spriteB:
Thank you everyone for the support. I got my short stay France- Schengen Visa today!

Submission at VFS - Monday, March 6th.
Notification of passport return - Monday, March 13th
Passport delivery by UPS - Tuesday, March 14th.

Intended Travel dates: March 18th to 26th.
Destination: Paris.


Documents Submitted at VFS:


1. Application form.
2. Nigerian Passport.
3. Return ticket purchased via Wakanow. ( Realized from this thread that I would've just made reservation so money won't go to waste, just in case...)
4. Ticket reservation of tour activities. Booked on Viator, but not paid for.
5. Letter of introduction from my Employer , confirming employment and dates of travel and Employment letter.
6. 6 months bank statement each for my Salary account (Naira) and a Dollar account. This was reduced to 3 months for each account at VFS.
7. Allianze travel insurance; purchased via Wakanow .(Already purchased it before I saw this thread.)
8. Hotel accommodation booked via Hotels. com; but not yet paid for.
9. Copies of Work ID, Pension and Co-operative participation - I used them as a proof of strong tie to Nigeria.
10. Cover letter introducing myself, intended activities in Paris and summarizing the documents submitted. (Many many thanks to the contributors on this thread!)
11. Copy of US Visa.

PS: I got my US Visa just last month but I'm yet to travel with it. I was told at VFS that I'm a 'Frequent Traveler' so it was written on my documents pouch, even though I'm a first time traveler. So if you have any of the Visas listed on the website, just select 'frequent traveler' for your VFS appointment.

Thank you, everyone!

spriteB:
Thank you everyone for the support. I got my short stay France- Schengen Visa today!

Submission at VFS - Monday, March 6th.
Notification of passport return - Monday, March 13th
Passport delivery by UPS - Tuesday, March 14th.

Intended Travel dates: March 18th to 26th.
Destination: Paris.


Documents Submitted at VFS:


1. Application form.
2. Nigerian Passport.
3. Return ticket purchased via Wakanow. ( Realized from this thread that I would've just made reservation so money won't go to waste, just in case...)
4. Ticket reservation of tour activities. Booked on Viator, but not paid for.
5. Letter of introduction from my Employer , confirming employment and dates of travel and Employment letter.
6. 6 months bank statement each for my Salary account (Naira) and a Dollar account. This was reduced to 3 months for each account at VFS.
7. Allianze travel insurance; purchased via Wakanow .(Already purchased it before I saw this thread.)
8. Hotel accommodation booked via Hotels. com; but not yet paid for.
9. Copies of Work ID, Pension and Co-operative participation - I used them as a proof of strong tie to Nigeria.
10. Cover letter introducing myself, intended activities in Paris and summarizing the documents submitted. (Many many thanks to the contributors on this thread!)
11. Copy of US Visa.

PS: I got my US Visa just last month but I'm yet to travel with it. I was told at VFS that I'm a 'Frequent Traveler' so it was written on my documents pouch, even though I'm a first time traveler. So if you have any of the Visas listed on the website, just select 'frequent traveler' for your VFS appointment.

Thank you, everyone!

spriteB:
Thank you everyone for the support. I got my short stay France- Schengen Visa today!

Submission at VFS - Monday, March 6th.
Notification of passport return - Monday, March 13th
Passport delivery by UPS - Tuesday, March 14th.

Intended Travel dates: March 18th to 26th.
Destination: Paris.


Documents Submitted at VFS:


1. Application form.
2. Nigerian Passport.
3. Return ticket purchased via Wakanow. ( Realized from this thread that I would've just made reservation so money won't go to waste, just in case...)
4. Ticket reservation of tour activities. Booked on Viator, but not paid for.
5. Letter of introduction from my Employer , confirming employment and dates of travel and Employment letter.
6. 6 months bank statement each for my Salary account (Naira) and a Dollar account. This was reduced to 3 months for each account at VFS.
7. Allianze travel insurance; purchased via Wakanow .(Already purchased it before I saw this thread.)
8. Hotel accommodation booked via Hotels. com; but not yet paid for.
9. Copies of Work ID, Pension and Co-operative participation - I used them as a proof of strong tie to Nigeria.
10. Cover letter introducing myself, intended activities in Paris and summarizing the documents submitted. (Many many thanks to the contributors on this thread!)
11. Copy of US Visa.

