Questions about personal interview for Dutch Schengen visa
I'd applied for a Schengen visa from the Dutch embassy. The travel itinerary that I submitted was as follows:
- Amsterdam - 3 days
- Antwerp - 1 day
- Bulgaria - 3 days
- Amsterdam - 1 day
I have been asked to come in for a personal interview. I think the issue might be that I am planning to visit Bulgaria, which is not in the Schengen area (but until their full accession to the Schengen Area, they will unilaterally apply visa-free regulations for holders of valid Schengen visas). My take on this was I should apply for the Schengen visa first in which case I wouldn't need to separately apply for a Bulgarian visa. Is this an issue and could this be grounds for rejection? My interview is scheduled for the 15th of Nov.
What is the best way for me to present my case?
Best Answer
A list of reasons that may lead to rejecting a visa application can be found in the relevant EU regulation. I see nothing there that suggests that going to Bulgaria should be a problem but you might want to double check that you provided everything (purpose, accommodation, proof of means, travel insurance).
The Dutch authorities might be more careful than others out of habit or because you are apparently requesting a multiple entry visa on your first application. Your nationality might also play a role. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign affairs offers some extra information but I see nothing there on interviews.
It's not mentioned explicitly anywhere but I think that being prepared to establish you have ties to your country of residence or country of origin (say family, a job, etc.) could be useful in some cases. However, I would only mention this if I was asked about it or if they suggested they think you might want to immigrate but I would not volunteer this information from the get go.
PS: As I have an EU passport, I never needed to go through the process myself and I have no direct personal experience with this so you might want to get opinions from other people as well.
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Quick Answer about "Questions about personal interview for Dutch Schengen visa"
- What is the purpose of your trip?
- Is someone traveling with you? ...
- How long are you planning to stay in the Schengen Zone? ...
- Can you shorten your trip? ...
- When will you be traveling? ...
- Where will you stay during your trip? ...
- Have you secured your flight tickets?
Is personal interview required for Schengen Visa?
If you are applying for a Schengen visa, you may have to attend an in-person interview. Please note that in-person interviews for Schengen visa applications have been severely restricted or even cancelled around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic.How do I prepare for a Schengen Visa interview?
The General questions you should be expecting during an interview for a Schengen Visa are the following:What kind of questions do they ask in visa interview?
The commonly asked questions for US Visitor visa interview are the following:- What is the purpose of your visit to the US? ...
- Have you been to the US before? ...
- Do you have relatives or friends currently in the US? ...
- Details on your friends / relatives in the US. ...
- Where will you be residing in the United States?
What happens at Schengen Visa interview?
Once all your paperwork and documentation is completed and set in order, you'll be expected to attend a Schengen Visa interview, which will determine whether you eventually receive your Visa or not. The interviewers are trained to detect hesitation, unwillingness to answer certain questions, etc.Schengen Visa - Top 5 Interview Questions and Answers
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