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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.

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    Did 'Yy' state in their application for the French visa that they intended to visit Norway as part of the trip? Also how long does he/she plan to spend in each country?
    – DJClayworth
    Jul 16, 2019 at 18:51
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    This sounds like it has a hint of visa shopping. I’d be pretty wary of trying to enter Norway on the basis you’ve described, but then I’m risk-averse.
    – Traveller
    Jul 16, 2019 at 19:02
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    So "your friend" lied in their visa application and then lied again when the consulate called again to confirm the lie? I think I know who they have to blame whem this inevitably blows up in their face.
    – hmakholm left over Monica
    Jul 16, 2019 at 19:58
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    My guess is that they don't at this stage, have proof that Yy really intends to visit Norway, and so they are giving him the benefit of the doubt for now. That will be withdrawn immediately they find out he has actually gone to Norway.
    – DJClayworth
    Jul 16, 2019 at 21:22
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    An edit is not the proper way to delete a question (or request that it be deleted).
    – fkraiem
    Jul 17, 2019 at 6:31

1 Answer 1

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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.

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  • One might also wonder if the friend can expect a) another call from the French Embassy to say the visa has been cancelled; and b) an appeal refusal from Norway. Presumably the friend was unaware of how visa data is collected by Schengen authorities ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/…
    – Traveller
    Jul 16, 2019 at 20:39
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    It seems that the applicant already lied, regardless of whether he in the end goes to Norway or not. But by avoiding travel to Norway it might be possible to get through this without untoward consequences.
    – phoog
    Jul 16, 2019 at 21:42

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