How to book a Germany Schengen visa appointment
Are you a UK resident caught in the whirlwind of trying to secure a Germany Schengen visa appointment? If you've been constantly greeted by the "no available appointments" message on the TLS and VFS websites, you're not alone. Many applicants have shared your frustration and faced the same hurdles. But fear not, in this post, we will share some practical tips, gathered from real-life experiences, to navigate the often challenging process of securing a Schengen visa appointment.
1. Refresh Frequently
A key strategy to snagging an appointment slot is persistence and constant vigilance. One Reddit user suggested:
"Check VFS website more often. As a rule of thumb, you should refresh the appointments page every 15 minutes."
Another user affirmed,
"Last Nov, I sat down and constantly refreshed two phones checking London and Manchester. It didn't take me long, I finally caught an appointment for that week."
2. Check at Odd Hours
There's wisdom in checking for appointment slots when others are least likely to be online. Several users have found success by checking at midnight German time.
"Check at 12am German time... They update the appointments daily but it gets booked in seconds,"
advises one Reddit user.
3. Employ Autofill
Every second counts when trying to secure a visa appointment. Autofill can help speed up the form-filling process, increasing your chances of getting an appointment. One applicant shares this tip:
"I've successfully booked an appointment after several more tries. You would have to install a browser add-on called "Autofill", it literally auto fills the fields upon loading of the page with pre-programmed values (name, contact number, etc.), so that you only have to do the captcha."
4. Explore Other Centers
Consider not just the London center but also Manchester and Edinburgh. One individual recounted their experience saying,
"You can only see appointments from one center so you need to register in each center (Manchester, London and Edinburgh)... as long as you have all other information correct."
5. Keep An Eye Out for Cancellations
Be vigilant for cancelled appointments.
"Constantly refresh the site to catch cancellations. I did this for a week but it was on the 5th day that I managed to get an appointment for November 10th at Manchester," shares one user.
6. Print Confirmation Details
After you manage to secure an appointment, don't forget to print a copy of your confirmed and paid appointment.
"Don't forget to print a copy of your confirmed and paid appointment as once you clicked the date it will take you out of the site," suggests one Reddit user.
7. Be Prepared for In-person Requirements
It might be wise to anticipate possible in-person requirements, such as taking a new photo. One Reddit user recounts,
"I had to take another photo at the center because the one I got from the machine at Tesco did not pass the requirement."
8. Consider Other Schengen Countries
Expanding your application to other Schengen countries could be another strategy.
"Best Schengen areas to book is Germany and Belgium. Good luck! It’s a nightmare,"
suggests a Reddit user.
Securing a Schengen visa appointment can be a daunting task. It requires persistence, patience, and the ability to act swiftly. These tips, shared by those who have navigated the maze before you, might not guarantee an immediate appointment, but they can certainly make the journey less frustrating.
Happy appointment hunting and, when you get that slot, happy travels!
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. Always check with official sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
