Hey Everyone. This is Grant Thomas from Visas Association.
Today, we're running through another one
of our questions and answers sessions where today's top question is: "What are
the top 5 Schengen Visa interview questions that you get asked?"
Now, this one is very subjective.
Because there are thousands of different questions that could be asked.
But just know that the questions
that you're going to be asked all relate to your reason for travel, nothing else.
So most of the time, they just going to be asking you questions about the documents
you have provided and essentially just trying to validate to see if there is any
contradiction between what you put in the document and the answers you're giving.
Now, be sure to wait until the very last question,
where we've kind of put in one that a lot of people kind of get tripped up on.
And so it's a really important one for you to go, OK, this makes complete sense.
So we'll get to that as question number 5.
But once we work through that one key context piece that I just want to add
to this video is that you are going to be completely fine with your interview.
So there's no worry at all.
Looking at these top questions will just
revalidate that, you know, the answers that these people are going
to be asking you from the consulate or embassy.
So do not worry too much.
It is the same as if you are going
to a doctor or surgeon or even go in for a job interview.
They are just going to ask you questions based on the record you have provided.
So as long as you know the information
that you have put into your application form, your cover letter,
your travel itinerary, your flights, accommodation, etc,
is 100% true and honest, you will be completely fine.
You do not have anything to worry about at all.
And actually, I'm going to link to a video that is going to walk you through how you
can master those Schengen Visa interviews, because it is quite a good topic.
But just know, if you're honest, you're going to be completely fine.
So let's jump in here.
One of the first top questions is, "Are you traveling with someone else?"
Now, a lot of people might feel that this is wrong, where they're writing
that they're single on the application form, but they're actually traveling
with a girlfriend or that they're actually traveling with a friend because they feel
like a group of guys, for example, might not be approved for a Schengen Visa.
That's not the case.
So when they ask you this question, just answer truthfully.
If you are going with 10 other people will say, yes, we are going in a group of 10,
and they will ask you second and third and fourth questions about that.
"How do you know these people?"
"Where are you planning on going?"
"Are you looking to go out?", etc.
And so what you want to do is you really
want to understand the relationship that you've got with these people.
So, when they ask you if you're traveling with someone else, say, "yes,
I am". Say who you're traveling with, your connection:
if they're from high school, if they're from work, say this is who they are,
we're looking to see this.
And again, if you're only traveling
for one part of your whole trip together: outline that, say I'm going on a four week
holiday and they're coming in for one of the weeks.
Or, like week two, we will meet in Rome, for example.
Just be completely honest and you will be completely fine.
There is no them trying to trip you up.
They don't try and get you to contradict yourself. They are
again, just looking to say, "hey, are you looking to travel with someone else?"
Different websites will actually say that this might help you if you say
that you're traveling with somebody else because the pressure is that they should
approve you because it's very difficult if five people get approved and one doesn't.
It's not so much true.
And I've seen it go the opposite way.
The best approach is just be honest.
If you're not traveling with anyone
and you're not going to see anyone midway through to travel with them, just say no.
But if you are: outline who and explain why
and just know that they will ask a second or third question about it.
And the second one is because a lot
of people don't have bank accounts, which it might seem slightly odd.
It happens from time to time.
So the second one is, "Can you show me your bank statements." Now,
don't be worried that they're going
to assume that you're highly wealthy or highly poor.
That is not what they're looking for.
They are just looking to try and validate
that you have the financial means to travel
through Europe or through the Schengen region.
And the reason for this is because there's quite a few countries that have fairly
expensive and have quite a few expensive places to see, to do and even food to eat.
And so there are actually limits around
the financial means that you must prove in order to travel through there.
So if you haven't provided bank statements, know that they will ask
the details around why and they will actually request for you to provide
something, because if they cannot validate that you've got the adequate money or
that you have got a sponsor who also needs to provide bank statements, by the way,
if they are sponsoring you, they will not approve your Schengen Visa application.
And again, be honest, don't get someone to go and deposit a large sum of money
the month before you go for your application, because that will see it.
The request on the Visa requirement is the last six months of bank statements.
So again, if you put one lump sum in there, they will notice and they will
ask you the question of, "what happened here?"
"Why did you get a large volume of money
just before you go to the Schengen Region or apply for your
Schengen Visa."
Again, coming back to the same answer as previous.
Be honest and don't try and manipulate the system.
So, question number three, "Do you have a job leave approved with your employer?"
This one is critical.
