A Kenyan woman named Nahty Tash has shared her excitement after successfully securing a Schengen visa on her first attempt, despite initially feeling intimidated by the many visa rejection stories she had heard.
Tash said she had dreaded making the application because stories of failed Schengen visa applications appeared to be more common than those of successful applicants.
Why She Chose Tourist Visa
However, she eventually decided to apply for a tourist visa and rely entirely on her own documents, a decision she believes helped her present her case clearly.
According to Tash, she deliberately opted for a tourist visa instead of a visit visa because she wanted her application to stand on her own documentation.
She noted that, in her opinion, a visit visa can sometimes be slightly easier to secure because the applicant may have additional supporting documents from a host.
For her, however, the tourist visa offered an opportunity to demonstrate her circumstances and intentions using her own paperwork.
Cover Letter Made the Difference
One of the aspects of the application Tash believes may have worked in her favour was her cover letter.
Rather than treating it as a formality, she used the letter to explain herself in detail, almost as though she were speaking directly to the visa officer.
Tash said she included information she wanted the officer to understand but could not adequately communicate through supporting documents.
The approach, she believes, helped give context to the documents submitted with her application.
First Attempt Gives Her Confidence
After successfully obtaining the visa, Tash said the experience had completely changed her confidence when it comes to visa applications.
What had initially seemed like an intimidating process ended with a successful outcome on her first attempt.
She now feels more confident about handling future visa applications, having overcome the fear that initially surrounded her Schengen application.
Her experience also highlights the importance of presenting a clear and coherent application rather than allowing stories of rejection to discourage prospective travellers.
