Proving your financial stability if you are a freelancer

Question

I'm planning my big Europe trip, and I'm quite excited about it!

I have received a grant to attend a programmer conference in September, and I have an invitation letter from them. Since it's a conference, I'm applying for a business visa.

The problem I think I might run into is that I'm a freelance software engineer, and a single male. I know this type of people look the most risky, given that they have a lot of flexibility. I'm honestly attending the event and coming back, but I'm looking for some ideas to prove that my online job is stable.

As of now, I have these documents:
- Bank statement of my local bank account (of past 6 months).
- A digital certificate of earnings from the web site I use to transfer my payments. It shows how much I earned in past 12 months, 6 months, 3 months and the last month.
- I use a prepaid Master Card to withdraw my money. I also have a screenshot of all transactions of past 6 months.

The amounts match each other and I can show more money than what I would ever need. But I do not have pay stubs or checks. All transactions are completely digital.

I will also provide a hotel confirmation and a return flight ticket confirmation. I also have the invitation and my cover letter includes links to the web site that mentions that I have received the grant (along with 20 other grant winners).

I actually have two questions:

• How accepting is the Schengen visa schemes of digital transactions? I can provide a photocopy of the same card I use, and I can even show the physical master card to them, which has my name embedded and matching card numbers. I have submitted the same documents to other embassies and had no problems. Will I have problems with Schengen?

• Given that I am a freelancer, unmarried, living in a developing country, I understand I should show that I definitely intend to come back. I'm done with my education and I am not in the age to own a vehicle or property (I'm 23). Is a return flight ticket considered a reason to come back?

I have visited other countries and have never overstayed or violated any immigration laws. Is a fairly used passport considered as a positive point to prove that I take immigration laws seriously?

Answer 1

How accepting is the Schengen visa schemes of digital transactions? I can provide a photocopy of the same card I use, and I can even show the physical master card to them, which has my name embedded and matching card numbers. I have submitted the same documents to other embassies and had no problems. Will I have problems with Schengen?

I am curious to know what do you think you are trying to achieve by showing this card number? Spending doesn't show income and more specifically a credit card is not proof of income or funds, it is a liability on you. The only reason some embassies would entertain that is because generally in order to obtain a credit card you have to pass income checks. In my opinion it doesn't have bearing on your ability to support yourself in the country.

The good thing about your application:

1. You are being financially sponsored by the organization.
2. You have previous international travel on your passport.
3. You have a formal invitation letter.
4. You are showing income (this only goes to show that you are financially able to support yourself). The digital mastercard stuff, screenshots doesn't matter. I recommend you don't even include them in your application's supporting documents. All you would need a statement of account from your bank (on your bank's letter head) which shows steady income and your current financial standing.

Make sure the following about your additional supporting documents:

1. Hotel reservation (if not part of your sponsorship from the organization). You should show a booking that shows clearly your name (as it appears on your passport), the check-in and check-out dates should be concurrent with your conference dates.

2. Flight reservation (a ticket is not required). It should show your outbound and inbound flights.

3. "Proof of ties" - this is where you have a few question marks; but your international travel should alleviate some of this.

The rest is up to how you answer the questions at the interview; however in my experience as having applied to many a consulate you are certainly above the norm (as a matter of risk).