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A friend of mine 'Yy' applied for a business visa to enter Norway. They were rejected. They appealed with the Norwegian embassy asking to change to a tourist visa to visit family. The appeal takes 3 weeks which is past their travel date. So, Yy changed their plans a bit and decided to visit France and Norway and applied for a Schengen visa to the French embassy because they have 3 days of processing time. Yy got a Schengen visa from the French Embassy. In addition, they also got a phone call from a 'French officer' asking to promise them on the phone that they will not visit Norway. Yy was surprised at that sudden question but said okay. Yy is confused that there is no place mentioned on the visa about this restriction (that they cannot enter Norway). Yy even called the Norwegian Embassy who told them on the phone that they can travel to Norway but they did not give it in writing. Yy has not received a reply on their appeal to the Norway embassy yet.

Question is: Can Yy travel to Norway via France to meet family? Yy plans to spend some days in France, meet family in Norway, head back to France and head home.

fkraiem
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sheroocat
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1 Answers1

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It is a requirement of the Schengen visa that you apply to the country that is your main destination. Your friend has already broken the rules by applying to France when he wants to visit Norway. You are also required to state your travel plans in the application, which your friend did not do. French authorities are already aware of your friend's desire to visit Norway, which is why they called him, to establish beyond doubt that he did not intend to visit Norway, and your friend lied to them a second time on the phone.

Can your friend legally use this visa to travel to Norway? No absolutely they can not. Doing so would mean that they had broken several rules and lied to immigration officials, both in the application and in person. The normal punishment for such violations is a long ban from entering the Schengen area. Immigration authorities are obviously aware of the situation and are in a position to make checks, such as monitoring internal flights.

Your friend's best option is to either visit France (and only France) as he requested, or to abandon his travel plans.

DJClayworth
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