Based on what hidden and/or publicly available criteria are Schengen visas granted?

Question

If someone asks you that based on what criteria a loan can be granted to a bank customer you would probably talk about the customer's past and present financial status. You can even object against the bank manager when other irrelevant hidden criteria have been considered to reject your request, e.g. racism.

But I think we cannot object against an officer who rejects our visa. So, my question is based on what criteria Schengen visas are granted? And I mean real or 'hidden' reasons to grant/refuse visas. In addition, are those criteria available to us to read them so we can object in case that visa is refused?

PS The reason that (I joined to travel SE community and) am asking those questions because my application for home loan is rejected today because my signature is a mathematics formula and has "appeared strange and even offensive" in the bank manager's eyes !! (in Georgia). He also said "is it a code? for like a bomb?" !! My passport is Iranian and the countries are usually intend refusing to give visa, so it may be happily an excuse for them not to grant me a Schengen visa.

Answer 1

Actually you can appeal a refusal. The process will be described in the notice. That being said, the main criteria are:

• Did the applicant read, understand, and follow the instructions? Is the application complete and consistent? Quite a lot of people don't do that ...
• Does the applicant appear to be a genuine tourist or business traveller? Does the proposed itinerary make sense? Does the applicant have a realistic appreciation of the cost of living in the Schengen area?
• Does the applicant appear to be an illegal immigrant? A steady, well-paid job at home is a big plus. If the money for the trip is borrowed, it might look like an "investment" that will be repaid by working illegally in the Schengen area. Unexplained deposits of money are a very bad sign.
• Is the applicant known as security risk? Governments have secret databases. Some governments share some data with others. Applicants who are listed as dangerous (but not dangerous enough to draw a drone strike) would be denied entry.
• Is there a known travel history for the applicant, good or bad? Every time a tourist visa was used without overstay, that is a good sign.
• Did applicants with a similar background have many immigration problems in the past? That's never the only reason for rejection, but application from some regions are scrutinized more closely than others.