Itinerary change
I was supposed to go with Thomas Cook travel operator to Europe with France as the main destination, with trips to Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany. Due to a discrepancy, it has been canceled and they are willing to give me a 100% refund.
I still have my visa for 30 days with multiple entry with maximum duration of 20 days. Can I use that to travel on my own personally to Paris and Rome only, and go back to India from Rome?
France is still my main destination. My plan is to now enter from Paris and stay for 4 days there and go to Rome and stay there for 3 days.
I can definitely carry the Thomas Cook documents regarding the cancellation, although in the rare instance if they may ask me, can I say I had a health issue and had to reschedule the dates? Will the visa application which had my original travel dates be available to them?
Best Answer
I still have my visa for 30 days with multiple entry with maximum duration of 20 days.
I will presume from all you said this visa was issued by France.
Can I use that to travel on my own personally to Paris and Rome only, and go back to India from Rome?
Yes, not a problem, visas are issued for duration, not a fixed travel itin, the itin is necessary as one proof among many to prove you are a genuine visitor and not an illegal immigrant.
France is still my main destination. My plan is to now enter from Paris and stay for 4 days there and go to Rome and stay there for 3 days.
So far, still good. Your main destination is only relevant to see you are not trying to game the system by trying to stay, say, in Spain by using a visa issued by the French authorities. And you are not.
I can definitely carry the Thomas Cook documents regarding the cancellation
That's not needed, itin changes happen all the time.
although in the rare instance if they may ask me, can I say I had a health issue and had to reschedule the dates?
ABSOLUTELY NOT. Lying to immigration is the WORST IDEA possible. They are trained to find out, you are not trained to lie. You will get caught and you will get into trouble.
Will the visa application which had my original travel dates be available to them?
Of course, and it's almost irrelevant. Originally you filed from 17th to 27th and now you got a visa from 15th August to 15th September and now you want use the flexibility given to you and travel from 26th to 3rd. Your visa is valid, your intent to enter as a tourist matches your visa: go ahead. If asked why did you change, just tell the truth, even if it's as banal as "this fits my schedule better". The very reason they issued a slightly broader visa so if you change your stay by a week or two you don't need to go back and waste their time to get a new visa issued.
Do not spin. Do not produce a lengthy explanation of what happened with Thomas Cook and why but if it can be told in short and simple then do, like "Thomas Cook wanted to reschedule but that collided with my daughter's wedding so we agreed on a refund and I found this great deal so I still can have my French-Italian vacation". Frankly: noone cares and it's not relevant. Only state why you changed your itinerary if asked and then state it plain, short and simple. This is key to immigration: never lie to immigration. Never offer information unasked. Stay calm. End.
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There are three types of simple itineraries:- One-way (OW) You are flying from somewhere (your origin) to somewhere else (your destination).
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What is the itinerary for a flight?
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A schedule change is any modification to your flight's schedule prior to the date of departure. Due to the operational needs of each airline they often make changes to the flights they operate. These changes can range from a one minute delay all the way up to a completely canceled flight.What is detailed itinerary?
It is a day by day itinerary. It includes suggestions for what to do on each day, suggested routes and general information, tailored to fit each day of your tour.Why can airlines change your itinerary without asking and what can you do about it?
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