Schengen Visa Interview Questions and How To Ace Them!

You have made a visa appointment and your interview is in a few days - the hard part is done.

As soon as you pass your interview, you are a few days away from receiving your visa and traveling to one of the many countries in the Schengen Area.

In this guide, I'll walk you through the interview process, ensuring you are well equipped and confident to pass your Schengen Visa interview, with ease. Oh and, if you're not going for a Schengen Visa Interview, don't worry! You can use the following tips to ensure you pass any Visa interview.

Let's get started...

What Is The Purpose Of A Schengen Visa Interview?

A Schengen interview is an in-person interview between the visa applicant and the consulate employee. The purpose of the interview is mainly to assess the application and determine if the applicant is deserving of the Schengen visa.

During your interview, the embassy/consulate employee will determine the following:

That you are traveling for reasons stipulated in your visa application

That you can sustain yourself financially during your trip

You have good character

You have a clean criminal record and have no previous offenses, proving that you are a law-abiding citizen

Check that you do not plan to overextend your visa period or permanently stay in one of the Schengen areas.

These points mentioned above are only guidelines and are not the only aspects under evaluation for a Schengen visa. If you want to know more about the purpose of the Schengen interview, contact your nearest embassy of your Schengen country for more information.

What Are Some Helpful Tips Before My Interview?

After you have filled in your visa application form you are required to have an interview, and like any interview, it can be a stressful experience. The following tips will help you prepare for your interview and reduce the initial stress.

Remember To Bring All The Required Documents

During your Schengen Visa application process you are required to submit certain documents. Wether you are planning to have a short-stay, or long-stay the interviewer will most likely ask certain questions that could easily be answered with your supporting documents. These documents can include: flight tickets, leave approval letter, bank statements, travel medical insurance, educational qualifications, a valid passport, and any other travel documents that might aid you during your interview. Remember that any family members traveling with you should also provide relevant supporting documents.

Stay calm and relaxed

Before your interview, take a deep breath and relax. If you stay relaxed, you are more likely to give precise and comprehensive answers. Remember you are not being interrogated, as mentioned above, the interview is only for consulate staff to check that you are eligible to receive a Schengen visa.

Be yourself

You will find that being yourself will provide the best results. Remember to be professional while answering questions. Answer all questions truthfully and to the best of your knowledge, keep your answers simple, and stick to the point.

Dress appropriately

Although there is no official dress code for a Schengen visa interview, we recommend dressing appropriately. Avoid wearing baggy clothing, sweatpants, and flip-flops. The clothing you decide to wear should make you feel confident.

Be on time

If you are not on time for your interview, your Schengen visa will most likely be denied. Plan your travel to the Consulate beforehand to ensure that you arrive on time for your interview. It is better to be a few hours early than a few minutes late as your first impression is a lasting impression.

What Schengen Visa Interview Questions Will Be Asked During My Interview?

Take note that the following questions should only be used as a guideline. Questions may vary depending on the interviewer, and how you answer certain questions. The interviewer can decide to ask any question he/she feels is relevant. Answer all the questions confidently, truthfully, and to the best of your knowledge. These questions will help you prepare for your interview.

What Are The Most Common Questions That Will Be Asked During The Interview?

During your interview, you will be asked numerous questions related to your trip.

These questions may include:

What is the purpose of your trip?

Why have you decided to travel to a specific Schengen area?

How long will you stay in the Schengen area?

Will you be visiting someone, and if so, who?

Are you traveling with a companion?

What country will you visit?

Are you planning to visit more than one country in the Schengen area?

Have you traveled to the country before?

Have you ever traveled to Europe before?

Do you have medical insurance?

Are you financially able to sustain yourself during your trip?

Do you have proof of accommodation?

Most of these questions are based on personal reasons and should be easy enough to answer. The interviewer might ask you to provide proof of accommodation or health insurance. Therefore, ensure that you have all the supporting documents with you during the interview.

Are There Any Questions Related To My Life Outside The Schengen Area?

The interviewer may ask you a few questions regarding your personal life outside of the Schengen area.

These questions may include:

Are you a student?

What is your educational background?

Where did you study?

Where do you work, and what does your job entail?

Do you have any children?

Where do you currently live?

Are you married or in a relationship?

What Are The Difficult Questions That The Interviewer Can Ask?

Although some of these questions are straightforward. The interviewer may ask you difficult questions. You will need to provide convincing and truthful answers to these questions for your interview to be successful.

Here are some basic questions that could be asked:

Why do you need to spend so long in the Schengen area? Why don’t you apply for a short-term visa?

This can be a very intimidating question but, do not let it scare you. The interviewer wants to know the purpose of your visit, and where you are planning to visit within the Schengen zone. Answer honestly and truthfully. If your reason includes tourism, explain to the interviewer that the Schengen visa offers you an opportunity to discover many different cultures and history. Tell the interviewer that, if necessary, you will be able to shorten your trip. We recommend that you have a flight itinerary at hand to help prove your travel reasons.

How is it possible that you earn so much money?

A difficult question with an easy answer. If you are an employee, you can print out a bank statement to prove your monthly income. If you are a student, you will need to provide a document from your sponsor. This question is for the interviewer to see that you are financially stable and able to provide for yourself during your trip.

What are the countries you can travel to with a Schengen visa? Is the country you plan to visit part of the Schengen area?

This question is very easy to answer if you have done your research. The interviewer wants to check that you have done enough research in regards to the Schengen Area and the country you plan to visit. Be sure to do some research before your interview. This will help you answer these types of questions.

Have you ever been part of any crime or terrorist organization?

This is a pretty standard question for obvious reasons. Do not be frightened by this question. During your application, you have to provide a clean criminal record. Your answer should be "No" and that you also do not know anyone affiliated with any crime or terrorist organization.

How do we know that you will return to your home country after your visa expires?

State that you have many responsibilities in your home country. For example, your family, your work/studies, any social activities like weddings, you have rent that needs to be paid, etc. If the interviewer asks you to prove your intentions, you can show him a rental agreement, wedding invitation, etc. The best document you can provide is your flight itinerary if you have booked a return flight.

Remember to bring along any documents that might aid you in your interview. This can include flight itinerary, proof of accommodation, bank statements, and more.

These questions are only some of the difficult questions your interviewer may ask you. Ensure that you prepare for all these questions and any other related questions you can think about. Your interview should be stress-free if you are well prepared. Answer all the questions confidently and politely, and you will pass your interview with ease.

After reading this post, you should feel confident about your Schengen visa interview. Now all you have to do is ace your interview.