Hari Kurup

Lecturer/Author/YouTuber/Content Writer @daindianformula
I share my learning through my posts & videos so tat we grow as students,entrepreneurs & human beings.

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

Unpopular Opinion:
Munnabhai MBBS and 3 Idiots are the same movie with different characters.

A Thread...

[Backpacking Daku @outofofficedaku]

Visa processing mood of each #Schengen country as of now...

About time I did this again...

Austria - Give me everything fully booked, including all internals too, and I'll grant you a visa, but I am still moody with approvals. We love emailing your employer to check the authenticity of your work profile, etc., so always give me updated details and also warn your employer to keep checking emails. Give me a dummy ticket, and I'll wait for the dummy ticket to expire and then reject your visa.

Belgium - I may or may not approve a visa, even if you give me all the docs. Even under the Friends and Family category for visiting my own son/daughter, I may just not approve. Also, I need to be reminded to push the file, as I'll keep the files pending.

Bulgaria - Newly added, and I am learning. I am what Croatia was when it joined Schengen. If I don't understand a profile, I would rather reject it than approve it. But I am slowly learning.

Czechia - I am the best country to apply to if you are doing the Czech + Austria + Hungary cluster. But visa-shop with me, and I may revoke your visa even before the trip or even during the trip. Otherwise, I am pretty chill.

Croatia - We joined Schengen in 2023 but still have not changed our processing process. But hey, we did reduce the maximum days before applying from 60 days to 45 days. That's an achievement, right? We are still slow in processing files. Appointments are occasionally not available.

Denmark - If your purpose is actually coming to our country, you're most welcome. No dummy flights. I'll also approve visas for the Faroe Islands. But we may call and ask you all the details about your trip.

Estonia - Most people visiting me do a day trip from Finland or are on business visits. Don't visa-shop with me, please.

Finland - You're welcome. Give me all your bookings and itinerary correctly, and take the visa. I am also quite liberal with visas under Friends and Family. Again, I am a Nordic country, so no dummy stuff with me, please.

France - I am the only country which will take your file even if the trip is next week. No questions asked. Haven't lived in India for the last 6 months? Don't worry, we'll manage it. Apply anywhere from India, and we'll process it within a week max. Quite liberal with approvals. While I do reject files occasionally in case you are visa-shopping, otherwise I am cool. My appeal process is pathetic, so just re-apply rather than waste time on an appeal.

Germany - Processing time has taken a hit with us, but we sometimes surprise travelers by processing visas in 2–3 days. I do have categories for urgent business travel, which helps. Also, I am the only country to write in my checklist that VFS cannot stop you from giving me any number of additional documents for your visa. Quite liberal with approvals too, and I'll always give you an MEV, but it will be for a short period, so there's no use for the actual trip.

Greece - I am a moody country. I did get liberal post the agency fiasco in Dec–Jan, but then I became how I was before. Still much more liberal than earlier. I also randomly reject the file for your spouse while granting you the visa. I am like that. Don't have your spouse's name in your passport? I need an Attestation/Apostille.

Hungary - The second-best country to apply to if you're doing the Czech, Hungary and Austria cluster. Not that fond of giving long visas, but I'll grant you one occasionally. Processing times are 2 weeks, and I get the job done.

Iceland - Don't play games with me. Give me everything fully paid and booked, and I'll grant you a visa. I hate dummy bookings. I'll also mention the exact reason in case I reject your file. All in all, I am quite liberal if you give me all confirmed bookings, including internals. Also, don't make the mistake of telling me you won't hire a car or go with some tour but will use public transport to do the Ring Road trip.

Italy - I'll not change my processing times. I have a hell lot of travelers coming in, and I don't care. I'll not add more staff. I'll also randomly jump appointment dates by 30 days, so many travelers just get stuck. And having jurisdiction is the icing on the cake, so you cannot apply from anywhere. Also, I won't ever answer a single email or call to the Embassy. I am just okay with granting LTV (Long-Term Visa) if you qualify.

Latvia - I do process a few files. Again, don't come to me just because you see a nice percentage of approvals or early appointment dates.

Liechtenstein - Switzerland handles my visa processing. I am not into all this. I have my money, and I chill.

Lithuania - In 2025, some 900-odd Indians applied with me, of which I approved 600 cases, I think. Just visit me by taking a visa from some other country for the maximum stay and, while passing by, say hi.

Luxembourg - I am liberal with the F&F category; otherwise, for tourism, etc., it's hard to justify the maximum days in such a tiny country.

Malta - Again, I am a moody country. Don't like many visitors. In fact, I am not good at approving the F&F category either. But sometimes, when companies have an R&R, etc., I am liberal, as the hotels earn from such large groups.

Netherlands - For the past few years, I relied on our staff in the Netherlands and other countries to process my files. Gulf tensions made those employees leave for safety, and I am stuck now. 3 weeks was my actual processing timeline, but now I process in approximately 45 days. Just one random day, I put out the notice that I'll now process in 45 days and derail the plans of so many travelers. But that's how it is? Bear with us. Ohh, and also, when applying under F&F, I'll love to have the municipality letter, even if it's not mandatory if you're not sponsored.

