Is the "French Visa Hack" from this video actually safe for entry?

Schengen Visas
1

I recently came across a trending YouTube guide (I won’t link it to avoid promoting it) claiming that applying for a Schengen visa via France is a “guaranteed” way to get approval, even if I plan to spend my entire trip in Germany. The creator called it a smart workaround for the current appointment shortages in Shanghai.

However, the video didn’t mention any downsides. Since there was no meaningful description or text sources cited in the video, I am doing my own “specs check” on this logic.

Does this actually work, or is it a quick way to get rejected at the border? I care about the build quality of my travel history and don’t want a ban on my record.

2

@thabo_music

That advice is misleading and risky. Under Schengen rules, you must apply to the country that is your main destination (or first entry if no main stay can be identified). Applying via France while intending to spend the entire trip in Germany is considered misrepresentation.