In a rare and candid disclosure, a Schengen visa officer recently took to Reddit to share insights into the visa evaluation process, shedding light on why many applicants, particularly from countries like India, face frequent rejections. Identifying himself as a career diplomat who processes “up to 200 applications a day,” the officer participated in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session, later highlighted on the subreddit r/visarejection. According to him, the biggest reason for rejection is the lack of strong home ties, something that applicants often underestimate. “Not owning property, no stable or well-paid job, no family obligations, no running business — these are key factors that help prove you’ll return home,” he wrote.
The officer explained that fake or “dummy” bookings for flights and hotels are easily verified and often backfire. Mismatched itineraries, such as luxury stays on modest savings or very frugal travel plans for someone wealthy, also raise suspicion. Tourist visa decisions, he said, are based on consistency between an applicant’s financial situation and travel plans, and poorly thought-out or overly ambitious trips can work against them.
Interestingly, cover letters are often ignored or only skimmed, while sponsorship letters, especially for student visas, carry significant weight. Student visa D applications, he revealed, are rarely rejected if the student has already been accepted by a university. For long-term or multi-entry visas, he follows the “cascade regime,” granting longer visas only to those who have built a verifiable travel history, while most applicants receive a visa just for their immediate travel duration unless multiple trips are clearly justified.
While many Reddit users appreciated his transparency, several noted a factor he did not openly address — the applicant’s nationality. Some argued that the “home country” itself often becomes the deciding factor, with similar circumstances evaluated differently depending on the applicant’s passport. One user even shared a diplomat’s comment suggesting that financial strength can make the process easier: “If you are rich enough by French standards, we just issue the tourist visa assuming there are no other red flags.”
For those who lack assets or business ownership, the officer advised showing strong employment backing through an official employer letter, though he admitted this alone may not always suffice. He clarified that religion plays no role in the process, but nationality can. The AMA ended without the officer disclosing which embassies he had served in, but the insights offered a stark reality: even with flawless paperwork, applicants from weaker passports face an uphill battle when applying for a Schengen visa.
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