SCHENGEN VISA REFUSAL / APPEAL :
(Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary)
If dissatisfied with the purpose of visit, the Schengen countries do not provide a detailed reasoning of the refusal of a visit or student visa (like the UK or Australia), rather they just handover a Refusal Letter with printed clauses ticked as the reason of the refusal. The most commonly seen reasons ticked in the refusal letters are:
2. Justification of the purpose of visit and conditions of the intended stay was not provided
8. The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay were not reliable
Applicants are always confused with such little description of their refusal in one of the above clauses and are always seen to be looking for help in understanding as to what exactly is lacking in their application which could bring up a refusal under one of the above reasons. For our clients’ understanding, we have gathered some relevant information regarding the background of these clauses and shall discuss them here one by one.
1) PURPOSE OF VISIT NOT RELIABLE
Applicants question why their PURPOSE OF VISIT has not been recognized when they have provided a return ticket, hotel booking or insurance copy which are suitable documents proving the intended visit to be a tourism one. This is true but the applicants should also realize that the visa officer doesn't just look at these documents to recognize the purpose of the visit rather he/she considers the overall usual circumstances of the applicants too. This overall consideration over circumstances may include assessment of (i) Personal Status (i.e. being married, divorced, single etc.), (ii) Occupational Status (i.e. soundness and/or security of applicants' job/business) and (iii) Need for the intended visit (i.e. Applicants' travel history). Basically, the assessment of these factors proves the genuineness of the applicants and gives satisfaction or dissatisfaction to the visa officer regarding the applicants' intention to leave the territory of the member country upon completion of a visit. Obviously a single or divorced person would find it easy to remain in a Schengen country (after entering) because he is not required back to his home country by a spouse. Likewise, someone with unsound or insecure job/business status would not have an occupational incentive to return to (in the home country) and since the Schengen countries are better in economy, currency and employment opportunity than the applicants’ countries (like Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh etc.), the applicants may want to remain in the Schengen country to look for better occupational prospects. The third aspect (i.e. Need for the intended visit) is assessed in connection with the first two aspects because if the proposed visit is a tourist visit, it must come from someone who is on a fine earning status in his/her country which is allowing him to spend a considerable amount of money on a leisure trip to another country. Therefore, while you may have a hotel or a ticket booked, you may still not be suitably describing your purpose of visit if you have not shown ease and soundness of your income in the home country. Someone coming to Europe is expect to have been to other countries of tourism like Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, or Turkey which also offer wonderful tourism opportunities but are very cheap to plan for, if compared with Schengen countries. Hence, if an applicant lacks good travel history for tourism and has also not proven the fineness of his income status in the home country, he might not be qualifying on the requirement of PURPOSE OF VISIT and hence would meet a refusal of visa under this clause.
2) CONDITIONS OF THE INTENDED STAY WERE NOT RELIABLE
While trying to prove the conditions of the intended stay, the applicants again just rely on the hotel or ticket bookings they provide with the application or sometimes they use a heavy bank statement or a mighty credit card to prove the same - but it doesn't work. The reason again is the fact that the visa officer doesn't just want to know what you now have as ready for the intended visit but what kind of circumstances do you actually come from. A short holiday visit to Schengen countries usually costs up to USD2000/- (for economy ticket, 4 star hotels, group tours and reasonable shopping etc.). Against this requirement, the visa officer sees the applicants’ income and their personal and family expenses and then evaluates whether the balance of applicants’ income with their expenses allows them to save any funds and whether such saving could be established over a 4-6 months period. There should be obvious and official documentation available to prove this situation and the mere claims of sound income of savings are not recognized. So, a visa officer would not like to see a bank statement with a heavy closing balance rather a long bank statement (at least 6 months) with consistent credits of income and regular expenses, a monthly or quarterly balance of which, leaves some saving to the applicant. If that saving then adds up to become USD2000 or more over the given period, then the visa officer may be satisfied about the financial situation of the applicant. The entire assessment of application is carried with connection of one fact with the other and the recognition of one document in light of the other. This means that a claim of sound income cannot be accepted until it is supported by a good bank statement or tax document and such bank statement or tax document would also not be recognized if suitable employment/business documents are not provided.
Applicants therefore must work well over what the visa officer wants to see in their application (discussed above) and what aspects of their circumstances can justify their position against it. Their claims must be supported by genuine official documents covering all the aspects of the application.
If you still have confusion about why your application was refused, please feel free to discuss your case with us on +92 333 717 5556
Also see
Schengen Business Visa Refusal
Schengen Family Visa Refusal
Schengen Student Visa Refusal
Schengen D Visa Refusal
Refusal Reason: One or more Member State(s) consider you a threat to public policy, internal security, public health, as defined in article 21(9) of Regulation EC No 562/2006 Schengen Borders Code or international relations of one of more of the Member State(s)
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