Do you know that the slightest mistake can cost you your Visa? If your answer is no, you need to check out this piece on mistakes you should never make in your visa application. Being denied a visa application is not a new experience; we often read about visa applicants making several complaints about not getting a visa after spending a lot of time and money on processing it.
The fact is that over 90% of visa applicants are qualified for a Visa, and still, they weren’t granted access due to a few mistakes they overlooked during the application process. It would be best to take notes of the required processes before attempting to process a Visa application. In this article, I will be exposing 8 mistakes you should never make in your Visa application.
Table of Contents
Mistakes you Should Never Make in Your Visa Application
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Not Reading Instructions
One of the mistakes you should never make in your visa application is rushing through the whole process. This often happens when you feel you know many things about the application; you probably applied the previous year, and you still feel the process is the same.
Subsequent changes would be made to the application periodically, so you need to understand how things work before applying. To avoid making this kind of avoidable mistake, learn to conduct proper research on the process. You can start by reaching out to people who have been granted visas from the same embassy you are applying from.
You can also contact travel consultants to put you through the dos and don’ts of the visa application process. While filling out your Visa Application Form (VAF form), do not forget to read through it well and ensure you understand every section you are filling out there.
If you have any questions or unclear areas on the application, reach out to the body in charge, do not assume that your mistakes would be overlooked because they won’t.
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Falsifying Documents
This is often common with applicants that are desperate to get a Visa. One of the biggest mistakes you should never make in your Visa application is to assume you can get away by using fake documents.
Remember, your application will be processed through an embassy that has the legal right to probe any documents you submit regarding your Visa application. Documents concerning your country of origin, school certificate, country of residence, health records, etc., should not be falsified.
You might assume you can get away with using a fake document, but in the long run, it can bounce back and affect the processing of your visa application. You wouldn’t want to be on the embassy’s blocklist, so avoid making such a mistake.
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Applying for the Wrong Visa
Applying for the wrong Visa is one of the mistakes you should never make in your Visa application. You might be wondering if this is possible, but it happens a lot. A wrong Visa application can occur when the applicant does not conduct proper research on the process or uses a fraudulent travel agent. Many applicants, especially the uneducated ones, do not know that different types of visas are issued to travelers.
Some of the common types of Visas are:
- Visitors and tourists visas
- Business visa
- Education visa
- Religious visa
- Temporary work permit visa
- Student visa
- Immigration and naturalization visa.
Note that the host country determines the types of visas listed above. Not all countries offer the same type of visas.
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Time Management
You cannot be looking at traveling to the UK in September to further your education and be applying for a Visa in August; visa processing does not work that way. One of the many mistakes you should never make in your Visa application is to assume you can apply late because you meet the requirements. Ensure you stick to the schedule for the processing.
Once you get your VAF, start filling it out and submitting it as soon as you are done. A simple way to avoid not meeting the application deadline is to get all the needed documents ready at least a month before the application.
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Lying on the VAF Form
The so-called “White lies” some Visa applicants make on their application are one of the reasons they end up losing the application. Lying on your Visa Application Form is one of the mistakes you should never make your Visa application.
Do not assume that ticking “single” would give you an edge over ticking “married” when you are married. It is the right of the embassy to conduct a background check on you. If you are caught lying on your application, you will be denied a Visa.
One of the common mistakes you should never make in your Visa application is taking the advice of people or travel agents who tell you that lying would help you get the Visa. It does not work that way.
For instance, you were asked, “have you been denied a Visa at this embassy before?” and you replied with a “no,” your passport would be checked to confirm if your answer is true. If a stamp states “denied” on your passport, you would be caught lying. Try not to get caught in such an embarrassing situation.
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Not using Air as your Means of Transportation.
In your application, you would be expected to fill your transportation channel to the country you are visiting and back to your host country after you are done with the purpose of your visit. One of the mistakes you should never make in your visa application is not using Air as the form of transportation you will be using for your journey.
This is not to say that the other means are not effective, but the embassy can easily track your flight. Roads, water, or railways transportation is not be easily tracked. So ensure you are getting a flight ticket for your travel and state that in your application.
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Having a Criminal background
One of the mistakes you should never make in your visa application is to apply without considering the impact of criminal background in your application. This does not only apply to dangerous criminals or convicts alone.
Even if you have not been charged with committing any crimes before, you have to ensure you do not have any bad records with the government. A back record might not allow you to get visa access to some countries. It is necessary to always leave a clean record with anyone you have worked with before and during the application process.
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Relying on Travel Agents to get you a Visa
Travel agents have always been helpful with visa processing. They can help you with the necessary consultations you need for the processing, but they will not be the ones to handle your interview for you. Remember, they are agents; their job is to push you till the interview stage.
At the visa interview, it is left for you to be strategic about how to answer the questions you would be asked. One of the mistakes you should never make in your visa application is to assume that your agents would always bail you out during the interview. You are the one that is going to travel, not them. However, you can always get interview tips from them.
Conclusion
Many people have been denied visas multiple times due to avoidable mistakes in their applications. It often becomes depressing as many would have spent a lot of money to get a Visa. However, this is why I have provided you with a list of the mistakes you should never make in your visa application. I hope you learn one or two things from this eye-opener.