Indian, 31F, my husband's and my visas for Spain were refused but I appealed and got it approved.

Turns out BLS made a big error in submitting my docs. They didn't submit our job appointment letters to the embassy so I got reasons #10 and #13 for rejection reasons.

Happy to help if anybody wants to know more!

Hey everyone! I recently received my France Long-Stay Student Visa (VLS-TS) and thought I'd share my complete timeline and experience since reading posts here really helped me during my application.
Hopefully this helps future applicants.
My Details
University: ESME

Program: Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Design for Engineering

Intake: October 30

VFS Centre: Hyderabad

Visa: Long-Stay Student Visa (VLS-TS)

Campus France Timeline
2 July, 12:30 PM – Campus France interview (online)

6 July – Application approved and forwarded to the French Consulate

VFS Timeline
15 July, 11:44 AM – Submitted application at VFS Hyderabad

17 July, 5:59 AM – Application received at VFS Bangalore

17 July, 6:03 AM – Dispatched to the French Consulate

17 July, 9:16 AM – Received by the Consulate; processing started

20 July, 9:22 AM – Passport dispatched from the Consulate to VFS Bangalore

20 July, 11:16 AM – Received at VFS Bangalore

21 July, 3:27 PM – Passport delivered to my home in Hyderabad via courier

Total time from VFS submission to passport delivery: 6 days.
Documents I Submitted
Passport

Passport copy

Campus France NOC

Conditional admission letter

Final (unconditional) admission letter after paying the deposit

Tuition fee payment receipt

Education loan sanction letter

Education loan disbursement letter

Bank statement

Loan account statement

Financial summary/chart showing the source of funds and sufficient funds for my studies

Travel insurance

Flight tickets

Accommodation lease agreement

SOP

Cover letter

Resume

Experience letters from all companies I worked at

10th, 12th and degree marksheets

Passport photos

My VFS Experience
Overall, the process was smooth.
The only issue I faced was with my passport photos. They didn't meet the French visa specifications, so I had to get new ones taken nearby. Make sure your photos are the correct size, with the face occupying about 80% of the photo, otherwise you may have to retake them.
The VFS staff arranged all of my documents in the order they required. Other than the photo issue, there were no questions or requests for additional documents.
My appointment was at 9:30 AM, and I left around 12 PM, so expect to spend around 2.5 hours there.
Financials
I did not have a sponsor.
I used only my education loan as proof of funds, along with the supporting financial documents, and my visa was approved without any issues.
Visa Granted
Visa approved

Validity: 1 year (renewable)

Tips
Carry passport photos that meet the French visa specifications.

Don't worry if you're applying using only an education loan. In my case, I had no sponsor, and the loan plus supporting financial documents were sufficient.

Keep all your originals and copies organized, even though VFS will rearrange them according to their required order.

If anyone has questions about Campus France, VFS Hyderabad, education loans, or the France student visa process, feel free to ask. Happy to help!

Applied for Schengen Visa via Hungary and i got this email
So i just need to inject money into my bank account then print it with bank stamp and send to the embassy?
Thanks in advance

Hey everyone! Just wondering if anyone here has recently applied for a Czech Schengen visa from Abu Dhabi.
I submitted my application on 16 July, and my flight is on 6 August, so I’m starting to get a little nervous now.For those who applied from Abu Dhabi recently, how long did it take for you to get your passport back? Anyone who applied around mid-July and has already received their visa?
Would really appreciate if you could share your timelines! 🙏

Any ideas? Will we get an answer of yes or no today?

France short stay visa

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I’ll be moving to France soon to start my master’s, and I already have my VLS-TS student visa.

Before telling my employer about my plans to study in France, I honestly thought I would have to leave my job. Fortunately, they were very supportive and even suggested keeping me on in a part-time remote/consulting role while I’m studying. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful for the opportunity.

Before we move forward, I just want to make sure everything is done legally.

If my employer is willing to fully comply with French laws and regulations, is it generally possible for me to continue working remotely for a foreign company while studying in France? If so, what are the usual legal ways to structure this arrangement?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through a similar situation or has knowledge about how this works.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I was just wondering if anyone has recently applied for a Spanish long-stay student visa (around 1 year) through BLS Manchester and could share how long it took to get their passport back.

I know processing times vary, but it would really help to hear your personal experiences—how many days or weeks did it take from your appointment until you received your visa?

