Hi everyone, I am currently organizing a photography trip across France and Italy for next season to capture the street life during the transition to spring. However, I am hearing conflicting information regarding the processing times and the verification checks for freelancers. I want to ask: What are your recent experiences with short-stay Schengen visa applications? Specifically, has anyone faced scrutiny regarding their itinerary’s logic or funding proof? I would appreciate hearing your stories to better prepare myself.
I wish to share a recent incident regarding my application through the Greek consulate which might be relevant.
I am writing to inquire about a technicality regarding validity overlap for a multi-entry visa I currently hold.
Applied for a short-stay Schengen recently and yes, itinerary logic and funding were both checked quite closely. They didn’t question the purpose itself, but they did look at whether the route made sense (dates, cities, transport matching the bookings).
As a freelancer, funding proof mattered more than I expected. Bank statements were reviewed carefully, and inconsistent income can trigger follow-up questions.
Processing time was longer than advertised — closer to 3–4 weeks, not the standard 15 days. No interview, but paperwork scrutiny was real.
Overall it’s manageable, just important to be very clear and consistent on plans and finances.