When your Schengen visa is denied, you have two options: appealing the decision or reapplying for the visa.
Appealing the Decision
Choosing to appeal means you request a review of your original application. This option is preferable if:
- You are confident that all your submitted documents are accurate and complete.
- You can provide substantial evidence to address any financial concerns that led to the rejection.
- You are not in a rush to travel to the Schengen area, as the appeal process can be lengthy.
- You wish to minimize additional expenses, as appealing is generally less costly than reapplying.
- There is an alert issued against you by a Schengen country, and you need to address this specific issue.
Reapplying for the Visa
Reapplying involves starting the entire application process from scratch. This option is suitable if:
- You have corrected the issues that caused the initial rejection.
- Your travel plans are urgent and you need a faster resolution, as reapplying can result in obtaining a visa more quickly than appealing.
- You are prepared to incur additional costs, as reapplying requires paying all the associated service fees again.
In summary, appeal if you are confident in your original application and not pressed for time, and reapply if you have addressed the reasons for rejection and need the visa promptly.