Question for seasoned travellers

A

AdamGamerX

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Hello
A newbie in this forum and in travelling.

So my best friend and I have been planning on travelling overseas next year, either to the UK or Italy. We currently work part-time and we've been saving, also both our parents have agreed to give us whichever amount we're short of for the trip.

Now my question is how likely is it for people like my friend and I to get our visas approved if we are first-time travellers who only work part-time but can afford to finance the trip(flights, accommodation and spending money) that costs more than we make in 2 months?
Plus also not getting turned away by immigration for the same reason stated above.
 
You can show proof of funds during the visa application - e.g. a bank statement for a savings account.

Immigration most likely won't give you a hard time unless you look seriously dodge.
 
You just need to prove that you have a certain amount of money to support yourself for the duration of your stay, the embassy website for the country you're visiting will have all this info.

You should be fine as long as you meet all the requirements and if it doesn't look like you're trying to go and work there (if you're on a tourist visa that is).
 
Curious why UK or Italy? They're cool, but there's cheaper and more adventurous places to visit. Go! go! internet questioning your choices rather than answering your question :X3:!
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
You just need to prove that you have a certain amount of money to support yourself for the duration of your stay, the embassy website for the country you're visiting will have all this info.

You should be fine as long as you meet all the requirements and if it doesn't look like you're trying to go and work there (if you're on a tourist visa that is).
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So after a quick look at the Italian website, if you'll be staying for 6-10 days, you'll need a minimum of R705 per day.
So if we were staying for 8 days:
(8 × R800) = R6400ea(Bank balance of 10k)
And I had my return flight paid, accommodation booked and travel insurance paid for as well, there's a good chance of my application being successful?
 
Can you get a letter from your employer stating you are employed? Even part-time. Should help.
Flights + accommodation + travel insurance + proof of $ should be enough though.
What do you plan on doing there? If you plan on doing tourist stuff you will struggle on R800 per day. Especially if you drink. I usually budget 80 euro per day.
 
Brawler said:
Can you get a letter from your employer stating you are employed? Even part-time. Should help.
Flights + accommodation + travel insurance + proof of $ should be enough though.
What do you plan on doing there? If you plan on doing tourist stuff you will struggle on R800 per day. Especially if you drink. I usually budget 80 euro per day.
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Getting a letter won't be a problem.
I do plan on doing a lot of tourist stuff and see as much of the place as possible. 10k for the trip was just an estimate, my savings can allow me to do 15k for like 8 days. On the plus side, I don't drink or smoke.
 
Forget the UK. Extend the trip to as long as is affordable especially since your flight will be a considerable percentage of your holiday budget - 8 days is quite limiting to experience a city let alone a country. If you go with Italy then Florence and Rome are must sees. If you base yourself in each for a week you can do day trips via the bullet trains to various parts via bus/tour group/high speed train. My only advice is plan your trip way ahead of time, most affordable and pleasant is the month prior to their summer peak where the weather is mild but with a bit of sun. You also need to be very savvy especially when travelling in Italy and dealing with tickets/tours etc. - there are pick pockets and scam artists galore.
 
For the visa application use accomodation which has free cancellation. For the flight get a ticket which you can pay later, eg Ethiopian Airways and choose pay within 72 hrs and let it lapse. So, if visa application unsuccessful not out of pocket. You can always book the accommodation and flights again at a later stage once visa comes through.

UK and Schengen visas not cheap either .. Try to go somewhere without a visa if possible, esp. If limited budget.
 
quovadis said:
Forget the UK. Extend the trip to as long as is affordable especially since your flight will be a considerable percentage of your holiday budget - 8 days is quite limiting to experience a city let alone a country. If you go with Italy then Florence and Rome are must sees. If you base yourself in each for a week you can do day trips via the bullet trains to various parts via bus/tour group/high speed train. My only advice is plan your trip way ahead of time, most affordable and pleasant is the month prior to their summer peak where the weather is mild but with a bit of sun. You also need to be very savvy especially when travelling in Italy and dealing with tickets/tours etc. - there are pick pockets and scam artists galore.
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Okay, you gave me something to think about.
 
Cage Rattler said:
For the visa application use accomodation which has free cancellation. For the flight get a ticket which you can pay later, eg Ethiopian Airways and choose pay within 72 hrs and let it lapse. So, if visa application unsuccessful not out of pocket. You can always book the accommodation and flights again at a later stage once visa comes through.
Click to expand...
That's actually pretty clever. Thanks for the tip.
 
Cage Rattler said:
For the visa application use accomodation which has free cancellation. For the flight get a ticket which you can pay later, eg Ethiopian Airways and choose pay within 72 hrs and let it lapse. So, if visa application unsuccessful not out of pocket. You can always book the accommodation and flights again at a later stage once visa comes through.
Click to expand...

The free cancellation is advisable but be very wary of providing proof of flights that are not confirmed or present them as such. Rather book a flight which is refundable or engage the assistance of a travel agent. If the processing of a visa suspects any paperwork to be less than proper you can be excluded from being eligible for visa applications for years and not necessarily only for the EU.
 
Basically you need to prove to the embassy staff that you are most likely to come back to SA. Letters from employer and bank statements essential.

Check the web some countries' consular staff may be more lenient than others. How old are you and your friend by the way?
 
Ireland also does not require SA citizens to have a Visa if you are interested in visiting Ireland (only European country like this to my knowledge)
 
quovadis said:
The free cancellation is advisable but be very wary of providing proof of flights that are not confirmed or present them as such. Rather book a flight which is refundable or engage the assistance of a travel agent. If the processing of a visa suspects any paperwork to be less than proper you can be excluded from being eligible for visa applications for years and not necessarily only for the EU.
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That would be a confirmed flight with delayed payment .. Has worked multiple times .. Exact same ticket is issued
 
Cage Rattler said:
That would be a confirmed flight with delayed payment .. Has worked multiple times .. Exact same ticket is issued
Click to expand...

Until your processing is delayed and they phone the airline 3 days later. Which consulate/country was this?

Edit: Or they request proof of payment and source of funds.
 
China for one. Just be careful of any long trips to Turkey .. They examined that visa in the passport very closely!

Russia is another another European destination without visa .. though the border crossing near Murmansk earlier this year took a lot longer than normal as none of the staff had seen a SA passport before!
 
Cage Rattler said:
China for one. Just be careful of any long trips to Turkey .. They examined that visa in the passport very closely!

Russia is another another European destination without visa .. though the border crossing near Murmansk earlier this year took a lot longer than normal as none of the staff had seen a SA passport before!
Click to expand...

Russia is more like Europe adjacent since it's mostly in Asia :ROFL: The EU country shengen visa process is quit stringent on first time applicants these days.

@ OP also ensure if you're travelling together that you book flights together for no other reason than ensuring being seated together unless you're fine with being on either sides of the plane. You don't always have the luxury of selected seating without paying or on the lower class fares.
 
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