Norway - We have appointments ready. Again, no dummy stuff with me, please. Book everything. Make a plan yourself and apply. I may call to ask questions, but if you know what you're doing, I'll approve.

Poland - I am doing everything slowly. Appointments are still a pain. But I am slowly working towards it. The site is always under maintenance. But if you ignore the warning and go ahead, you may find an appointment.

Portugal - It's 2026, but I need a wet stamp on your leave letter if you're applying in Mumbai jurisdiction. I don't care if your company is digital or not; now I need a wet stamp. That's all. I need a wet stamp. And I am moody, and I process files leisurely.

Romania - I have joined Schengen, but my process is still with me, not with VFS. I'm still figuring out how, what, where, and when. In a few more months, I will be able to understand what's happening around me. Meanwhile, if you have a visa from another Schengen country, you are most welcome to visit.

Slovakia - Very rarely do travelers apply with us. Do a day trip from Austria or Hungary, or if you're a business traveler, apply for meetings, etc.

Slovenia - I am a mean-level pro if you apply with me. I'll ask you for fully confirmed flight tickets and stay bookings, which are non-refundable, and then I'll reject your visa. I can do that, and I may do it. So apply with caution. Even if you have a photography course booked with me, I'll still reject your visa if I'm in the mood.

Spain - I process the fastest visas of all the Schengen countries. But my agency, BLS, is a pain. They will hide appointments. They even make you buy Prime Time, etc. If a group is traveling from both jurisdictions, Delhi and Mumbai, I'll just apply separately and not show each other. Neither of the embassies talks to the other, and the file will just remain pending. Also, in Delhi, the timelines are not as fast as in Mumbai jurisdiction. All in all, pretty liberal country to get your visa. I'm pretty cool with dummy reservations. My appeal process is the most robust across all Schengen countries.

Sweden - Give me a proper itinerary. Again, I don't like dummy bookings. Share everything confirmed with me, and make sure you understand the itinerary, and I'll grant you a visa. I may call you randomly to inquire about the itinerary. That's all.

Switzerland - Follow the 15-day rule from appointment to travel, and I am good. Even if you have had a previous rejection from some other country and now you come to Switzerland, I may just approve your visa. Again, it depends on the mood and the documentation. I'll not take any additional docs other than those in the checklist. If you request, I will take a few docs. I am quite liberal with dummy reservations.

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#DakuKaGyaan

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@naveen_hcid @suraj_sharma14 Fellow mallu spotted!

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@TheKenWeb @blackmirror @TheKenWeb being an online media publication, I believe your accountability metric is quite defective! A customer raises a query and points out an issue and what you guys do is not even give the customer the satisfaction of acknowledgement! 21 hours to my last tweet!

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@TheKenWeb You guys have seriously done your loyal consumers a huge disservice ...first you ask us to take subscription and then you hide the podcast and articles in archive behind a higher paywall!!! all the best surviving like this! Remember the @blackmirror season 7 episode 1?

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@myspinny looping in @HDFC_Bank and @SpinnyCare here My problem has still not been sorted. what is the fastest way to get a fastag in 2026?! @jagograhakjago

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@myspinny I purchased a Celerio and post purchase as a customer I had a hard time sorting the MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENTS / RPO fines from the first owner. Now another issue has cropped up regarding the FASTag purchased by first owner.

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@myspinny I am unable to apply for a new FASTag as the old one purchased by first owner is still active.
kindly sort this message out for me and connect with me. I request spinny team to ensure the transition is smooth for owners.

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@Fintech03 Aren’t we back in this situation with AI going great guns! Can we not have someone like Shri Vijay Bhatkar taking the bull by the horns and heralding us into the glorious future for Bharat!

[Harnidh Kaur @harnidhish]

I get interesting deals pretty much all the time and I’m considering making a broadcast list for strategic angels on WhatsApp.

If you’re someone (ideally an operator or founder) looking to be an angel investor, please DM me? Happy to loop you in.

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

I created a thread on how @Apple @tim_cook are prioritising irrational charges over improving quality in their products!

I request @theskindoctor13 @GabbbarSingh @TOIIndiaNews @IndianTechGuide @htTweets @mid_day @MirrorNow to share this and make
#apple #timcook accountable!

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@Apple @AppleSupport @theapplehub @tim_cook @CCI_India @JAAGOFoundation

this thread is not just a complaint. It’s the voice of thousands of loyal customers in India who believed in your brand, only to be let down by what follows after the purchase. A thread 👇🧵

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@tim_cook, @Apple, @AppleSupport — your brand has a massive following here. We deserve a transparent, fair, and ethical after-sales system. Not one that feels like daylight robbery. I look forward to a response and resolution for this issue that millions in my country face!

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

@Apple @AppleSupport @theapplehub @tim_cook @CCI_India @JAAGOFoundation

this thread is not just a complaint. It’s the voice of thousands of loyal customers in India who believed in your brand, only to be let down by what follows after the purchase. A thread 👇🧵

[Hari Kurup @harikurup85]

I know tagging everyone here seems naive. Maybe it is. But this is the last resort. This is what helplessness looks like when global brands treat Indian customers like disposable revenue. @theskindoctor13 @hvgoenka @GabbbarSingh