US size.

All the best!

Machini:
Hi everyone.

Please I need clarification on the photo/passport to be taken to the interview. My interview (B1/B2) is next week Monday, on the appointment letter it is stated to bring along a passport photo, whereas on the reminder email I got a couple of days ago it is stated to bring along "a 5cm x 5cm photo".

My question: is the 5cm x 5cm photo still going to be a passport photo? or a full photograph?

Thanks in anticipation.

Hmmm. Madam Hunee. I hope you're not referring to me o! You only need to check highlights on my instagram page- visazest and see that I've been to 6 countries this year alone including the Schengen area.

Yes, I offer visa application services but I did not advertise my services. My goal with my response above was to help Superwoman1101 make the best of her travel history and not be discouraged because she has not traveled in a while.

hunee:
There are alot of efikos here who have never even attempted to cross seme border, yet spilling advise left, right and center.


Lord help us o.

Be Guided my people and do not slide into anyone dm's o

Hello,

I recommend you include a solid cover letter that explains your travel history and justifies why there was a gap for a few years. For example- one reason you couldn't travel for a while could be- you needed to focus on raising your children so you didn't have time to travel or you had some demanding client projects to execute or you were caring for your aged parents. You can include whatever is true and applicable in your case.

You are no longer a first time traveler even though the break between your last trip (2018) and today is roughly 7 years. You can still leverage the fact that you've traveled to the US, UK in the past.

All the best!

Superwoman1101:
Hi, thank you, yes my first Schengen visa was in 2009 but since then I have traveled to the USA a couple of times, uk, I actually did my masters there, tho the last time I traveled was in 2018

Hello,

I can understand your frustration after multiple denials.

A few things I would recommend:
1. Fill her DS-160 and book her appointment for a date that is closer to the wedding date. An interview date that is too early means visa validity will expire before the wedding. Too late means you run the risk of being unable to find interview dates close to your wedding.
2. She needs more interview prep. The interview is just as important, if not more important than the DS 160. Those 3-5 minutes at the window make a significant impact on your visa decision. Your invitation letter and all supporting documents may not be checked. Prepare as if you don't have documents and speak as if you don't have documents (to communicate the merits of your case). Do mock interviews using likely questions to assess and improve your mum's responses.
3. A number of people have mentioned immigration intent. This is 100% true- the US assumes all applicants want to immigrate and it is your responsibility in that interview to prove you have more reasons to return home to Nigeria than to stay in the US. That said, no matter the question asked, her responses must point back to her home ties. For example if ask why she is traveling, she should mention the wedding then the fact that she can only take 2 weeks off from her business because she has pending client jobs to deliver or she needs to return to Naija to care for her husband and other children (use whatever ties applies in her case). This also brings the question- what's the length of trip you filled in the DS-160?
3. Be proactive about volunteering the right information especially what is not in your DS-160. While you do not want to overtalk, the goal is to give them the necessary information to help them see you as someone who has more to do in Nigeria than to be stuck abroad illegally. For example, if asked about how she makes a living- I run a hair salon which I launched 10 years ago that has 15 staff and serves 300 customers monthly with an annual revenue of 100m. This answer shows the magnitude of your work and the fact that your economic circumstances in Nigeria are great and you do not need to run away from home. This is a much stronger response than responding with "I am a business owner, I run a salon".
4. Create a list of key highlights she needs to communicate and help her weave that into any question she is asked.
5. Given her history of 3 denials, she may need to start her next interview with a statement about what has changed since her last application. There may not be any significant changes but she can politely mention that she believes she didnt communicate "1,2,3" well at her last application and would like to opportunity to share them better today. This helps the new visa officer give her at least a chance because someone who has been denied multiple times would struggle to overcome those denials and the visa officer would trust the decision of his/her colleagues who decided before.

All the best!

Layeeee:
The wedding was postponed when she couldn’t get it. 3 denials was over 3 years, not 10 months. The first two times, she was trying to come for graduation. Her children, one is a permanent resident and two are students. All legal, no issue with status. Questions were is she traveling with anyone? Why is she traveling? Where is she going? If she has travelled anywhere else before. She answered all truthfully. She has only been to Tanzania and Morocco

Hi,

France handles Netherlands visas for Nigeria. The question would be- which of the 2 destinations best suits your travel goals for 2025?


As for your account balance, 15m is more than enough to show you can comfortably cover a 7-day trip. What would be useful is for you to create a budget for your travel dates. Take into account flight, accommodation, feeding, local transportation.

Since you have your own company with a solid account balance, the jointly-owned hotel is a cherry on the cake. If it has a good bank statement, you can choose to submit it alongside your own company account.

All the best with your application!

