Is a hold on a ticket sufficient proof of flight reservation for French visa?
I've applied for a student short stay visa for France (on an Indian passport) and the local consulate required the following for the application : Copy of personal return flights reservation with confirmed dates.
I didn't want to book tickets by paying before applying since I applied around 10 working days before my travel and there is every chance the visa may not be processed in time. So what I did was to go to Yatra.com, an Indian website which allows one to hold a flight reservation for 24 hours for free. There I booked tickets (Qatar Airways) and placed a hold without paying. I got a PNR and using it, I printed a ticket from Qatar's site and gave it as my flight reservation proof for the application. But the catch is since I didn't pay in 24 hours, the hold expired and if someone now searches with the PNR on Qatar's site, there will be no such booking. Is this a problem? Will the consulate actually check this? I don't think I'm expected to book flights when the visa approval is uncertain and hence don't see why this should be a problem. But will it be?
Best Answer
Source: comment of the OP after interaction with the consulate.
An (expired) hold on a ticket is not enough, the consulate does require a good ticket.
Pictures about "Is a hold on a ticket sufficient proof of flight reservation for French visa?"
Do I need to book a ticket before applying for visa?
Do I Need to Book a Flight Ticket Before Applying for a Visa? No. You don't have to buy a flight ticket before you apply for a visa. Instead, you can present a flight itinerary which you can book without paying the full price of the travel ticket and once you obtain your visa you can purchase the real flight ticket.What does it mean to book a flight on hold?
\u201cOn hold\u201d means the airline is holding the reservation for you for whatever reason (Usually waiting payment confirmation, but could also be a change in flights). \u201cStandby\u201d occurs when a passenger travels on a flight without a prior reservation for that specific flight.How long can you hold a flight reservation?
How long can you place an airline ticket on hold? That will vary from airline to airline. For the most part, eligible airlines will allow for a hold between 3 and 7 days, while United will allow you to place a ticket on hold for as long as 14 days.Do you need proof of accommodation to enter France?
Documents to be presented on arrival in France A valid visa, if required; Proof of accommodation covering the whole duration of the stay (hotel reservation and/or certificate of staying with a relative validated in the town hall); Sufficient financial means.How to book a verifiable flight ticket for Visa Applications (3 options)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Torsten Dettlaff, MART PRODUCTION, Gustavo Fring, Pok Rie