25/03/2023
The informative post has been compiled for ‘‘The Travel Diary’‘ and for ‘‘Pakistani Diaspora in Germany‘‘ on the basis of FAQ‘s.
It is one of the great wishes of Pakistanis abroad to invite their Families from Pakistan which includes Parents, Siblings and their spouses or any other friend to visit them in Germany.
I would suggest the applicant to be honest and ask these questions to him/herself well before you apply for Schengen Visa. All diplomatic missions are willing to approve your visa applications if you meet the requirements.
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There should be some purpose. These reasons are considered as purpose (Tourism, Birth, Death, Marriage, Illness, Convocation, Ramadan, Eid etc)
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This is very important document so please focus on your 6 months statement well before your trip. Mostly, we don’t maintain our bank accounts in Pakistan.
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Please check you passport now as it needs to be valid for three months after the expiry of the applied visa. The applicant has to provide a police report in Urdu with an English translation if a previous passport is lost.
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The applicant can book an appointment 3 months ago from date of departure. For example you are planning to fly on 1st April, you cannot apply before 1st January. Got it ? If the appointments are not available, please write an email to the German Embassy (GE).
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1. Verpflichtungserklärung:
The host has to book an appointment at Ausländerbehörde for issuance of the Verpflichtungserklärung (Letter of Declaration) for 29 € if the host has job and accommodation for the guest(s). It is valid 6 months but it is not mandatory document. Sec 66 - 68 of German Resident Act is relevant law. The scan copy can also be used during visa interview in case of emergency.
It seems so hard and difficult to go through the whole process of visa process ? Well I can assure you that if you follow these steps which is based on my personal and professional experience, there are 90 % chances to get the required Visit Visa.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q 1: What is Relevant Law:
§ 6 German Resident Act deals with it.
Q 2: WHY the Schengen Visa is so important ?
- Those who have relatives in Schengen Zone.
- Those who want to explore Europe.
- Travel all over the Europe with one visa.
Q 3: WHAT is Schengen Visa ?
This category of visas allows the applicant(s) to stay in Germany up to 90 days within 180 days. It is in fact, a SHORT TERM VISA. You can also apply up to 5 years if you are frequent traveller.
Q 4: What is the difference between Visit & Tourist Visa ?
Basically, when you apply visa upon the invitation of anyone residing in Germany, For example, Relatives, Friends or any organization etc, you fall in the category of Visit Visa and for this you must provide invitation letter (Formal or Informal) to the GE.
However, when you just want to visit the destined Country for a leisure trip without invitation of anyone, you fall in the category of Tourist Visa and for this you only have to show proof of your stay (Hotel Booking).
Q 5: What is Cover Letter and it’s Importance:
The applicant has to explain well that this is my plan and these are the reasons that I will come back for example my business, family, moveable or immovable properties etc.
Q 6: Why the pictures of Family and Properties are important to attach ?
You have to give documentary evidence for whatever you are saying. It helps the visa officer to consider that you are serious.
Responsibility of the Applicant:
1. Preparation of documents;
This is the stage where the applicant has to gather all the required documents that need to be produced before the Visa Officer (VO).
List of Documents:
You can find list of the required documents at website of GE.
2. Health Insurance;
An important information regarding health insurance is that if you apply 3 months visa and you have provided 1 month health insurance, if visa approved, you will never get a visa more then 1 month.
3. Ticket;
Never get confirmed tickets, you have provide tentative booking of ticket only.
4. Preparation of Interview;
After complete preparation of your visa file, you have to prepare yourself comprehensively for interview. Most of the people underestimate this step and get refusal due to their own mistakes.
You actually, have to explain purpose/reason of your trip, travel history, your economic, professional, political(if any) and family ties to your home country before the interviewer. It is better to write an cover letter by the applicant(s).
5. Date of Appointment:
You must reach Embassy atleast 15 minutes before your scheduled interview. For this you have to take Shuttle Bus Service to reach embassy, that approximately takes one hour to reach the Embassy. So it is your responsibility to leave for Embassy well before your scheduled interview slot or get your vehicle entry by providing the details to the Diplomatic Enclave Security 2/3 days before.
6. Submission of Visa Fee:
After the Interview, the concerned staff will give you the official bill for visa fees, that is mandatory to be submitted in the bank on the same day. The Fee is around 80 € or 23000 PKR now a days.
7. Receive your Passport:
After approximately two weeks, you will receive your passport at the address given to the Embassy.
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The basic purpose of this piece of information is to aware you all, so that everyone may get his required visa to satisfy his purpose. I wish Good Luck to all of the Applicants 😊
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1. No Purpose of Trip.
2. You will prolong your stay in Germany.
3. No Economic and Family Ties.
Big Mistakes, We do:
There is a book ‘‘How to sell you self’‘. I have learned from my experience that we have a lot to connect our ties but we couldn’t explain to the Visa Officer.
!!!!! READ READ READ READ READ READ READ !!!!!
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Example:
If you want to pass a paper, you have to prepare your assignments well in time and then appear before exam. Same is the case here !
- Never apply your first visa with whole family, the less persons you apply, the more chances you have for visa approval.
- Never apply for more then 2 weeks if you are applying first time.
- Never mention about visiting other EU states. Just Germany.
- For frequent travellers, they can apply visit visa for 3M - 5Y depending upon the number of Visit Visas from German Embassy. The more visa stickers you have, the more years you can get.
- Listen Visa Officer (VO) Carefully:
Please listen the VO during the interview first and then give relevant and short answer. You must have full information of your file and your host of any (Job Title, Company and City)
About Author:
This article has been shared by a Legal Practitioner who practices Immigration Law (Visa Applications & Appeals) and promotes Legal Migration. He is the founder of German Market Access, An Initiative to Promote Legal Migration.
