‘Cover Letters Don’t Matter Much’: Visa Officer Reveals Top Reason Behind Rejection Of Schengen Visas

A Schengen Consul and visa officer with extensive diplomatic experience has shared the most common reason why visas get denied in a recent Reddit session. Most Schengen visa applications are denied when the authorities notice that the applicants lack strong ties to their home country.

“If I am not 100% sure that you will return to your country, I am unlikely to issue the visa,” the officer replied to a question during an “ask me anything (AMA)” session on Reddit. The session was hosted on the r/SchengenVisa community on the digital platform on Monday, where the officer kept his identity anonymous.

He explained that while reviewing visas, he usually looks for factors like strong ties with the applicant's country in the form of owning a property, having a well-paid job, family, or owning a business, among other factors.

Schengen is a zone in Europe comprising 25 of the 27 European Union member nations. These countries follow a common visa policy, making the Schengen visa one of the most sought-after visas in the world.

When asked if cover letters play any role in the success of the application, the officer said, “Cover letter is overrated. A sponsorship letter is for sure worth a lot and very important.”

He was also asked if there are certain factors, such as “fanciness” of the accommodation, that appeal in a tourist visa application. To this, the Consul replied that the cost doesn’t matter much as long as it aligns with the applicant’s financial means.

“If you have $2,000 in savings and book a hotel that costs $500 a night, it is counterproductive and can raise doubts,” he said.

For those who do not have immovable assets, the officer suggested focusing on having stable employment to strengthen the case. “A solid job is certainly a good foundation, so I would present a letter from your employer that states exactly that. Depending on your country of origin, it might be enough or not. Roots are certainly the most difficult to prove, especially if you are not a home/business owner,” he explained.

He also said that applicants with previous Schengen visas have a stronger chance of getting their new visas approved. “It is very unlikely to get refused if you have previous travel experience and followed all the rules,” the office noted.

He said that multi-entry long-term visas are granted through the cascade system. Under the “cascade” regime for India, Indian nationals can receive a two-year multi-entry Schengen visa after lawfully using two visas in the past three years.

“The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals,” says the European Union’s website.