Help with "Have you even been denied a visa" question - unsual story

[sonveg]

Hi, I'm new here, just got an ITA and need some help from more experienced people!

In Statutory Questions section, there is a question "Have you ever been denied a visa or permit..." I don't know how to answer this questions, as my story is as follows.
5 years ago I booked a group tour to Europe and I was issued a group visa (by the Czech embassy). Then, the travel agency rescheduled the tour, and the Czech embassy canceled this group visa (all group members passports were still in the embassy, and there is a stamp that says "Canceled" on top of it). In two weeks time all our group members got another visa and we successfully went on our tour.

Should I answer "Yes" to the "Have you ever been denied a visa..." question? Technically, I was not denied a visa or refused to enter the country, but there is a "Canceled" stamp on one of my visas. I am afraid that if I answer "No", it may be perceived that I had some problems with that visa and lied in my application. What would you advice me to do?

 

[Maverick28]

Hi, I'm new here, just got an ITA and need some help from more experienced people!

In Statutory Questions section, there is a question "Have you ever been denied a visa or permit..." I don't know how to answer this questions, as my story is as follows.
5 years ago I booked a group tour to Europe and I was issued a group visa (by the Czech embassy). Then, the travel agency rescheduled the tour, and the Czech embassy canceled this group visa (all group members passports were still in the embassy, and there is a stamp that says "Canceled" on top of it). In two weeks time all our group members got another visa and we successfully went on our tour.

Should I answer "Yes" to the "Have you ever been denied a visa..." question? Technically, I was not denied a visa or refused to enter the country, but there is a "Canceled" stamp on one of my visas. I am afraid that if I answer "No", it may be perceived that I had some problems with that visa and lied in my application. What would you advice me to do?

Technically, a cancelled visa in your case is not a rejection since Schengen Visa is date specific. Your tour operator rescheduled the tour so the embassy had to cancel it and issue a new one.

But, this may be an issue if you just look at a cancelled visa as sometimes a cancelled visa means you did something wrong and your visa was revoked.

So for you, it will be better to answer YES to the 2 questions about visa refusals and explain this.

 

[sonveg]

Thanks! It's probably best to be over cautious. However, will my own explanation be enough? As this was not a refusal, I do not have any letters from the embassy and I do not have any letters from the tour operator (it was 5 years ago maybe it's already closed).

 

[Maverick28]

Thanks! It's probably best to be over cautious. However, will my own explanation be enough? As this was not a refusal, I do not have any letters from the embassy and I do not have any letters from the tour operator (it was 5 years ago maybe it's already closed).

You are telling them upfront and being honest. This is what they expect from you. Your explanation should be enough. A tourist visa refusal does not hurt your application anyway. And this is not even a refusal.