Superwoman1101:
Good day my people, please I had my first Schengen visa in 2009, which is the Netherlands, but since then I haven’t applied for another, now I want to apply for one, is it advisable to apply to the same Netherlands because I have been there before or apply to France , please advice, also please how much is advisable to have in my account, is 15m okay for a 7 days trip or I need more? Is a micro finance bank statement accepted? One last question please, my husband and I own a hotel as our names are in the CAC as owners, must I submit the company account?, because I plan to submit only my company account, thank you so much as I anticipate your answers

Hi!

Safer ways to book an appointment? The only way is on AVITS site- https://www.usvisaappt.com/visa/country?country=NG

If you check some pages back, I posted a guide on how to make payment and book your appointment.

Fredpips13:
Good morning my people and how was your night, please can someone tell me a safer ways of booking appointment for visiting visa or tourist visa and thanks

Hi,

1. is it a must that one must enter the schengen area tru the country 1 applied to? ( note i didnt say i wud be going to other schengen countries in my application , but plans hv changed and am considering touching 2 or 3 other countries} If this is your first Schengen visa, I highly recommend you enter through the country that issued your visa and use that as the starting point for your other activities. It is okay to visit other countries even if you did not say so when applying. You can also choose to fly home from a different country.

2. i was given a single entry 30 days visa- france (2wks max stay), does this single entry apply to other schengen countries i may choose to enter -- if i decide to explore other countries during my trip. Your single entry means you can enter the Schengen area once and tour as many countries as you like within your approved maximum stay. Meaning, you can use your single entry to visit as many countries in the Schengen area as you can as long as you don't leave the Schengen area eg France, Netherlands, Belgium etc. Once you leave the Schengen area, you cannot return again on that same visa.

3. does this 2wks maximum stay also apply to other schengen countries i may choose to visit? 2 weeks in total across all Schengen countries. Not 2 weeks per country.

All the best with your trip.

whiteMandingo:
so could someone clarify for me..

1. is it a must that one must enter the schengen area tru the country 1 applied to? ( note i didnt say i wud be going to other schengen countries in my application , but plans hv changed and am considering touching 2 or 3 other countries}

2. i was given a single entry 30 days visa- france (2wks max stay), does this single entry apply to other schengen countries i may choose to enter -- if i decide to explore other countries during my trip.

3. does this 2wks maximum stay also apply to other schengen countries i may choose to visit?

Hi,

€259 for seven days is a bit low, it sounds like a hostel. Reserving another hotel will be dependent on how you are presenting yourself eg if your narrative is that you are a budget traveler, hostel will fly but if you are presenting as a senior manager then a private room is better aligned with your application profile. Whatever you decide, your accommodation bill must fit into your estimated budget for the trip.

As for changing the details on your France visas form, if it is only hotel details, TLS staff can make the changes for you on appointment day. Make the hotel booking and print it along then let the TLS staff that attends to you change the hotel details on your form.

All the best!

Sankarastudent:
Do you advise I resubmit another form since the hotel I filled in the form cost €259 for seven days
I would like to reserve another hotel that cost more but the names won’t match so do you advice I just fill a new form
Thank you

Hi,

I suggest you don't speculate. Fast timelines have applied to both approvals and denials.

Just pickup your passport the earliest you can. In the meantime, try to relax

All the best with your outcome!

Malevonent:
just curious, is the schengen visa denial faster than if you are given. this is barely 5 days after submitting and i get notified via mail that my passport is ready for collection. frequent traveller, uk/usa etc...though first time schengen

Hi,

Did you mean pay?

Follow these steps to generate the number for payment:
1. Fill your DS 160 here- https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
2. Create a profile on AVITS- https://www.usvisaappt.com/visaapplicantui/signup
3. From your dashboard, click on "create new"
4. Follow all prompts until you get to the payment page
5. On the payment page, the amentum number for payment will generated. This is what you will use to pay the visa fees

TheEnforcer:
How do you get the number to pass the us visa fee?Amentum or something

Hi,

The way I see it- if you miss your appointment, you lose only the appointment fee. Whereas if you go through the entire process and don't use the visa, you lose the TLS fee, visa fees, insurance etc. By your next application, you also have to give a credible reason why you did not use the visa.

Solution
Can you move your trip to sometime in 6 months time? You are allowed to apply 6 months ahead of your trip and I have successfully applied for a September trip in April. Visa was issued April but start date was in September.

All the best!

earthrealm:
Not using a schengen visa, is it a big issue against renewals?.
Am torn between missing my tls appointment and submitting, but likely not travelling as other stiff came up and i likely wudnt be able to use the visa, if issued..especially if its the usual 30 days given to first timers.
Hence my question. Pls chook mouth if you have experience