Applying a German visa for traveling has it's own ups and down. It took me 2 weeks to prepare my visa documents, and 4 months to get paranoid of all the weird yet random requirements that the embassy ask for.
No one in my circle, either family or friends, ever applied for a Schengen visa. My mom, being all loving and always worried about me, phoned a travel agent and the freaked out of the requirements that travel agent ask for. A recommendation letter? Travel insurance that covers USD 30.000? A three month bank statement that has at least IDR 50.000.000? Original flight ticket with no guarantee that the visa might even get accepted? Where on eARTH could a 21 year old unemployed fresh graduate could complete the requirements??
Calm down, take a deep breath. Oh no darling I was not calm, especially with my mom who makes everything seems even worse.
Cut the drama, now I'm going to explain about Shengen visa, and how to get them.
Shengen Visa
You all know what a visa is, that's how you're here, reading my blog. What's cool about this Shengen visa is how you can visit other countries within the Shengen Area. Based on their website (I honestly don't know whether it's official or not), a Shengen Area is comprised of 26 countries that have agreed to allow free movement of their citizens with their area as a single country. 22 countries are part of the EU and the other 4 are part of the EFTA. Visit their website to see the complete list of countries that are part of the Shengen Area.
 |
| source: schengenvisainfo.com |
How to choose the country to apply your visa?
These questions were asked when I phoned the embassy of Germany and Netherlands.
1. Which country will be your main destination?
2. Which country will you spend most of your visit at?
My case:
I found many websites and blogs (including the official ones) that stated that you can apply based on the first country that you enter. For my case, my main visiting country is Germany. However, since I will be staying long at Kleve, which is really close to Amsterdam, I took the Jakarta - Amsterdam flight instead of the flight to Germany. For Indonesians, Germany is notorious for rejecting visas, while it is the exact opposite for Netherlands. This made me thought of applying my visa from the Netherlands. I phoned the embassy to ask whether it is possible or not, and they said no. Even thought it is practically not a problem, but the immigration officer might question you and you don't want to cause any trouble. I also phoned the German embassy, and they encouraged me to apply from Germany.
Shengen Visa Type
There are three types of Shengen visa that you need to know: travel, visiting (family, friends, relatives, or anyone you know), and business. Other types are student, working, and transit, but the most common ones are the 3 types that I mentioned earlier. For some countries, visiting visa might be part of the travel visa.
My case:
I will be traveling for 17 days, inside, and outside of the Shengen Area. The countries in the Shengen area that I will visit is Germany, Netherlands, and France. My main destination is to Germany, because I will visit my German friend in Germany and will stay at her property. I was confused because I will be both traveling and visiting a friend. The embassy suggested me to apply for a visiting visa.
NOTE: If it's possible for you to apply for a visiting visa, then apply for that kind of visa. In my views, it is a lot easier and it has better chance of your visa to be accepted.
Apply Your Visa
Now I'm going to explain specifically for applying a German Shengen visa from Indonesia. Some of the things written below might be general information that can be applied to other countries. I don't recommend you to fully rely my blog tho, it would be best if you see the complete details from the Embassy's website from your country.
Required Documents
The complete check list for applying a German Shengen Visa from Indonesia, donwload here.
1. Request Form, there are 2 ways to fill this form, offline and online (through VIDEX). It is highly recommended to fill through the VIDEX form because it is the only way you will receive your barcode, which would be important for the visa. In the end, you'll print the online form anyway. I will post a guide of filling the form later.
2. Statement sheet - travel itinerary. Just a simple document where you fill in the countries and the dates of where you will visit.
What if you don't know the dates because you'll travel spontaneously? The answer is, consider yourself in Germany. I only wrote Germany and Netherlands, since I was quite unsure about France. But I'm going to France anyway.
3. Photo. 3,5 x 4,5 cm, face have to cover 80%. You'll need 2 of these.
4. Your original passport
5. Travel insurance that covers a minimum of €30.000.000. Click here to see the accepted insurance company. I personally use ACA, not only because they're the cheapest and you can simply communicate through email or whatsapp, but they are the only company that offers a full refund if your visa got declined.
6. Visa request fee for €60, or about Rp 960.000. Bring it cash during your interview.
7. Your ticket reservation. The embassy does not recommend you to buy a real ticket, but I bought a real ticket anyway. There are several options:
- If you use a travel agent, ask their help to make you a flight reservation.
- Create your own dummy ticket, here is a very useful blog post by Sayalia, Mayangsesara, and Jambulkebalik. I tried making my own dummy, and it works.
8. Proof of accommodation. You can simply book yours from Booking.com. Remember, book an accommodation that offers pay on property and of course, a free cancellation!! Therefore you don't need to give them your credit card information. If you apply for a visiting visa, make sure it states that you will be staying with them.
