There is good news for Chinese citizens planning a trip to the Schengen region. To promote European-Chinese ties through tourism, EU is striving to make the Schengen Visa Application process easier than what it was before. That sure is a worthy initiative to improve socio-cultural ties and economic benefits of both regions!

So, if you are a citizen of China, here is a gist of what the Schengen Visa Schedule offers.

1. First off, you need to choose from three types of Schengen Visas available. These are:
   • Uniform Schengen Visa, which has a visa validity of up to 90 days. With this visa, you can travel to any of the Schengen region countries within the next 6 months, no questions asked.
   • Limited Territorial Validity Visa, where you can specify and visit only certain Schengen countries and not others.
   • National Visa, which allows you to visit only one particular Schengen country, albeit on a long-term basis.
   For all three types of visas, you can either apply as a Tourist or a Business Visitor. The former is for holiday goers, and the latter is for those who wish to combine business with pleasure.
2. Once you have decided whether you want to visit EU as a tourist, or a business visitor and indicated your preference for the type of Schengen Visa, you then need to fix an appointment with the Schengen Embassy. The embassy should be of the country you are first arriving at OR at the embassy of the country where your stay is the longest. This is especially true for Schengen travels where you plan to visit multiple countries.
3. The next step is to obtain the Schengen Visa Application Form. It is important to fill all the details asked for accurately, without any half-baked or dubious information. And of course, remember to sign it!
4. At the time of submitting the Application Form, you must ensure that you have other pre-requisite documents as well. These include: two passport-size photographs; existing passport with at least 2 blank pages and a 3-month validity period; previously held passports if any; cover letter or sponsorship letter; photocopy of travel medical insurance of minimum value €30,000 or $50,000; proof of flight reservation and accommodation; bank statements of the most recent 3 months signed and stamped by the bank manager; ID proofs; marriage certificate; and birth certificate.
5. Along with these travel-related documents, you must also submit proofs of employment. These could be in the form of income statements if you are a salaried employee or a P&L statement / IT Return statement if you are self-employed. If you are a student, then you need to show proof of enrolment and a No Objection Certificate from your School or University.
6. Once the application and supporting documents have been submitted, you will have to attend a Schengen Visa Interview at your chosen Embassy. The interview is primarily to ascertain your genuine reasons for visiting the Schengen region. All documents are cross-checked and verified as well.
7. The last step of the Visa Application Process is to provide your biometric details via fingerprinting and photographs. This is done using a biometric scanner and is purely for security purposes.

If you complete all seven steps of the Application Process accurately, there is barely any reason for your Schegen Visa to be rejected. But in case it is, then the rejection will be accompanied by a reason why, and you can always re-apply.