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The first time, I was not entitled to disclose the purpose of the travel to anyone beyond the company, so I applied for a tourist visa.

It feels, er, not completely true, but I couldn't provide an invitation from the inviting company (we didn't even know if we will sign an agreement, and the deal was a top secret).

I was rejected with a reason like "not convincing".

Is it bad?

Now I'm applying for a business trip visa. update: for a different date, for 3 days. It is not the same trip, but happens within a month from 1st application.

Should I include an explanation letter to a visa officer? What should I write there to convince the officer?

Here's why I think I need to provide extra explanations (these are USA rules but still): "As per "The Homeland Security Act - 2002" [...] When the applicant applies again in the future, the consulate officer must review the prior notes for rejection reasons. If the officer decides to grant the visa this time, he/she needs to justify the reasons for overruling the previous decision and note the same in the system."

1 Answers1

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As I understand your situation, you've made quite the mess. You lied about the purpose of your visit on your first application, were refused, and now wish to apply for substantially the same trip, presumably without too much time in between, with a different purpose. That is bad, yes.

So you're proposing one of two options:

  • Admit that you lied before and explain the true reasons for your travel. The problem is that you'll be admitting to deception, and so your new application will have a major credibility problem.
  • Pretend like nothing happened and make a new application. The problem here is that the consular officer can plainly see your previous refusals and will wonder why your tourist trip has turned into a business trip with the exact same itinerary. This looks both desperate and untruthful. Genuine applicants do not change the purpose for their trip.

A history of further refusals will only make the problem worse at this point. The best thing to do at this point would be for your company to engage a qualified German immigration lawyer to help make a new application. You should explain to this lawyer the full details of your previous application and denial.

Zach Lipton
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