Schengen visa decision timeline putting trip at risk

Hello. I'm a first-time traveler to the Schengen area. I did a lot of research when putting my documents together and I used a Booking.com (Free Cancellation) booking to support my visa (short-stay) application, which I submitted to the Embassy yesterday; as you all may know, securing Schengen visa (tourism) appointments in Dublin is very, very difficult and challenging. I was searching for months to find an appointment and yesterday was the earliest date available to book. Unfortunately, I was told to return for passport collection at the Embassy on July 28th, which is just a couple days before my travel date (August. 1) and several days after the Booking.com Free Cancellation deadline. I'm anxious and facing a dilemma because I've learned that this particular Embassy has been denying visas a lot recently and this is my first Schengen visa application. If I don't cancel my hotel booking on July 23rd, I will be billed € 1,400 for my full stay at the hotel but I won't find out whether my visa application is approved or rejected until July 28! I can't cancel the hotel booking on the 23rd (just in case my visa will be rejected) because the Embassy might call the hotel and deny me a visa on the basis that I don't have a valid booking. I don't know what to do - I've saved up for a couple of years for this holiday and I can't afford to lose € 1,400 if my visa isn't approved. Please advise

Unfortunately, you put yourself unto this predicament. If you will cancel the hotel at this stage, consular official might consider it to be false information and asking them to speed it up just because the hotel booking is about to be permanent wouldn't be counted as a valid reason to do so. We don't have a magic solution to this.

I understand the situation in Dublin with appointments (struggled to get one myself), but usually the way to go for the first time applicant is to first get your visa application sorted (getting an appointment and all) and going for bookings after, specifically for that reason. It should be easier after the first visa (you would at least know they've gave a go ahead already), but, well, first time might not be the charm.

I cannot assess your situation and your chances just by your post (and I am not qualified to do so), but if you've done your research and sure your documents are impeccable, do what you consider right.

What's the embassy? Did you apply to them directly or via VFS (if they use it)? If it's the latter, you can try to negotiate about collection, eg try to walk in on the same day, if they decide on it.

Zahraela wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 20, 2023 12:05 pm

Hello. I'm a first-time traveler to the Schengen area. I did a lot of research when putting my documents together and I used a Booking.com (Free Cancellation) booking to support my visa (short-stay) application, which I submitted to the Embassy yesterday; as you all may know, securing Schengen visa (tourism) appointments in Dublin is very, very difficult and challenging. I was searching for months to find an appointment and yesterday was the earliest date available to book. Unfortunately, I was told to return for passport collection at the Embassy on July 28th, which is just a couple days before my travel date (August. 1) and several days after the Booking.com Free Cancellation deadline. I'm anxious and facing a dilemma because I've learned that this particular Embassy has been denying visas a lot recently and this is my first Schengen visa application. If I don't cancel my hotel booking on July 23rd, I will be billed € 1,400 for my full stay at the hotel but I won't find out whether my visa application is approved or rejected until July 28! I can't cancel the hotel booking on the 23rd (just in case my visa will be rejected) because the Embassy might call the hotel and deny me a visa on the basis that I don't have a valid booking. I don't know what to do - I've saved up for a couple of years for this holiday and I can't afford to lose € 1,400 if my visa isn't approved. Please advise

You're right to assume that you can't cancel your hotel reservation, before or after the visa issuance. The embassy would know. I specifically stress on after visa issuance. I've seen that happen.

You should have given ample time between last day of hotel cancellation and embassy service time.
At this point, you just have to go with the flow.

