REJECTED GERMAN VISA: MY REMONSTRANCE FOR A SCHENGEN VISA
"I was too confident." That’s the greatest realization that slapped on my face when I received my
passport without the stamped Schengen Visa from the German Embassy. It was my second time to
apply for a Schengen Visa in the same Embassy. I thought I was prepared enough and can easily get
that visa as smooth as my first application. I was all wrong.
Yes, it was lots of hassles if your Europe trip would be delayed, or worst, cancelled.
Okay, enough with the negativity. Pause for a moment and try to imagine yourself here:
Fall Season in Tierpark, South Germany.
Summer time in Nuremberg, Germany. August 2014
Start of Spring in Pretzfeld, Germany. 19 April 2015.
Last glimpse of Winter in Ochsenkobf, Bayern, Germany. 10 March 2015.
Relaxing, isn’t it? Those photos can be one of the reasons to attract positive senses and stay
motivated even if a rejection comes. Sometimes, depending on every applicant’s case, to re-apply is
not the best and first solution once you have rejected. There is a way to skip and repeat the steps of:
making an interview schedule; filing your documents and attending the personal interview; and
waiting for your passport to be delivered. The answer for a Refusal of Visa is a “Remonstrance”. This
process is definitely legal and free, and I can tell - the best one.
REJECTION IS NOT THE END OF YOUR DREAM EUROPE TRIP!
So, let me boost up your confidence by sharing my experience on how to file a Remonstration (asking
for a new decision) of your DENIED SCHENGEN VISA application in LESS THAN A MONTH, and finally
step in your feet to where ever Schengen countries you are routing to.
January 21, 2015 – I received the Ablehnungsbescheid (Refusal of Visa Letter/Notification).
I know it is heartbreaking to see the letters D-E-N-I-E-D on a paper instead of the newly-attached Visa
on your passport; but try to stay FOCUS and READ the three-page letter.
“Your application is hereby refused.” I wish that every Schengen Visa applicant will not see this line.
There are nine general reasons why your application is denied:
To make these reasons clearer, the letter provides an outlined “sub-reasons” on why your application
was not successful.
Whatever marked in your Refusal Letter should be clear enough for you to take the next step.
Analyze it and if you think that you can OPPOSE THE REASON which the embassy noted and therefore
DO NOT AGREE WITH ITS DECISION in denying your application, start to prepare for the filing of your
Remonstration.
IMPORTANT: If you deem that the Embassy’s decision is right and you do not have any acceptable
reasons and supporting documents for your remonstrance, stop reading this AND START WITH YOUR
NEW APPLICATION.
January 22-24, 2015 – I crafted my Remonstration Letter and prepared the necessary documents
which support my appeal.
The rejection of my visa application denoted the Reason Number 8: “The information submitted
regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable.”
I tried to remember what I have said during my interview and could not found out what’s wrong and
what’s lacking with the details I have uttered. The supporting reason answered that: “Your purpose of
stay was not substantiated by the documents presented.”
On my second application in January 2015 for a Visitor’s Visa, I submitted the same documents based
on my first application in August 2014, and was too confident (like what I have said in the first
paragraph of this article. Apologies for saying it again) that it would give the same result too. But I
was stupid enough not to consider the big difference on the span of time I am requesting to. I
requested for a 21-day stay on my application last year while my 2015 application was a 90-day (the
maximum days you can get within six months) multi-entry Schengen Visa. Though I explained that my
three-month stay will not only focus on visiting a friend but also academic reasons such as to prepare
for the Master’s program I will attend in Hamburg, Germany, by taking a language course; I failed to
submit the valid documents on these statements as I focused on the general and basic requirements
of a Visa for the purpose of visiting a friend. I opted the Visitor’s Visa as I have a Formal Obligation
from a friend in Germany and will then stay to his place so I do not need to present a proof of
accommodation. Additionally, acquiring a Schengen Visa for the participation in a language course
lasting no longer than three months requires an evidence that you have previously attended
language courses, which I did not have.
For your reference, here are the links for the list of requirements in applying for a Schengen Visa in
Germany, depending on your purpose:
For business:
http://www.manila.diplo.de/contentblob/3618544/Daten/3441486/MB_business_visa_may13.pdf
For attending a fair:
http://www.manila.diplo.de/contentblob/3618546/Daten/3441503/MB_fair_visa_may13.pdf
For visiting family/friends:
http://www.manila.diplo.de/contentblob/3618554/Daten/3820816/MB_visitor_visa_Jan14.pdf
For tourism:
http://www.manila.diplo.de/contentblob/3618552/Daten/3441504/MB_tourism_visa_may13.pdf
For participating a language course not more than three months:
http://www.manila.diplo.de/contentblob/3618548/Daten/3441522/MB_lang_course_below3m_ma
y13.pdf
I prepared a copy of the email from the University, acknowledging the receipt of my application and
the schedule of my one-month language course. I needed some days to complete the additional
documents and to finalize my Remonstration letter which includes quite a lot of readings. I wanted to
be very sure that time and considered that appeal as my last chance to get the Visa before my
confirmed flight on February 16. Generally, the remonstration letter should include the following:
- Your name, first name, date of birth, place of birth, and the number of your passport
- The date your application was rejected
- A serviceable address that contains the street name, house- or apartment number, City/
Town/ Village, postal code, if applicable: please state your e-mail address
- The remonstration must be signed by your own hand (a remonstration by a third party e.g.
your sponsor, can only be accepted and processed if you have given your sponsor a power of
attorney, which is submitted with the remonstration).
