Flight reservations are also sometimes called dummy tickets, which are acceptable for a number of visa applications, including the Schengen visa. These reservations are officially booked with an airline, so the airline will have a record of your transaction. You can also look into using a reputable third-party service online to make legitimate flight reservations. Forged dummy tickets are illegal, so be careful when booking with third parties. It’s easy for officials to check to see if a dummy ticket is legitimate, and if you’re caught, your application will be denied.
The additional cost of a refundable ticket can be very high. In some cases, a refundable ticket costs twice as much as a standard one. [3] X Research source Although it might be tempting to refund your ticket when your visa is approved, then purchase a standard ticket, you may run into some trouble. If your original flight sells out, you won’t be able to travel on the same flight that you told the visa consulate about, which can raise some questions with officials upon your arrival.
Keep in mind that visas to some areas, like the EU, generally take 15 days for a decision (and potentially even longer). If the country you’re trying to travel to can process visas faster than this, then holding the ticket with the airline can be a great option. [5] X Research source For tickets purchased through award points, you may be able to hold your ticket for a longer period of time than if you were paying with cash. Check your airline’s policy.
Shopping around with different travel agencies is a good way to ensure you can pick one with the best solution. Ask them if they have experience with holding tickets for visa applications and how they can best help you through the process.
Be sure to read the fine print of any hotel reservation you make. Some third-party sites for booking hotel rooms will advertise a room as being refundable even when it isn’t.
Some visa applications, including the Schengen visa, also require you to provide a letter from your friend or family member where they officially invite you to stay with them. This letter should also include information about your relationship with the host, as well as who will be responsible for covering the costs of your stay.
June 6th: Arriving to Berlin in the morning, going to Reichstag in afternoon, returning to AirBnB at night. June 7th: Going to Markthalle in morning, tour at Tiergarten in afternoon, and to Berghain at night.
If you’re denied a visa, many countries, including those from the Schengen area, will inform you of the reasons for this decision. You’ll then have a chance to submit an appeal to try and change the decision.
