Alright everyone!
Visa Victory! My First Schengen Visa Experience (Germany Edition!)
After what felt like an eternity (okay, *only* two weeks!), my German tourist visa arrived! This was my first time applying for a Schengen visa, and let me tell you, I was a nervous wreck! I'm usually a bit of a procrastinator, but the visa process had me glued to forums, soaking up all the tips and tricks. Now that I've got my visa in hand, I promised myself I'd share my experience as a thank you to the community and to help others navigate the sometimes-confusing world of visa applications. Just a heads up, this is my personal experience and perspective. Take it all with a grain of salt! I. My Visa Adventure
I chose to apply for a German visa because Germany was my top destination and the country where I planned to spend the most time. Plus, after doing some research, I found the German application checklist to be straightforward and (major bonus!) I could translate the documents myself and submit copies without notarization. That sealed the deal! No need to look into other countries. My situation: I'd describe my finances, work history, and travel experience as "decent." However, being a single mom applying to travel solo in the EU made me a little anxious. I knew they'd be scrutinizing everything! The wait was agonizing. 1.1 The Documents You'll Need
The German Embassy website has a super detailed and comprehensive list. Seriously, check it out! It'll tell you exactly what you need to submit based on your specific circumstances. Like I mentioned earlier, I translated all the documents myself – no notarization required! For other documents, I submitted photocopies and brought the originals for verification: property ownership documents, my child's birth certificate, employment contract, etc. These documents I submitted as originals with the official stamp: bank statements, proof of funds, online savings account details, confirmation of salary + company approval for leave, CT07 (This one, the VFS employee asked if I can submit the original document. I said okay because I applied it for the visa application and do not have any other intention so why not.) **Important note for fellow single parents:** Although the divorce decree wasn't explicitly required on the checklist, the VFS staff asked for it during my submission. I explained it wasn't on the list, so I didn't bring it. I agreed to provide it if the embassy requested it later. Better to be safe than sorry! **Cover Letter:** I kept my cover letter concise – one page, A4. I figured they don't have time (or the inclination!) to read a novel. My cover letter highlighted three key things: * My passion for travel and my desire to explore the EU. * Why I chose Germany for the visa but planned to start my trip in the Netherlands, and why my itinerary included a less-touristy city. * How I'd made arrangements for my child's care while I was away. I thought this showed my strong family ties and commitment to returning to VN without explicitly saying "I promise I'll come back!" 😉 1.2 Visa Processing Time
Aside from the documents I had to request from my company, the bank, and CT07, I had everything else ready to go. The translation part took about two weeks. Waiting for the decision: I submitted my application in Hanoi at the end of February and got my result in exactly two weeks (10 business days). I'd seen people in the groups getting German visas super quickly, like within a few days. So, during that wait, I was getting antsy! But hang in there if you're waiting a bit longer – it probably just means they're swamped. 1.3 VFS Global
Head to the VFS Global website to create an account and book your appointment. The process is pretty self-explanatory, so I won't bore you with the details. A quick shout-out to VFS Global: It was crowded when I went (maybe it's *always* crowded!). The staff who checked and received my documents were efficient. Overall, the service was professional and correct – no complaints! 1.4 Visa Costs
Since I prepped and translated everything myself, and no notarization needed, my total cost until I got the visa was 50k for photos + 812k VFS fee + 2,350k visa fee. And, of course, you'll need travel insurance, but I didn't include that in the visa costs. I see it as a general trip expense. Since COVID, I've made it a habit to buy travel insurance whether it's required or not. II. Entering the Schengen Zone
### 2.1 Can I enter a different Schengen country even though my visa is from another country? Before diving into the application process, I knew that a Schengen visa allowed you to travel freely between countries in the zone, and that you must meet at least one of two conditions: Enter the country where you applied for the visa first, or have the longest duration of your stay in that country. But a few days before my appointment, I saw a post from someone asking if they could enter France with a Dutch visa. I was surprised to see so many conflicting opinions! Some even accused the applicant of fraud and said that such actions were the reason why the passport becomes downgraded and make it harder for people to get a visa… It had me second-guessing everything! I thought maybe I should redo my itinerary to enter Germany first to be safe. After careful consideration, I decided to stick with my original plan of entering the Netherlands first because that's what I actually wanted to do, it felt logical, and it made sense for *me*. And... I got the visa! So, I guess that answers that question. ### 2.2 Entering the Netherlands This trip will be my first EU adventure. I am a U40 woman travelling solo, entering the Netherlands with a German visa, so if you can share any experiences that I should take note of, especially during entry, I would be really grateful. I'm specifically wondering what to expect, how much to prepare and what questions will they be asking. Also, I have a few friends in the EU, online friends from travel groups. We might meet up for coffee or they might show me around the city, just like I would/will host them when they visit VN. I also have a distant cousin who I might visit. If they ask, "Do you know anyone here?" How should I answer that? This is my first time, so I'd appreciate any advice or experiences you can share. Thank you. ## III. Other Questions ### 3.1 How much cash should I bring? I don't like carrying a lot of cash and prefer to use my card, so how much cash should I bring for a 20+ day trip through the Netherlands, Germany, and France, mostly in big cities? And all three countries use the EURO, right? ### 3.2 Do I need to enter a PIN when using my Visa card in the Netherlands, Germany, and France? I don't need to enter a PIN when using my card in Vietnam and many other countries, so I've totally forgotten it! :(( If anyone knows, please let me know so I can try to recover my PIN. ### 3.3 Booking train tickets in the EU? What apps/websites do you recommend for booking train tickets in the EU? Which is reputable with good rates? Can I book tickets just 1-2 days in advance? I'm travelling to many cities, and I'm worried that booking too far in advance will make me less flexible if things change on the ground. Besides trains, are there any convenient bus services that are easy to book/use? ... I've just started planning my trip, so I don't have many questions yet, but I'm sure I'll have lots more soon! :)) Phewww... Finished! Now that I've written this out, it's so long. I didn't think I'd be able to write such a long post! :)) Thanks for reading. I wish you all the best with your visa applications and happy travels! Thanks all.