Sometimes people apply
for Schengen Visa without having them, but you desperately need one.
What this does is more than just prove that you don't have to work
and that you're not going to be working in the Schengen region.
It actually shows to the consulate
and the embassy that you're going to be coming back.
So, if you have a job in your country
of residency and they're saying that you have approved leave.
(AKA: you are not resigning and you're not leaving indefinitely),
that you've just been approved to leave and come back, then they're going to know
that you're going to return back to your country of residency.
This is really important.
So you actually want to make sure that you've got the document.
And if you don't,
what you want is a letter confirming your employment with them
and that is still ongoing.
Sometimes you can't get it.
Again, be honest and say, look,
I couldn't get it because of X, Y and Z reasons, but here is one or two or
three other documents that should replace that because they're interchangeable.
Again, be highly transparent and honest.
I don't believe you are going to travel overseas
illegally, but again, just legitimately care about them.
Question number four, this one trips a lot of people up.
"Do you have any family members or friends living in the Schengen region?"
So jump on your Facebook,
look at your closest friends and see if you do have anybody living over there.
If the embassy or consulate find out that you do have family members over
there, but you have not stated it, it might work against you.
So just know the people that you have living over there.
If you're not going to see them,
that's fine, just say that you're not going to see them.
So if they ask you, do you have any family members?
And yes, you do have two people in the Netherlands, for example, say, yes,
I've got an uncle and auntie in the Netherlands,
unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to see them on this trip
and they are not sponsoring my travels.
However, I'm just letting you know that I do have relatives there.
Or if you're going to travel for tourism and you are going to see your relatives
in the Netherlands, just say, yes, I do have family in the Netherlands.
I'm not going to be staying with them,
but I will say them for a couple of days midway through my holiday.
But I haven't put that on any
of my documents because, again, it's just a trip.
I've still got my hotels
and accommodations booked, so it doesn't actually impact anything.
And so, again, you want to make sure
that you do not attempt to fraudulently answer this question.
Just again, answer it and say, "look, I do. I don't."
"I'm going to see to them", or "I'm not going to see them".
When you say that you do have some family
members in the Schengen region, they will probably ask a second or third
question of "Are you going to say to them?", "What are you going to do?"
"Why aren't they sponsoring you?", etc, etc.
So, again, just be open and transparent and nice and relaxed.
So now question number five,
which is a really good one, is "Do you pay income tax?"
There are a lot of people who earn income not legitimately through the government.
And that is completely OK.
There are still ways for you to apply and get a Schengen Visa for travel. Just know
it does become more complex.
Our recommendation is for you to get a sponsor in this scenario,
because if you're earning money from a job that is online and you do not put it
through a business or personally that is actually against most countries law.
And I'm not here to judge anyone on how they earn income or anything like that.
Just know that the embassy and consulate
is looking for income tax returns because that is the official amount you have
earned, according to the government within your country of residency.
And so if you have earnt money via online means
and it has not gone through an income return statement,
it means that if you are to provide that, it will have zeros.
The only way for you to really get around this, is through your bank
statements as well as your payslips, and then have a letter that outlines why
you do not have a formal income return statement.
They are not going to dob you into your country or share to it.
But the best way that I found around this is to actually have a sponsor.
So, get your family to sponsor you and say, "hey, yes, they have support and yes,
they have financial means in their bank account.
But if anything was to happen,
we also have enough money to cover them to come back home."
And then all they do is they apply their
passport and their bank statements as well.
And this just helps offset any of the risk.
But that is just preparing to get into the interview.
So, again, during the interview,
don't lie and say, "yes, I do and I haven't included them" or "no, I don't
but I do this" and try and give them all these different reasons.
It just shows them that you're being highly transparent and extremely honest.
Now, there's hundreds of other questions that could be asked,
but these are some key ones that a lot of people get tripped up on.
And it's only because they feel like
there's an answer that the embassy is looking for.
There is not. Just be cool, calm,
relaxed and answer the questions that are asked from you honestly.
And you will be completely fine.
If you have seen value from this video,
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because if there are any changes to the requirements in the Schengen region
or the Schengen visa application process, we will make new videos about it.
And you'll be receiving a notification first before anybody else, that says these
might impact your visa application as it stands today.
What I'll do as well is link to a couple of other videos that might
help you in your Schengen Visa process to ensure that you have a successful
application, but also an amazing trip around Europe.
So it's been an absolute pleasure.
And I look forward to seeing you in one of the next videos.