PS: I got my US Visa just last month but I'm yet to travel with it. I was told at VFS that I'm a 'Frequent Traveler' so it was written on my documents pouch, even though I'm a first time traveler. So if you have any of the Visas listed on the website, just select 'frequent traveler' for your VFS appointment.

Thank you, everyone!

gerrald02:
Itinerary

meljoe:
Congrats

spriteB:
Thank you everyone for the support. I got my short stay France- Schengen Visa today!

Submission at VFS - Monday, March 6th.
Notification of passport return - Monday, March 13th
Passport delivery by UPS - Tuesday, March 14th.

Intended Travel dates: March 18th to 26th.
Destination: Paris.


Documents Submitted at VFS:


1. Application form.
2. Nigerian Passport.
3. Return ticket purchased via Wakanow. ( Realized from this thread that I would've just made reservation so money won't go to waste, just in case...)
4. Ticket reservation of tour activities. Booked on Viator, but not paid for.
5. Letter of introduction from my Employer , confirming employment and dates of travel and Employment letter.
6. 6 months bank statement each for my Salary account (Naira) and a Dollar account. This was reduced to 3 months for each account at VFS.
7. Allianze travel insurance; purchased via Wakanow .(Already purchased it before I saw this thread.)
8. Hotel accommodation booked via Hotels. com; but not yet paid for.
9. Copies of Work ID, Pension and Co-operative participation - I used them as a proof of strong tie to Nigeria.
10. Cover letter introducing myself, intended activities in Paris and summarizing the documents submitted. (Many many thanks to the contributors on this thread!)
11. Copy of US Visa.

PS: I got my US Visa just last month but I'm yet to travel with it. I was told at VFS that I'm a 'Frequent Traveler' so it was written on my documents pouch, even though I'm a first time traveler. So if you have any of the Visas listed on the website, just select 'frequent traveler' for your VFS appointment.

Thank you, everyone!

pufframmy:
How many month were you given?

spriteB:
Plenty plenty Sprite!!
No other previous visa. This will actually be my first trip out of Naija!
Thanks a lot.

gerrald02:
One month.

hunee:


There is premium or they call it VIP service at VFS. You dont need appointment for that; however the service is paid for and you are usually attended to in a short time.

He can send a mail to vfs france section to get more details, our feedbacks are limited. Contact the appropriate unit.

damselhoney:

Even for VIP you have to book an appointment.
It's either you pay for the VIP service while booking appointment or make a regular appointment and pay for VIP when you get get there.

All appointments have to be paid for online to get a date..Gone are the days of walking in to pay

gerrald02:
any travel agent or website recommended for international flights that one can compare ticket prices and pay with naira card?

aekmanweb:
Hello guys, has anyone recently Booked France Visa appointment and it was approved, pls which bank card did you use because I've used GT and Access, none of it worked. Thanks guys.

Restricted:

Access Bank worked quite well when i did mine.....

Ayinke93:
Hi Everyone! please I need your guidance on my application. I'm going to the Netherlands for a work meet-up thing, Because I work for a Dutch company. Netherlands visa applications for Nigerians are done through the French embassy, so I think any information given here should be valid in my case too.

I plan to spend about two to three months in the Schengen region,A week in the Netherlands, and the remaining times will be spent in Germany with my boyfriend, and we have plans to visit a couple other countries within this period. In summary, I'll be exhausting almost the whole 3 months validity period if my visa is approved. I have no issues with accommodation either in Germany or Netherlands, I just want to know if it's wise to state that I'll be spending that amount of time there. I can get my boyfriends proof of accommodation in Germany if it helps in any way, and I have no issue proving that I have approximately 50 dollars daily for the times I plan to stay in the Schengen region. Any Ideas on how to properly tailor my application? Also, should I apply single or multiple entry? what difference does it make?