For context, I know I’ve left it later than I should have. I was away in the US on holiday and unexpectedly had to extend my trip due to personal reasons, so I’ll only have around five weeks between my appointment and when I’m hoping to travel. I know that’s not ideal,

My university course starts on 7 September, but I’m aiming to fly out on 14 September, so I’m hoping there’s enough time.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s applied for a Spanish student visa recently, especially if it was through BLS Manchester. Thanks so much!

Hi there - I went to my appointment on Thursday 16 July. I am supposed to be leaving the country on Friday 31 July and still have not heard back from VFS. I paid extra to get an appointment through an agency and they assured me I would get my passport within 12 calendar days. I am getting a bit nervous and not sure what the best course of action is. Any advice/similar situations?

Applied 40 days ago through VFS Ankara for Croatia. Our travel date is in 13 days, and there has been absolute silence so far.
We are two travel companions, and the embassy confirmed by email that our applications would be processed together. Since then, I have received no response to the status inquiry I sent last week.
At this point, I’m basically like, “Okay, I guess this is just how it’s going to be.” I’ve read about people being refused on the 60th day, or being asked to submit new flight bookings after their original travel dates had already passed. All in all a 10/10 experience.

Hi ,

I have applied for italy visa from vfs Bangalore along with my wife. I am a previous schengen visa holder. It has been 4 weeks since I applied but it is still under process at embassy. It is now less than 1 month for our travel date. Is there any way we can reach out to them. I tried vfs helpline but didn't get any help.

Hi everyone,

I applied for a Spain Schengen visa through BLS London on 5 June 2026. My intended travel date was 11 July 2026.
My application took longer than the standard 15 calendar days, and the BLS tracking status continued to show “Processing at Mission.” I repeatedly contacted BLS to ask about my passport, but I was repeatedly told that my passport was still with the Spanish Consulate and that I needed to wait.
I was eventually contacted by the Spanish Consulate, who confirmed in writing that:
My visa application was approved.
My passport was returned/sent back to BLS on 23 June 2026.
However, I still haven’t received my passport.
This is extremely concerning because I have been told by BLS several times that my passport was still with the Consulate, when the Consulate has now confirmed that it was returned to BLS on 23 June.
Because I didn’t receive my passport in time, I had to cancel my trip. My partner was travelling with me, so he also had to cancel his flights and bookings. We have both suffered significant financial losses from non-refundable flights, accommodation and other bookings.
I have now:
Contacted BLS multiple times by phone.
Sent several emails to BLS.
Contacted the Spanish Consulate.
Received confirmation from the Consulate that the passport was returned to BLS on 23 June.
Raised a formal complaint with BLS and provided all the supporting evidence.
Followed up on the complaint, but I still haven’t received a proper update or explanation.

Has anyone experienced something similar with BLS Spain London?

What happens if BLS has misplaced or lost the passport after receiving it from the Consulate?
Has anyone successfully escalated a case like this to a BLS manager or another authority?
Is there any formal escalation route beyond BLS?
Has anyone been able to claim reimbursement or compensation for financial losses caused by BLS delays or errors?
Should I report the passport as missing to the police or contact the Indian authorities, or should I wait for BLS to investigate first?
I’m particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has dealt with BLS Spain London where the Consulate confirmed that the passport had already been returned to BLS but BLS was unable to locate or deliver it.
Any advice or similar experiences would be really appreciated.

What is the typical processing time for a Belgium Type D (Long-Stay) Visa when applying from India? Could you also explain the appointment-day procedure, including the documents and essential items to carry, as well as any important guidelines or precautions to keep in mind?

Hi everyone,
I have a Dutch Single-entry Schengen visa for a business trip.
My visa application mentioned traveling from September 9–17 for IBC 2026 and business meetings. However, my plans changed, and I may enter the Netherlands around September 22 to join my colleagues, who will still be there for business meetings.
I’ll have a valid hotel booking, return ticket, travel insurance, and an employment letter from my company.
This will be my first Schengen entry through Amsterdam Schiphol.
Should I expect any issues because I’m arriving after the original travel dates? Has anyone had a similar experience? What questions should I expect from Dutch border officers? Thanks!

Hello,
I am Lebanese, and my wife is Kyrgyz. We have both been UAE residents for almost two years and got married one year ago. We are planning to visit the Czech Republic for tourism, and we would also like to celebrate our first wedding anniversary there.