Hello both. Thanks very much for your inputs. RE the following comments "Unfortunately, you put yourself unto this predicament" and "you should have given ample time between last day of hotel cancellation and embassy service time", I accept the feedback but I do feel that it's a tad bit harsh, given the circumstances. I applied directly at the Embassy (Greece). Their website states the following: "the decision on the visa application is made, as a rule, within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging the application which is admissible by the consular authority. This period may be extended to up to 30 days or, in exceptional, specific cases to 60 calendar days". Based on this guidance, I anticipated that by July 23rd, I would have received a visa decision [June 19th (date of my appointment) to July 28th (passport collection date) will be exactly 39 days inclusive]. Based on anecdotal info from other residents of Dublin that have applied to the Greek embassy, most people are getting their visas in about 3 weeks. Note also that based on my departure date of Aug. 1st, it's exceedingly difficult to find hotels that offer a Free Cancellation deadline that falls after July 28th. Perhaps you can advise what I could do differently given these circumstances? Thanks again

Zahraela wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:41 pm

I do feel that it's a tad bit harsh, given the circumstances.

Sorry that you feel this way and it wasn't aimed to offend you, but it is just how it is - there's nothing a stranger on the forum (me or anyone else here) can offer you as a solution.

Zahraela wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:41 pm

Their website states the following: "the decision on the visa application is made, as a rule, within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging the application which is admissible by the consular authority. This period may be extended to up to 30 days or, in exceptional, specific cases to 60 calendar days". Based on this guidance, I anticipated that by July 23rd, I would have received a visa decision [June 19th (date of my appointment) to July 28th (passport collection date) will be exactly 39 days inclusive]. Based on anecdotal info from other residents of Dublin that have applied to the Greek embassy, most people are getting their visas in about 3 weeks.

You should've asked the reason for the lengthy processing.
Are you on a refugee/family reunification route?

From my personal experience, I applied about a week before you in the same embassy - was told to come back June 30th for passport, but my last Schengen visa was less than a year ago.

Zahraela wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 20, 2023 12:05 pm

I've learned that this particular Embassy has been denying visas a lot recently.

My turn to be anxious now! UPD June 30th: got the visa, yay!

Zahraela wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:41 pm

Perhaps you can advise what I could do differently given these circumstances? Thanks again

There are a lot of factors that influence the decision (for example, your length of stay in Ireland) so I cannot give you an ideal advice. Right option would be to get onto visa issuance process in advance - either apply as early as possible (you can apply up to three months in advance) or choose another season to apply altogether - everyone wants to go abroad for summer and embassies/consulates are overloaded. You first need to build up the visa history to have better traveling options. For example, you need a certain amount of visas to be considered for issuance of a one year one, which should give yourself way more flexibility.

You can also use visa application centres (TLS/VFS) instead of going directly to the embassy - they are usually more flexible than in-house consulates for appointments and document collections (eg Greek embassy has one day for passport collection and two days for appointments, VFS allows you to do it Monday-Friday).

Zahraela wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 27, 2023 3:41 pm

Hello both. Thanks very much for your inputs. RE the following comments "Unfortunately, you put yourself unto this predicament" and "you should have given ample time between last day of hotel cancellation and embassy service time", I accept the feedback but I do feel that it's a tad bit harsh, given the circumstances. I applied directly at the Embassy (Greece). Their website states the following: "the decision on the visa application is made, as a rule, within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging the application which is admissible by the consular authority. This period may be extended to up to 30 days or, in exceptional, specific cases to 60 calendar days". Based on this guidance, I anticipated that by July 23rd, I would have received a visa decision [June 19th (date of my appointment) to July 28th (passport collection date) will be exactly 39 days inclusive]. Based on anecdotal info from other residents of Dublin that have applied to the Greek embassy, most people are getting their visas in about 3 weeks. Note also that based on my departure date of Aug. 1st, it's exceedingly difficult to find hotels that offer a Free Cancellation deadline that falls after July 28th. Perhaps you can advise what I could do differently given these circumstances? Thanks again

The general rule of thumb is, when you want to travel to any country, always better to apply well in advance. I know that the Schengen zone allows application at the earliest of 15 days and latest of 6 months. Always nice to make the application 2-3 months before intended travel regardless.

This gives you enough time to absorb the shock. Travelling by itself is a very tense experience. Keeping it close just creates more palpitations.

Just keep your fingers crossed, and hope for the best. I'm sure it would come out on time as you've probably added your itinerary to the application. So the embassy knows what timescales you're working with.