9. Proof of sufficient means of subsistence, which is a copy of your bank statement for the past 3 months. It is highly recommended that you have Rp 50.000.000. It could be less, and the amount varies from country to country. Here's an explanation:
A foreign applicant applying for a German Visa, must be able to attest possessing € 45 / day. Therefore, if you intended to visit Germany for 10 days, you will need € 45 x 10 days = € 450, which equals to Rp 7.300.000. However, it is still best to have at least Rp 20.000.000, just a better chance your visa will get accepted. Click here for information of each Shengen Area Countries.
10. Statement from your company that you are an employee, or if you're a student, statement from your school / university. Basically this point proves that you will return back to your country because you have 'responsibilities'.
Now, these are additional requirements for your travel or visiting visa.
Travel Visa
11. A complete travel itinerary from your departure from Indonesia, that includes hotel reservation and transportation details.
Visiting Visa
11. Invitation letter. This is the best example I could find.
12. If you are biologically related to them, provide proof such as a birth certificate or a family register
13. If you are not, provide proof of communication. In other words, give proof that you are really related to them. I submit screenshots of whatsapp text messages and photos we have together.
12. If you are biologically related to them, provide proof such as a birth certificate or a family register
13. If you are not, provide proof of communication. In other words, give proof that you are really related to them. I submit screenshots of whatsapp text messages and photos we have together.
Register for an appointment
After you have all your documents, register yourself for an appointment at the German Embassy. On your selected date, bring all your documents and also your ID.
Click here to set your appointment.
Click on continue, and you will select your visa type, whether you're applying for a travel, visiting, or business visa. Fill in the details, and a confirmation email will be sent to you. Print the email they sent, and bring it on your appointment.
On the Day of Your Appointment
1. Dress neatly
2. Bring your ID
3. Your appointment will not be on time. I got delayed for 2 hours. Why?
4. Because the staff are so nice, they will actually help you complete your documents (if it's incomplete or it's not right), and will give you time to submit them later
5. Your cellphone and all electronic devises will be taken. Prepare to be bored
6. Bring water and food. Seriously.
I can tell that the staffs are actually nice, and they seemed kinda overwhelmed with everything. Just give them a smile and be friendly. They will be friendlier.
While you are submitting your documents, the staffs will interview you too. Basic questions, they asked me my means of visiting Germany, my employment status, my student status and when will I graduate, my relationship with the inviting person, how long I've known my friend, and other questions that I could not remember. After they are sure that your documents are complete, they will scan your fingerprints, ask for the fee, and give you details on when your passport is ready.
I had my appointment on Monday, October 30th, and it was stated that my passport and visa will be ready on Friday, November 3rd. On Friday I took my passport and I AM SO GLAD that my visa got accepted!!! I WAS SO HAPPY I LITERALLY CRIED because I was quite pessimistic about it.
Dil's tip to apply your own Shengen Visa
Keep in mind that the whole process in easy. Believe me, it might seem difficult, but you can do it. A travel agent can help you, but it would be nice if you do it yourself because they really don't help much.
Pay your own travel. Or at least, make it looked as if you payed for your own. I do pay for my own trip, but for the bank statement requirements I borrowed money from my parents. They transfered the amount of money to my bank account and kept it there for 3 months. Even though I can return the money after my visa is accepted, we thought it's best to keep it in my bank account until my return back to Indonesia. In addition, it's okay if the transfer is sudden, I mean, like from Rp 2.000.000 to Rp 52.000.000. Lol.
Pay your own travel. Or at least, make it looked as if you payed for your own. I do pay for my own trip, but for the bank statement requirements I borrowed money from my parents. They transfered the amount of money to my bank account and kept it there for 3 months. Even though I can return the money after my visa is accepted, we thought it's best to keep it in my bank account until my return back to Indonesia. In addition, it's okay if the transfer is sudden, I mean, like from Rp 2.000.000 to Rp 52.000.000. Lol.
Why do I recommend this? Because (1) it's easier, (2) at least I don't need to add another party to my visa application, (3) I don't need to show them my birth certificate, and (4) I don't have to go through the complicated requirements of the sponsored visiting visa. BTW, I honestly felt uncomfortable with all the personal information that they asked.
Last but not least, I literally called the embassy everyday. I even managed to remember their phone number. 021 398 55 114, this is the number directly to the visa dude. He will answer all your question, make sure you have written everything you need to ask because the number is quite hard to reach.
Last but not least, I literally called the embassy everyday. I even managed to remember their phone number. 021 398 55 114, this is the number directly to the visa dude. He will answer all your question, make sure you have written everything you need to ask because the number is quite hard to reach.
That's it, I'll update a picture of my visa after I got home from my trip.
Good luck for every one of you whose struggling with your visa. May the odds be with you.
Love,
N.
Good luck for every one of you whose struggling with your visa. May the odds be with you.
Love,
N.
0 comments:
Post a Comment