Last edited by: Charles Etim
I still remember the exact moment I got the rejection email.
I’d just finished a late breakfast. My phone buzzed. I opened the notification expecting an update from the Italian consulate, maybe even a tracking number for my passport. Instead, there it was — one short sentence, buried in a formal document.
“Your application for a Schengen Visa has been refused.”
I stared at it for a minute. Then again. I scrolled back to the top, trying to make sense of it. Everything had felt right. I’d followed the checklist. Paid the fees. Had all my bookings confirmed. So, what went wrong?
Well, it turns out, applying for a Schengen visitor visa — especially from a country where rejection rates are high — is about a lot more than just ticking boxes. It’s about how believable, organized, and complete your story is. And in my case, my story looked fine on the surface — but it lacked depth where it mattered.
Let me walk you through exactly how my Italy visa got rejected, what I learned the hard way, and how I eventually got it approved.
The First Time: Naïve Confidence and a Stack of Paper
I was planning to visit Rome, Florence, and Venice for about two weeks. It was a trip I’d been thinking about for nearly a year — not for luxury, just for experience. History, art, old streets, gelato, and walking around cities I’d only seen in films.
When I applied the first time, I submitted what I thought was a strong application:
- Return flight booking
- Two weeks of hotel reservations
- A cover letter stating my travel plan
- My passport
- A 3-month bank statement showing enough savings
- My job letter confirming leave
- Travel insurance covering €30,000
- Schengen visa application form (filled, printed, signed)
Everything seemed in order.
The problem? On paper, yes. In context, no.
The Rejection — And the One Line That Said It All
About ten days later, I got the refusal letter. It was a template-style document with certain reasons ticked.
In my case, it was this:
“Justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable.”
What?
That part hit hard. Not enough justification? I gave them a cover letter. I gave dates. I gave hotel bookings. What else did they want?
The truth is, my application was surface-level. The officer reviewing it had nothing personal or concrete to connect with. It looked like a copy-paste trip plan, and they had no real reason to believe I would return.
Breaking It Down: What Went Wrong in My Application
I didn’t realize how common Schengen visa rejections are for visitor visas — especially from non-EU countries. But here’s what I did wrong, in hindsight:
- Weak Travel History: I had never traveled to Europe before. This was my first time applying for any Schengen visa. I didn’t include evidence of previous travel to other regions either.
- Generic Cover Letter: It was short, mechanical, and didn’t show my real intent. It just listed places I’d visit. It didn’t show why I was going, what I had back home, or what I’d be returning to.
- No Personal Ties Documented: I was employed, but I didn’t show proof of strong social, financial, or family ties. My employment letter was vague. I didn’t attach supporting proof like salary slips, tax records, or lease agreements.
- Bank Statement Without Context: The money was there. But there were two big deposits added recently (a freelance project and a bonus). To an embassy officer, that looked suspicious.
In short: I gave them data, but not a story.
The Frustration Phase
After that rejection, I went through a few weeks of second-guessing. Do I try again? Was it a waste of time? I spoke with a few people — some who got approved easily, others who faced two or three rejections before they finally broke through.
One thing became clear: re-applying with the same documents was pointless. I had to fix the weak points. Completely.
The Second Application — What I Did Differently
I waited two months before applying again. This time, I did everything with intention. Not just what was “required,” but what would make the application feel complete.
Here’s what I added:
1. A Real Travel Narrative
I re-wrote my cover letter into something far more personal. It wasn’t robotic. I spoke about why Italy mattered to me — from a historical and cultural point of view. I referenced my interest in Roman architecture, my ongoing Italian language course (yes, I had joined one), and my plan to document the journey on my blog.
2. Stronger Proof of Ties
I included:
- 3 months of payslips
- My employment contract with joining date and return-to-work clause
- Leave approval letter signed and stamped
- Rental lease under my name
- A recent utility bill and internet subscription with my address
- Family ties (I live with and support my parents — I included a notarized letter from them)
3. Clarified Financials
This time, I attached a financial explanation letter.
I explained the source of each deposit, broke down my trip expenses (daily cost x 14 days), and attached receipts of already-paid bookings (non-refundable hotel). I also added a savings certificate from my bank, not just a printout.
4. Added Past Travel Proof
Even though I hadn’t been to Europe, I had visited Turkey and UAE earlier — but never thought to include that before. This time, I attached scanned visas and entry/exit stamps.
The Result: A Different Outcome
This time, the review took longer — about 15 working days. I tried to stay calm, but I’ll admit, I was checking my email like a nervous teenager before exam results.
Then came the message:
“Your passport is ready for pickup.”
No extra words. Just that. I went to the VFS center the next morning, opened the envelope, and there it was: a 90-day multiple-entry Schengen visa with Italy as the main destination.
I didn’t even smile. I exhaled.
That rejection had been haunting me — not because I couldn’t travel, but because it felt like I’d done something wrong. Now, I felt like I finally understood what this process really is.
Final Thoughts: What You Need to Understand
If you’re applying for an Italy visitor visa, or just got rejected, here’s what I’d say as someone who’s been through it:
- You can’t give them just paperwork. You need to give them confidence.
- Ties to your home country matter. Show your roots. Show what you’re returning to.
- Don’t fake. Don’t fluff. But don’t be generic either. A human reads your application — not a robot.
- Finances aren’t just about the balance. They want to see stability and clarity.
If you’re rejected, don’t take it personally. Learn from it. Strengthen your application. Approach it with more structure — and more honesty.
Because sometimes, rejection is just a badly told version of the right story.