Also, I already purchased my travel insurance with a three months validity period. I hope there's no issue with that?

I look forward to your responses. Thanks.

Newbiein2016:
Share more details on your profile:

- Travel history to US, UK, Schengen, Australia, New Zealand or other Western countries with stringent immigration processes

- Employment profile, earning power

- Other home ties?

Also note that given your intention is to spend the bulk of your time outside Netherlands, you might need to apply through the German embassy as it sounds like you'll spend more time there. Read here for more info: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy/where-and-how-apply-schengen-visa_en#:~:text=You%20must%20lodge%20the%20application,will%20spend%20the%20longest%20period.

If you are going to spend only 1 week for work, and 2+ months on vacation, it is going to be a tough sell and only your profile and how convincing your application is might help, IMO.

Ayinke93:


Thank you so much for replying. I'm a first time traveller,I'm a software developer earn reasonably well working for the Dutch company. I have no serious home times(I'm unmarried and young), hoping this won't be a problem. I already decide to spend a bit longer time in Netherlands, as getting visa appointments at the German embassy is almost impossible. And I'll avoid stating that I want to spend that much time in Germany.

Ayinke93:


Thank you so much for replying. I'm a first time traveller,I'm a software developer earn reasonably well working for the Dutch company. I have no serious home times(I'm unmarried and young), hoping this won't be a problem. I already decide to spend a bit longer time in Netherlands, as getting visa appointments at the German embassy is almost impossible. And I'll avoid stating that I want to spend that much time in Germany.

aekmanweb:
Pls, when did you do it ? I've been on it for the past 2 weeks now

davodyguy:

While you're there, take things calmly bro.

Have fun with restrictions

meljoe:
Hello good evening , please can I know the format of your cover letter to Italy . Please can you drop it here ? I will appreciate that . Thanks

Newbiein2016:
You seem to be on a visa application spree - I have seen you in the UK, US thread and now here for Italy.

Good luck!

meljoe:
Hello good evening , please can I know the format of your cover letter to Italy . Please can you drop it here ? I will appreciate that . Thanks

davodyguy:

It's the one I used for my France that I edited.

Same content
1. Introduce yourself
2. What you do
3. Family size
4. Income/financial status/assets
5. Why you want to travel to Italy
6. Itinerary
7. Return date

meljoe:
Please let me see list of activities you added

Maturedhustler:


People,

I need some clarifications before completing my application. I am planning to travel to Netherlands with my kids and applying through France website.

1. Unlike my previous application, I couldn’t see Netherlands as country of visit and have to choose France. Can I proceed using France?
I just checked and you only get the option for Netherlands if applying for short stay visas. For long stay visas, it looks like they only process for France and its overseas territories. Contact Netherlands for further clarification: https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/contact

2. I selected long stay greater than 90 days because I intend getting visa to cover more than 6 months. I selected short stay in my last application and was given visa for only 6 months.

A quick check on the France application website shows:

"First check that your nationality or the context of your stay in France do not exempt you from the visa application requirements (visa assistant) and seek information about issuance conditions for a visa that will enable you to:
-Stay for an extended period for tourist or personal reasons;
-Carry out a professional activity;
-Pursue education;
-Join family members.
In any of the above situations, you will be required to attach supporting documents specific to your situation to your application, and follow the respective procedures."

This means as long as you have the right supporting documents to satisfy the long stay request, you should be fine. Do note this is for Long stay in France only. Use the link above to contact Netherlands for guidance as I didn't find further information from my quick search.

3. Is there available appointment dates for France now? I and the kids plan to travel in to Lagos by June for the appointment.

Just checked and I see 24th March availability for long stay visa. You can check yourself in future --->
https://row4.vfsglobal.com/GAR1Ph1Appt/Account/RegisteredLogin?q=shSA0YnE4pLF9Xzwon/x/BGxVUxGuaZP3eMAtGHiEL3mNunIR1Jnd9UWqmazYQg80UuHC9rYgJsEM2ISWvbSaA==
Thanks in advance.