Schengen Visa question: Can I enter Schengen area in a different country than the country which issued me visa?

[CARDBITRAGE]

33 countries? do you have a YouTube channel? Lol. You're my inspiration.

I traveled to 10 countries in the last 2 years and my family has been criticizing me non-stop.

Haha. Not much of a social media person. I could save a lot of taxes if I had a YouTube channel though. Maybe I should consider it. XD
My family shares the same passion for travelling, so I guess I'm lucky. And by the way, 10 countries in the last 2 years is incredible! Most people are restricted to exploring a few countries every year, so maybe that's why they are criticising you. 😀

Besides, travelling is fun and one of the most important experiences in life IMO. Why do I do it? I meet so many people, I'm forced to be outside my comfort zone, and the overall process is educational. The best part is you realise how much good there is in the world. A lot of the times, even when there is no incentive, people are so incredibly nice to you. I think it is important for everyone to witness that to help contrast all the rubbish that we come across in life.

 

[chasni]

Haha. Not much of a social media person. I could save a lot of taxes if I had a YouTube channel though. Maybe I should consider it. XD
My family shares the same passion for travelling, so I guess I'm lucky. And by the way, 10 countries in the last 2 years is incredible! Most people are restricted to exploring a few countries every year, so maybe that's why they are criticising you. 😀

Besides, travelling is fun and one of the most important experiences in life IMO. Why do I do it? I meet so many people, I'm forced to be outside my comfort zone, and the overall process is educational. The best part is you realise how much good there is in the world. A lot of the times, even when there is no incentive, people are so incredibly nice to you. I think it is important for everyone to witness that to help contrast all the rubbish that we come across in life.

I agree with every word you said. It is an amazing experience and learning opportunity.

 

[ThriftyPlasticPundit]

I wasn't particularly talking about the change in accommodation/transportation either. That's quite trivial and a lot of people make those changes as they make refundable booking reservations(at a premium) just for the visa. It would be stupid not to safeguard yourself and even the visa/immigration officers know that. I'm intrigued because I've travelled to more than 33 countries so far and never have they asked why I had changed my original bookings or travel plan(as I tend to make changes last minute after learning more about the place I will be travelling to), and this is the first time I'm hearing this. Albeit it will be my first time travelling to the Schengen area next month, and I'll probably find out myself. Everyone I have interacted with who has been to the Schengen region never had the immigration officer question about a deviation in the travel plans either. They were only asked about their itinerary and questioned on the same to ascertain whether they were legitimately travelling and to confirm whether they would leave the zone post their travels.
If one is travelling to multiple countries, there's a high chance of adding new experiences or destinations to your travel plan. I'm sure the immigration officers will understand that as well. But it is key to travel to the country that issued you your visa and the fact that most airlines check your hotel bookings and itinerary before check-in shows how vital that is.
Once you establish that you have visited and respected the issued visas in the past, the immigration will tend to be smooth. One of my relatives obtained a 2-year Schengen visa from France last year and when they visited two months ago, they were only asked for the return flight tickets and to briefly explain about her travel plan. The immigration official even made recommendations to visit certain places. All in all it was smooth and hardly took 5 minutes of her time.

Well, I intend to travel to 15 countries in the span of two months within the Schengen zone. Hence the sizable, comprehensive documentation. In most cases, it won't be so voluminous. 🙂

I do understand, but it's rare thing and could potentially set your mood off when immigration start asking.

keep in mind that we are talking in the purpose of visit, coz the initial visa is issued for visit your friends and family. offcourse they won't send you back if you tell them that you don't want to stay with friends and prefer hotel ( assuming you have money to support ) but I am highlighting here, immigration have this information in front. don't think that they don't know anything or have zero visibility.


have you visited Eastern Europe ? if not try bulgaria and romania then share with me your experience.

 

[CARDBITRAGE]

have you visited Eastern Europe ? if not try bulgaria and romania then share with me your experience.

