Never Give Up on Your Schengen Dream!
There is absolutely no reason to give up on getting a Schengen visa! After a painful rejection for a German visitor visa, I knew I had to be incredibly meticulous and extra careful with my documents this time. My chosen gateway? The Czech Republic.
Here’s the full story of my Schengen visa journey, applied on April 28, 2025, for a departure date of May 27, 2025.
April 28, 2025: Submitting Documents at VFS Global Jakarta
My appointment was at 10:00 AM, but I wasn't called until 10:30 AM. Because of a slight mismatch in my documents, I ended up having to pay for a prime-time slot at 1:00 PM. No matter how carefully I thought I had prepared everything, something still slipped through the cracks!
The issue was a one-day discrepancy between my accommodation dates and my flight arrival schedule. My dummy flight ticket showed me landing in the Schengen area on May 27 (returning June 17), but my detailed itinerary started from May 28 to June 17. Even my cover letter and my mom's statement letter stated my travel dates as May 28 to June 16. Thankfully, since the flight dates, hotel bookings, and insurance period were all synced up with each other, the officer let my oversight slide.
Pro-Tip for Schengen Applicants: Double, triple, and quadruple-check every single document to ensure all dates match perfectly!
After that mini-heart attack, I did my biometrics and fingerprinting, and the submission was done. I was told that due to the high-demand peak season, processing times were longer than usual—stretching from the typical 15 days to about 30–45 days. All I could do was pray, hope, and cross my fingers. I honestly couldn’t handle another rejection.
The Dreaded Wait & A Surprise Plot Twist
Life went on as usual. No nightmares, but my heart was constantly doing flips, and I couldn't find peace. Fast forward to May 6, around 9:00 AM. I checked my email and work on my laptop one last time before heading out for the day. Since I was out until evening, I barely checked my phone notifications. I did glance at it during my commute but completely overlooked a crucial email because the subject line looked like standard recruitment spam: Request of interview.
When I finally opened it at 3:00 PM, my heart literally dropped into my shoes. It was an interview invitation from the Czech Embassy for the very next day, May 7, at 1:30 PM!
Panicking, I replied asking if it could be moved to May 8 since I was outside Jakarta. But then reality hit me: Who am I to dictate schedules to an embassy? Plus, I suddenly remembered that the Czech Embassy would be closed on that date for a holiday (I forgot what it was, but these things are usually posted on their website's announcement board). So, without wasting another second, I packed my bags and caught a ride straight to Jakarta from Bandar Lampung that very evening.
Some people in my backpacker group asked, "Why on earth do you need an interview for a tourist visa?" Look, it’s not weird or made up. It’s simply not our place to question embassy protocols. Maybe it was because this was my first Schengen application after a previous rejection, or maybe they wanted to verify my intentions. There are a thousand reasons only the embassy knows.
May 7, 2025: The Interview at the Czech Republic Embassy
I arrived at the embassy at 11:00 AM. Since my slot was still hours away, I managed to freshen up, shower, and get presentable at a nearby gas station and minimarket. By noon, my heart was pounding relentlessly. I was a nervous wreck.
Eventually, I met the security guard, sat in the waiting room, and was called in. A very tall—and honestly, incredibly handsome—consular officer approached the window.
He asked about the purpose of my trip, my occupation, who I was traveling with, whether I knew anyone in the Czech Republic or Germany, if I had ever been to the Schengen area, and if I had applied for a Schengen visa before. At the end of the interview, I firmly emphasized that I would absolutely return to Indonesia because of my job and my parents. I felt it was crucial to highlight this, considering my previous rejection was due to "doubts about my return."
And just like that, it was over! If I recall correctly, it didn't even take 5 minutes. The officer even complimented my English and asked where I learned it.
(Well, if it weren’t for my English, I probably wouldn’t have met J in the first place!)
May 20, 2025: The Call from VFS Global Jakarta
I vividly remembered the voice of the VFS Global Jakarta staff who handled my submission, and lo and behold, the same person called me! He informed me that my passport was being sent via courier. As you know, you never truly find out the result until you open that passport. The officer mentioned that shipping might take a little while, noting that my flight was scheduled for May 27. I told him it was fine.
But then I started overthinking. Why did he double-check my flight date? I forced myself not to get my hopes up. Until that passport is in your hands, nobody knows the verdict except God, the embassy, and the VFS staff (who are legally bound to keep secrets).
May 21, 2025: The Moment of Truth
The SAPX courier delivered my package late in the afternoon. My hands were shaking violently as I tore open the envelope. There’s a common myth among travelers: if the envelope feels thick, it usually means bad news (a rejection letter with explanations). If it’s thin, you’re likely good to go.
To my horror, the envelope felt a bit thick...
...and yet, GRANTED!
There was an extra piece of paper, but it was just a standard leaflet explaining visa regulations. The relief that washed over me was indescribable. My 22-day single-entry Schengen visa via the Czech Republic was approved! Thank God! I burst into tears of absolute joy because this journey had been so long, stressful, and expensive. Between appointment fees, prime-time charges, visa fees, courier services, traveling back and forth between Bandar Lampung and Jakarta, insurance, and the most expensive part—the round-trip flights... it was a massive investment.
Even though this is just the first gate and there are many more steps ahead, a huge weight has been lifted. J was, of course, the happiest person to hear this news. Our prayers were answered through this visa approval. The entire process took exactly 22 days (including 1 day for delivery).
My Schengen Visa Checklist
For those wondering, here are the documents I prepared:
- Visa Application Form: Pro-tip: download it from the VFS Global site, not the embassy's official site, as the embassy's version wasn’t updated. I had to pay around IDR 100k for a form replacement, which the VFS officer filled out for me.
- Valid Passport
- Biometric Photos
- Proof of Accommodation: I booked hotels for my entire itinerary through an app utilizing the "pay at hotel" feature with free cancellation.
- Cover Letter: I stated that my sole purpose was tourism (obviously!). I poured my heart out about how beautiful Prague is, known as the city of a hundred spires.
- Detailed Itinerary: From the day I enter to the day I exit the Schengen area, including all the sights I plan to visit.
- Proof of Employment & Finances: Since I'm a freelancer, I submitted my freelancing platform profile and income statements received via PayPal.
- 3-Month Bank Statement: My final balance was around IDR 30 million (admittedly, about IDR 22 million of that was a sweet boost from J!).
- Travel Insurance: I used Zurich (around IDR 725k). It didn't cover Covid but had excellent visa protection—just in case it got rejected, though thankfully, the opposite happened!
- Return Flight Ticket: I used an "on-hold" dummy ticket via Emirates, as recommended by the lovely admins in my backpacker group.
- Family Certificate (Kartu Keluarga): Must be issued within the last 6 months. I attached an English translation just to be safe.
- Mom’s Statement Letter: A notarized and signed letter from my mother stating that I would absolutely not overstay, would not look for a job, and would definitely return home since she is under my care.
Final Thoughts: A Journey Full of Magic
Looking back, this visa process was sprinkled with so many little miracles and beautiful encounters. Silly things, like how I found myself smiling at the name of my VFS officer. Right before entering the VFS room, I was greeted by a lovely university lecturer from Padjadjaran University who was applying for a German visa to visit her children who live and work there.
I was also greeted by a sweet girl who traveled all the way from Medan to apply for a Norwegian visa. Her story mirrored mine perfectly—she had her "lovely one" in Europe and was traveling to see the life of the person who would soon hold her heart forever.
Want to see what my beautiful Schengen visa looks like? Here it is:
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| My 1st visa Schengen |
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