I applied with fixed travel dates, but I’m worried the visa start date might not match my itinerary. Did anyone get a later start date than requested?
Listen, historical precedent at consulates suggests this happens more than we’d like to admit. While the issuance should align with your itinerary, if there’s a delay in processing, they might set the start date to the day they actually stamped the passport.
Yes, this can happen, and it is more common than people think.
Embassies usually align the visa start date with your flight, but errors or internal consular rules can result in a later validity date. In most cases, officers rely on your submitted flight booking when setting the visa period.
The start date printed on the visa is legally binding. You cannot enter before that date. If it does not match your itinerary, contact the visa center or embassy immediately to request a correction before traveling.
Logic check: Did you use a dummy ticket or a fully paid one?
Yes, this does happen. In most cases, the embassy issues the visa within a window of about one month around the travel dates you mentioned in your application. The final visa start date is decided by the embassy, so it may begin slightly earlier or later than the exact dates you requested.
I faced a similar narrative last year. I requested a start date for the 4th, aligning with a restoration conference, but was granted entry starting the 6th.
Specs matter here. Has anyone from your region used VFS recently for this specific embassy?
Thanks for the team effort, everyone.