Not yet. First time visiting Mainland Europe. I will be covering a few countries in Eastern Europe, but not Romania and Bulgaria as I wasn't able to find a schedule for the trains on the Eurail network. I've only been to the UK and Ireland so far. I think both Bulgaria and Romania are part of the Schengen zone. Earlier there was severe scrutiny for Indian travellers(as this is among one of the donkey routes to the EU). Hopefully now that are part of the Schengen treaty, things should be more relaxed.

 

[ThriftyPlasticPundit]

Not yet. First time visiting Mainland Europe. I will be covering a few countries in Eastern Europe, but not Romania and Bulgaria as I wasn't able to find a schedule for the trains on the Eurail network. I've only been to the UK and Ireland so far. I think both Bulgaria and Romania are part of the Schengen zone. Earlier there was severe scrutiny for Indian travellers(as this is among one of the donkey routes to the EU). Hopefully now that are part of the Schengen treaty, things should be more relaxed.

yes romania was always very hesitant granting visa to Indians, you needed special invitation from external affairs but since they are now part of Schengen, are now aligned with European commission instruction and have standard requirements.

 

[moneyMaker]

Haha. Not much of a social media person. I could save a lot of taxes if I had a YouTube channel though. Maybe I should consider it. XD

Making travel work doesn't really sound right haha

 

[chasni]

Not yet. First time visiting Mainland Europe. I will be covering a few countries in Eastern Europe, but not Romania and Bulgaria as I wasn't able to find a schedule for the trains on the Eurail network. I've only been to the UK and Ireland so far. I think both Bulgaria and Romania are part of the Schengen zone. Earlier there was severe scrutiny for Indian travellers(as this is among one of the donkey routes to the EU). Hopefully now that are part of the Schengen treaty, things should be more relaxed.

Just a question out of curiosity as my last Schengen travel was 2 years ago. What do you submit in intra-Schengen travel proof?

 

[CARDBITRAGE]

Just a question out of curiosity as my last Schengen travel was 2 years ago. What do you submit in intra-Schengen travel proof?

I have a two-month Eurail pass. My whole itinerary is designed around the Eurail network and I've stated that in my cover letter and itinerary as well. Saves me a whole lot of trouble of showing individual transfers.

 

[ThriftyPlasticPundit]

intresting article, India is third country with most visa application.

we are literally feeding world economy, imagine if no visa require for 7-15 days, Schengen countries for Indians.

Schengen States Received 10.3 Million Visa Applications in 2023, China Top Applicant

The number of visa applications filed in 2023 surpassed 10.3 million, showing an increase of 37 per cent from 2022. According to data from the European Commission published by SchengenVisaInfo, Chinese nationals have filed most visa applications for the year – a total of 1.1 million. China...

www.schengenvisainfo.com

 

[Harry1]

intresting article, India is third country with most visa application.

we are literally feeding world economy, imagine if no visa require for 7-15 days, Schengen countries for Indians.

Schengen States Received 10.3 Million Visa Applications in 2023, China Top Applicant

The number of visa applications filed in 2023 surpassed 10.3 million, showing an increase of 37 per cent from 2022. According to data from the European Commission published by SchengenVisaInfo, Chinese nationals have filed most visa applications for the year – a total of 1.1 million. China...

www.schengenvisainfo.com

We already left behind china in population. What else do you expect?

 

[SM24]

https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-european-commission-hikes-schengen-visa-fees-starting-june-11-3500107/lite/

Higher visa fees + some usual doubts cleared here.

 

[Avatar Aang]

Just returned from my Europe trip. I had applied for visa at the swiss consulate. The travel dates provided in itinerary were 3rd to 10th may and I had showed dummy flight bookings and fully cancellable bookings. Got my visa in 10 days. After receiving visa I planned my trip and first Visited Germany for 4 days then Switzerland for 8 days and took the return flight from Paris. Actual travel date from 12th May to 25th May.
Did not face any issue during my trip.

