Compiling recent experiences regarding short-stay Schengen visa application outcomes

Schengen Visas
1

Hello everyone,

I am working on a comprehensive blog post summarizing the reality of short-stay Schengen visa applications over the last five years. While official requirements are clear on paper, the on-the-ground experience often varies significantly by country of origin and the specific consulate involved.

I am looking to gather qualitative data on your direct experiences. Specifically:

  • profound differences in processing times between different Schengen member states.
  • Unexpected challenges or rejections in what should have been straightforward cases.
  • Which specific consulates have you found to be the most pragmatic versus the most bureaucratic?

Information regarding the consistency of decision-making would be highly valuable for future applicants navigating this system.

2

Realizing this is not about long-term residency rules, but I feel compelled to address a shift I have observed here in Cairo.

3

I write to share a formal account of a rejection I recently received from the Italian Consulate, despite my adherence to all stated protocols.