Schengen visa, myths and reality

This article is about the rules of using the tool called the "Schengen visa", as well as why the visa can be refused and what to do in this case.

Despite the fact that there are many official websites of various embassies, consulates and visa centers, many people continue to believe in the myths about Schengen visas. One of these myths is the rule of first entry.

It is necessary to remember: there is no first entry rule regarding Schengen visas. Having received an Italian visa you can make the first trip on it, for example, to a tourist's day in Finland with a private guide, and this will not be a violation of the visa regime.

The main criterion for choosing a consulate of which country to apply for a Schengen visa is the number of days you plan to spend in a particular country. If the next month you plan a trip to Greece, lasting four weeks, and in the future, during the year you are going to make fifteen short trips on an excursion to Estonia, lasting three days each, then for the Schengen visa you need to apply to the Estonian Embassy, and at all Not in Greek. Violation of this rule with a very high probability will lead in future to refusal to issue a visa and a ban on entry into the countries of the Schengen agreement for a period of one year.

Of course, there are situations when you can not tell in advance how many days you will spend in a particular country and stay in which of them will be the most lengthy by the end of the year. In this case, you are entitled to apply for a Schengen visa to the visa center of any of the countries of your stay, but you need to separately mention when you apply for a visa, the fact that you are currently not in a position to know for certain in which of the countries the number of days of your Stay will be maximum.

The second most common reason for receiving a denial of a Schengen visa is unpaid bills or fines left over from your last trip. Never treat such things on the basis of the principle "maybe rolling". Do not ride, and all the stupidity of your situation will be that the visa will not give you at least until you cover the debt, and often you can do this only by entering the country. How will you solve this problem - your problem, in the embassy or visa center does not always meet halfway in such situations.

The next important thing to know: a Schengen visa is not a guarantee of entry into the country. It's rather a recommendation to miss you. The customs officer at the entrance to the country will ask you questions about the purpose of the trip, the address of the stay, the availability of funds, and if your answers do not satisfy or seem unlikely, you can be revoked and sent back.

Refusal of a visa or the cancellation of a visa can be challenged by you. You have the right to apply to the embassy, consulate or visa center of the country that refused to grant you a visa and file an appeal. Such a statement is made in free form, in which you indicate why, in your opinion, the refusal of a visa or the cancellation of your visa must be canceled.

Appellate applications are considered by a special migration court located in the country issuing the visa. The embassy will forward your appeal statement, accompanying it with documents from its side, and within a month will notify you of the decision made by the migration court.

You are entitled to only one visa refusal appeal. If the migration court leaves a decision to refuse a visa or revoke a visa in force, then you can not challenge this either in a higher court, or in Strasbourg or anywhere else. The only exception to this rule is the case when your close relative (children, parents, spouses) is a citizen of this country.