Greetings to this community. I am writing with a heavy heart to seek guidance regarding a recent setback with my travel plans. I applied for a Schengen visa through the French Consulate to visit the literary houses of Paris, but my passport was returned yesterday with a refusal letter. They checked the box stating that the information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable. I included my hotel reservations and return flight tickets in the dossier. Does anyone know if it is wiser to appeal this decision or to submit a fresh application? The ambiguity of the refusal reason is quite distressing.
Realizing this is not necessarily about the validity of your documents but rather the logic of your itinerary, there is a specific nuance here.
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Appeals rarely work unless there’s a clear mistake by the consulate. They’re slow and usually don’t allow new documents.
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For this refusal reason, a fresh application is usually the better option.
That checkbox doesn’t mean your hotel or flight were missing — it means the consulate didn’t find the travel purpose convincing enough or saw inconsistencies.
If you reapply, focus on:
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A much clearer cover letter (why this trip, why now, detailed plan)
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Stronger proof of ties to home country
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Consistent itinerary, finances, and leave details
This refusal is common and fixable. Reapply smarter rather than appeal.
I wish to share a personal experience regarding a similar bureaucratic hurdle.