When you plan a trip to Europe, you will be urged to get a Schengen visa to visit most countries. The purpose of the Schengen Visa for Indians aims to allow them a short stay in the Schengen area, which compromises 26 countries. You don’t need a separate visa for each country this way. Moving around these without border control is easier when you are planning a long trip.
There is a considerable amount of paperwork involved in getting this visa, and it has an extensive process. Often, the visa gets rejected for various reasons, and it can be disheartening after putting in so much effort to acquire your visa. Here are the reasons why your Schengen visa application may get rejected, and you can be careful when you are applying.
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Reasons Why your Schengen Visa Application may get Rejected
Criminal record
Your attitude and past record matter when the Consulate is looking at whether to give you a visa or not. If you have a criminal record, you may be considered a threat to the public, and your application may be rejected on these grounds. The severity of the record matters as well. You may be considered internal security or a public wealth threat.
Damaged passport
One most unexpected reason is that your application may get rejected in case of a damaged passport. Any signs of damage to the pages, covers, or any other part of the passport can be rejected.
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Falsified documents
Authentication of documents is carried out by the Embassy after submission. If it is found that any of the travel documents are falsified, you may be subject to more than just denial of a visa. You may be barred from applying ever again, and you may face other legal consequences as well.
Insufficient proof for the length of stay
One of the essential documents for the visa is the production of documents that prove your length of stay. It is to ensure you stick to the length of stay and that your intentions for travel are declared. Your visa may be rejected if – there are multiple declarations of your purpose of visit, and the inability to provide documents that support the purpose of travel and stay in the Schengen area, cannot produce qualifications that match your financial situation, or not apply for the correct duration of your stay and travel in the area.
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Lack of proof pertaining to the itinerary
When you are applying for the visa, you need to declare the region you will be traveling to. It means you need to produce proofs that show – booking for accommodation and travel within the area. Failing to apply at the right embassy can also result in a visa denial.
Invalid passport
Invalidity of passport includes – presenting a passport without 2 different blank pages, presenting a travel document booklet instead of a passport, presenting a passport older than 10 years, showing a passport that does not have a valid period of less than 3 remaining months after the return from the visit to Schengen area.
Unacceptable birth certificate or marriage certificate
Cases that count as unacceptable birth or marriage certificate are – failing to submit a certificate by local authorities, lacking to prove a civil certificate, failing to submit a certificate showing both parents of the child, failing to produce a document that states sole custody of the child (in case of a single parent), not being able to produce legal adoption papers of an adopted child.
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Invalid letter of reference
For a letter of reference to be valid, the letter should be on a formal letterhead with the name of the company issuing it. Moreover, it should have the stamp and signature of the author on it, failing to produce a letter issued not later than 3 months from the application date.
Invalid travel insurance
It is compulsory to have travel insurance when you are applying for a Schengen Visa. The visa may be rejected on the grounds that the cover is not enough, validity is not all over the Schengen region, the validity of the travel insurance is not enough for the duration of the trip, and failing to provide travel insurance that does not cover the return date of the travel.
History with Schengen visa
The history with a Schengen visa matters a lot when you are applying. If you hold a passport with an active Schengen visa, or you have previously flouted rules (overstaying in the Schengen area, failing to follow travel itinerary, and so on). If you have multiple attempts when your visa has been rejected, then that may play a part in the approval of your visa too.
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These are common reasons why Schengen visa get rejected often. When you are applying, it is essential to pay attention to details as many failed attempts also go against you the next time you apply.
