My German VISA experience | Mumbai Consulate | Guest post | Winter 2017

Name: Vedant Gandhi
My German Visa experience – Mumbai Consulate, 15th June 2017
University: University of Applied science stuttgart (HFT Stuttgart)
Course: Master's International Project Management (Infrastructure, Building, Real Estate)

For booking my appointment I mailed them on their helpline email id as the website gives us option of doing it by calling them or by mail. I got a automated reply from them that we will reply to me within two working days. So i waited patiently for two days but didn't got any. finally on third day i called them asking my status. there was a foolish lady on other side who said i need to mail them to book a appointment. I explained her that i had already mailed vfs and blasted her for not replying back. after which she checked and said we will reply to you immediately. They told me all the slots are booked.after trying and starving for getting interview dates, calling them on regular basis for like 50-60 calls per day. I requested them daily on mails begged them that I had already paid fees for my studies and my classes are starting from Aug end. kindly please allot me an interview slot. Vfs being a global company i didn't expected such a thing from them. Hopefully one slot got cancelled on 15th June. I got mail informing me that my appointment is booked for 15th june They allotted me a date without even asking me ! I was very furious as I wanted a date in first or second week of june keeping in mind visa takes more than one month. but with no option i started preparing for my VI.

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Next procedure is common hence I would quote others:

I reached the consulate around 8 am as my interview was at 9.00 am.i reached embassy there was already a queue at the gate. They were checking the DD and the appointment letter at the gate and were letting people in one by one. Parents/Relatives were not allowed inside. We were also told to switch off the mobiles and keep it inside the bag. The bag has to be kept in the corner once you are in and you have to only carry your documents with you thereafter.

I was then provided with the checklist to arrange the documents. There were checklists for all Visa types. We are only supposed to make the sets with the documents mentioned in the checklist. Carry all the other documents (like work experience documents, accommodation proof, etc.) and present them only when asked. You are also required to write your name (in block letters), phone number and passport number on the back of the DD. They also provide glue and to paste the photographs on the application forms along with paper clips which you can also use.

Following documents were mentioned in the checklist in the same order: *as on 15th june 2017*

1. DD

2. DD form (you can also get from embassy, they provide one if you have not get one with u)

1. Application Form

2. Declaration

3. Covering Letter

4. Admission Letter

5.University/diploma/12th along with your mark sheets in descending order(8th sem to 1st sem) *including backlog mark sheets*

6. Blocked account statement( not older than 3 months) 

7. Proof of Financial means(only in cases where university tuition fees are applicable)

8. Proof of Language Proficiency(TOFEL/IELTS- not older than 2 yrs)

9. Goethe-zertificate(not older than 1 year) 

10. Copy of passport

Keep all the other documents (e.g.: sponsorship letter , affidavits, Bank Statement etc) ready until they are being asked for!

You need to make 2 identical sets of above mentioned documents. Once you are done arranging your documents you will be called one by one and your documents will be verified at a counter. You need to carry the two sets of documents arranged in above order, DD, 2 copies of DD form, passport and a photograph. The guy at the counter will check all the documents, staple them, return unnecessary documents and provide you the token number for your interview.

If you want to share your VISA EXPERIENCE to help others by getting it published, please send it to unofficialgermany@gmail.com

After a long wait my number came and I got token number 27. Though I reached so early. There was a long que. I was waiting for my number, the process is too slow , so sit calm and wait for your turn.

After this we need to wait for our token. To my bad luck the system was down that day! From five counter's only 3 of them are working.We were made to sit for four long hours from 9-1 and at 10 first person went in. VO was a young lady in her late 20's. Having experienced VFS arrogant attitude during interview at a VFS centre abroad I was not at all optimistic with them. And finally it was around 1.15 my token number was called. Token 27 please report at counter number 3.

ME: Good afternoon.
VO: Please Drop both the sets, DD, DD forms and Passport in the tray.
ME: (Dropped)
VO: Which Visa?
Me: Student Visa.
VO: Which university and which course?
Me: HFT stuttgart. Masters in International Project Management
VO: Why this course ?
ME: told a breif about the course and how it will be helpful

Then she started looking at my documents.
Vo: When does your sem starts?
Me: 4th sept, but my coordinator have told me to reach by 1st Sept.
VO: Is there tuition fee?
Me: Yes 7500 Euros for the whole course
VO: Have you paid it?
Me: Yes, I have paid the first installment of the first semester for 1438 euros.
VO: Show me where is the receipt.
ME: I showed my confirmation receipt from University as well as the payment confirmation from bank.
VO: Who is sponsoring your studies?
ME: Mother
ME: I have attached the affidavit of sponsership, IT returns, Bank Statements
VO: so where did you passed from?
ME: Btech in civil engineering from NMIMS, Mumbai
VO: oh wow so you are from NMIMS that's good.
ME: also I did my diploma from GTU
> now starts thrill.
VO: how many backlogs you had?
VO: is your course is in English
ME: yes mam my course is totally in English
VO: how many backlogs did you had.
ME: *i was blank for a moment as in nervousness i had forgotten to count how many backs I had. Unfortunately she was also not able to go through my marksheet.I told so and so is marks and # are my rexams and i counted approximatly I had 7 backlogs .
VO: you have 4 backlogs. I was surprised and then I changed the the topic and told her I was not good at technical subject and I have got A grades in managment subjects.and my masters course is so related.
VO: have to created your block account
ME: yes mam, from Kotak bank 8750 €.
VO: ok place you fingers for scanning,
Me : done
VO: did you did all your admission procedure by your own or did you appointed any counselor or any agency
ME: no mam I did everything by my own.
VO: Please drop your original docs
Me: done
VO: Please fill the questionnaire , so you can take a seat and write it.

I sat there and started writing it, in meantime she called another applicant and started attending them. After some time i finished. After that, she stamped a D seal on my Passport and gave me receipt along with the passport and told me that it will take 8-12 weeks for visa processing and that i will be notified via mail to my email-id.Please don't call and inquire about status as VFS mumbai can't track application. I was out by 1.30 PM.

I had also attached my financial proof docs but she didn't attached it to my application. I had even attached my internship work experience of 2 yrs but she returned me back that too. She returned my Mother's bank statement and IT returns. Even she only took the fees structure letter from my admission letter ,other all documents she return me back.

Author: Vedant Gandhi

This article was posted in this forum, so as to help other students with their VISA process. Please feel free to SHARE this and let others know.

If you want to share your VISA EXPERIENCE to help others by getting it published, please send it to unofficialgermany@gmail.com