Source:
http://www.manila.diplo.de/contentblob/3618522/Daten/3484973/MB_remonstration_aug13.p
df
January 26, 2015 – I sent my Remonstration letter via email.
For my case, I also asked my friend to support my remonstrance which I guess was helpful as it was
written in German. Be sure that your letter and the one you asked to assist you are coordinated.
This is my Remonstration Letter’s format:
January 27 up to February 12, 2015 –Those were the days of frustration.
My flight comes closer and no email yet from the Embassy regarding the result of my Remonstration.
New plans are coming like starting to prepare my documents again for the new application. To think
that was very discouraging because of the long process I need to go through again, plus wasted
money and time. Though 85% of me was telling that I need to give up already on that Remonstration
result because of the various experiences I am reading in forums that there is really no clear time on
how long the Embassy will respond from your appeal, I still decided not to rebook my ticket. There’s
still a 15% of me who believes that there will be result soon anyway, and that, I will fly in some days. I
know that waiting for the result was the only thing I can do during those days and try to avoid making
follow-ups to the Embassy regarding my appeal. Asking for an update time by time slows the
Embassy’s system and so it encourages every petitioner to BE PATIENT during the process! I guess my
patience can only take for two weeks. On February 9, 2015, I sent an email, asking for any
information about my plea. I did that because I supposed 14 days after I sent my Remonstration is
reasonable enough to ask for an update and my flight would be in seven days then.
February 12, 2015 – I set this day as my last day of waiting.
It was Thursday and if the Embassy wants to issue the Visa, it should be on this day so I can have time
(on Friday) to bring my passport. My email showed nothing from the Embassy. I decided to arrange
my ticket the next day.
February 13, 2015 – The “Thank You Lord!” day.
I welcome each day with opening my eyes and checking mails on my phone. URGENT was the first
word I saw. I stayed relax as I knew it was not work-related; the people in my freelancing activities
have never used the word urgent as a subject of their mails, even though it’s urgent. So… I opened
that mail and my 15% hope immediately went up to 100% but ended with 98%. Yes, HOORAY FOR A
NEW DECISION! But the 2% unsatisfaction was for the rebooking fee. As indicated in the Embassy’s
email, it needs one up to two to three working days to issue my visa. I changed my flight date on
February 20, and it was not cheap as I submitted not a reservation ticket but a confirmed one.
IMPORTANT: Do not ever do what I did. Just pass a reservation of round-trip ticket during your
personal interview. The Embassy is not requiring an applicant to present the confirmed tickets. I
thought I will be approved immediately so I purchased CONFIDENTLY my flights.
February 16, 2015 – The day of my departure turned into the day of the submission of my passport
and new tickets.
I do not have any idea on how it should be but it turned definitely easy. The Counter 1 in German
Embassy is designated for inquiries like mine. The lady just asked the new date of my departure and
suggested just to pick up my passport personally because of the holiday on the 19th.
February 18, 2015 – THIS IS IT DAY!
My smile on that day while looking my newly-printed Schengen Visa was enough reason to be
speechless.
HIGHLIGHTS:
To avoid being denied of your application:
- Allot enough time in applying for a Schengen Visa. Do the personal interview AT LEAST THREE
MONTHS before your preferred date of departure, though it is possible to do for ONE
MONTH.
- Prepare and bring all the REQUIRED documents and MIGHT BE REQUIRED. For instance,
photos showing how you have known the person inviting you (for Visitor’s Visa and for
Formal Obligation). Do not just stick with what listed from the Embassy’s information sheet.
- BE CONFIDENT, but DO NOT BE OVER CONFIDENT! It is important to get that convincing
feeling for the Embassy Staff during the personal interview. Talk friendly and present your
requirements confidently (but not too much).
If refused:
- ADMIT your FAULT if you think you really did mistakes in the application. I believe that
Embassy has enough and (reasonable) reason why it did not issue your Visa.
- DO NOT GIVE UP and FIND THE SOLUTION. Even if no one knows how high the possibility of
receiving a new decision is, TRY TO FILE A REMONSRATION! (as soon as possible). You are
only allowed to appeal for one month after the receipt of rejection.
- Invest LOTS OF PATIENCE. I know how frustrating it is to wait WITHOUT KNOWING EXACTLY
WHEN you can receive and WHAT WOULD BE THE RESULT, but be PATIENT! It would be
worth the wait!
If your remonstration is not granted:
- ACCEPT IT and do a new application. Fix your documents and evaluate thoroughly what was
wrong.
If feeling stress with the administrative process of your application, RELAX and SURROUND your
mind with inspiring photos of your destination like these:
The City Council Hall in Bamberg (where the Little Venice is located)
Regensburg, Germany
A part of the East Side Gallery in Berlin, Germany