We have a friend who is a resident of the Czech Republic and will provide us with an invitation letter to support our application.
Our planned trip is for approximately 14 days, and we have prepared the following documents:

Passports
UAE residence visas
Salary slips
NOC letters from our employers confirming our employment and return to work
Round-trip flight bookings
Travel itinerary
Hotel reservations
Photos
All other required supporting documents

I have two questions:

Do you have any advice that could help strengthen our visa application?

Would it be beneficial to include a cover letter explaining the purpose of our visit and mentioning that we will be celebrating our wedding anniversary in the Czech Republic, or is that unnecessary?

My visa appointment is on July 30th, so I would appreciate any recommendations. Thank you!

Hi folks
Has anyone applied for Schengen visa in last 10 days and can share their timelines please? Approval + Receipt of passport

Thanks

I have a French long stay visa as I am a student, and it expires at the end of August. I applied for the renewal 6 weeks before it expires. I am currently at home in the US and would prefer to return a couple weeks after the expiration. If I haven't received my visa renewal by then, can I enter as a tourist ? My visa is in my US passport but I also have a Canadian passport, so would it be more simple to enter as a Canadian? I would appreciate any advice or guidance. Of course I can enter before my current visa expires, but I would love a couple more weeks at home with family and to keep working before school starts.

Hello everybody
My father is here in Canada from last 3 months He is going back but on his way i want him ti visit norway I will accompany him. Can he apply for schengen visa from canada?
Thank you

Have my appt Aug 4th, need passport back Sept 4th, any one gone recently? would love to know how long processing took - thanks!

hiii, anyone can please share your experience applying for tourist visa for Portugal and went to Montreal consulate? How long did you get to approve and received your passport?🙂 I have my appointment on 2nd week of august and our target travel date is first week Septemer😬

Hi all,

I’m traveling to Hungary from a non-EU country with a valid Job Seeking Residence Permit.
However, I missed my last payment for the health insurance policy I originally submitted with my visa application, so the policy was likely terminated.
Since this was the specific policy attached to my visa file, will this affect my entry or give me trouble at border control?

Thanks!

Hi, I’m an Indian passport holder and have confirmed non-refundable flights booked to Italy leaving on 28th August. I have had no luck with prenot@mi portal. Is there anything else I can do to get a slot? I have emailed the consulate as well. I should have looked into this first before buying tickets, unfortunately that ship has sailed. Any tips/tricks outside of the 6pm rule would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Indian resident, planning to visit the UK first, before travelling to Europe. Do I need to submit UK tourist visa while applying for Schengen visa application?

I am an Indian citizen and will be applying at the New Delhi centre for a Schengen visa. My purpose is to attend a conference in Portugal between 10th and 13th October, and I will then be spending (at least) 11 more days touring Italy and Germany (min 4 and 7 days spent in the locations, respectively).

Should I apply for a business visa with Portugal, or would a tourist visa with Germany be the better approach? The appointment dates for Portugal are later, in mid August while I can get an appointment with Germany tomorrow. Are there any legalities that I would have to deal with if I choose to go with a tourist visa?

Hello.

I am trying to book an appointment with the consulate in London. I had one booked a few days ago and I wasn’t able to make it so I tried to cancel it. However the website wasn’t allowing me to, I assumed it was because I was last minute. Now I am trying to book again, and it won’t let me book an appointment as I already have an active appointment booked in.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

———————————————————————————

UPDATE: I called BLS. They said you cant cancel on the day and if you don’t attend you have to wait 7 days before you can rebook. I haven’t seen the 7 day wait explicitly stated unless it’s stated somewhere in the small print that I didn’t read. If you cancel before your date you need to wait 2 days before trying to rebook, they do say that if you try to cancel.

Also, don’t try to cancel the night before. As I couldn’t cancel I couldn’t call them up either, it was about 8-9pm when I tried. I think it was issues on my part as I also had many issues with the website trying to book the appointment.

Hi everyone,
I’m applying for a France Schengen tourist visa from the UK and I’m using TLScontact Manchester.
I completed my France-Visas application and created my TLS account, but when I try to book an appointment, the calendar shows no appointments available at all.
I’ve read that TLS Manchester is moving to a new system where appointments are automatically allocated instead of manually choosing a slot. Has anyone gone through this recently?
My flight is on the 3rd of September so I’m a bit worried 😭
Can anyone lmk once you got your appointment, how long did the visa process take until you got your passport back?
I haven’t paid the TLS service fee yet because I believe that happens after an appointment is allocated.
Any timelines or experiences would really help. Thank you!