 

[Odugu Narasimha Rao]

Hello I lost my job recently present i am not an employee but my father is a business person will I get

Schengen visa ?​

Without payslips can I geymt this visa?

 

[Harry1]

My immigration experience -

Entry from Paris (BLR-DEL-CDG) and Exit from Frankfurt (FRA-DEL) on Air India with Swiss Visa (Highest number of days in Switzerland). One person in economy and one in Business. No change in Itinerary.

In BLR, nothing was asked and all boarding passes were given. In Delhi Transit area, immigration happened and nothing was asked except purpose (tourism). Now, just before boarding the flight, one guy got suspicious and took me to some other guy. He indicated like visa was not printed correctly or forged in one passport, but to me it looked same.

Now that person asked me to show everything - Itinerary, All hotel bookings, Schengen train tickets, US Visa etc. He took snapshot of everything and forwarded to some embassy guy over WhatsApp. I saw about 10-15 more people, who was brought for similar purpose. The person took 10-15 mins to check everything, chatted with the embassy guy over WhatsApp and finally allowed me to board, as all my documents were proper and I didn't change anything in itinerary. In the end, he also asked me why is one person in economy and another in business (I mentioned that only one award seats were available).

As mine was taking time, they moved others to a different person and those people were apparently cleared quickly. I am still not sure what was exactly reason of suspicion and what removed his suspicion. Airline was having lot of empty seats, so overbooking can't be reason. But I was pretty afraid of being denied boarding during those 15 mins.

Afterwards, nothing asked in paris.

During return, In Frankfurt, they checked our passport twice (probably for entry stamp), but no questions. (For one person ahead of us, they sent him for some questioning (his entry and exit both were from Frankfurt), but he was allowed as well later, as we saw him during boarding. In Delhi , again nothing was asked.

 

[ishanmontella]

Hello I lost my job recently present i am not an employee but my father is a business person will I get

Schengen visa ?​

Without payslips can I geymt this visa?

Your dad can show you as an employee in his business, till you find a new job.

Rest, if you have ITR’s and bank statements in order, there should be no problem.

But, being unemployed and single, at the time of application can be a red-flag.

 

[Thor04]

Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland have all acceded to the Schengen Agreement and are thus Schengen states. If any one of the above countries grants you Schengen Visa then you can visit all the other countries mentioned above without any problem.

 

[Kiranonlinee]

My company has sponsered a business visit visa and it was rejected by Netherlands recently, can I apply for tourist visa again for Netherlands?

 

[ThriftyPlasticPundit]

Can someone clarify two things ?
1. while booking the flight, noticed that a message that Indian may requires transit visa for Germany or Swiss but as far i know if you have Schengen visa then no other visa required. Can someone confirm ?
2. how do guys buy insurance for long term visa ? is it like gamble like buy and hope you get visa or any way to hold without paying full amount before visa

 

[Zacobite]

Can someone clarify two things ?
1. while booking the flight, noticed that a message that Indian may requires transit visa for Germany or Swiss but as far i know if you have Schengen visa then no other visa required. Can someone confirm ?
2. how do guys buy insurance for long term visa ? is it like gamble like buy and hope you get visa or any way to hold without paying full amount before visa

buy insurance after visa.. only when you travel.

You can enter / transit if you have a schengen.. no separate visa reqd

 

[Avatar Aang]

Can someone clarify two things ?
1. while booking the flight, noticed that a message that Indian may requires transit visa for Germany or Swiss but as far i know if you have Schengen visa then no other visa required. Can someone confirm ?
2. how do guys buy insurance for long term visa ? is it like gamble like buy and hope you get visa or any way to hold without paying full amount before visa

If you have Schengen visa then you don't require transit visa.
You need insurance for Visa approval. You can change the dates in insurance if you plan to postpone the trip.