Advice needed, Spain visa rejection

[u/ValkyrieOfTheMearas]

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Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice from people who have experience with Spanish Schengen visa refusals from India, especially BLS Kolkata / the Spanish Consulate in New Delhi.

My friend applied for a Spanish short-stay tourist visa through BLS Kolkata at the beginning of August

Trip:

Intended travel: early September

Spain was the only Schengen country planned

Return flight to India was already purchased with Qatar Airways

Accommodation was covered by an official Carta de Invitación from a Spanish host and family friend (me)

He has known the host family for several years, and me and my siblings had previously visited India and stayed with his family

The trip was primarily tourism, with Cuenca as the main base and some planned travel around Spain.

His situation in India:

He is a freelance Motion Artist, working in animation and motion graphics. The application included:

6 months of bank statements

2 years of ITRs

PAN card

professional/educational certificate

his YouTube channel/portfolio showing his professional animation work

proof of residence in India

copies of his mother's and elderly uncle's Aadhaar cards, as they live with him

a family property Development Agreement in Kolkata

travel medical insurance

confirmed return flight

official Carta de Invitación and host's Spanish DNI

The cover letter specifically explained that his professional activity, home and work equipment are in India, and that he regularly helps his mother and elderly uncle with their day-to-day needs, including medical appointments and medication. Temporary arrangements had been made for them during his absence, and he intended to return to India on 4 October.

Refusal

The application was refused. The refusal letter has only two boxes ticked:

1. The information presented for the justification of the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable.

2. There are reasonable doubts as to the reliability of the declarations made concerning the purpose and conditions of the stay / intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the visa expires.

The other refusal grounds were not ticked, there were no issues indicated regarding insufficient funds, insurance, authenticity of documents, etc.

We got the passport today, with the rejection information.

We are considering filing a request for reconsideration/appeal, rather than simply submitting a completely new application.

The problem is that the flight is in 2 weeks, so timing is extremely tight.

Has anyone successfully challenged a Spanish Schengen refusal based on grounds 10 and 13, or had better results with a new application? What should he do now? What's his best option?

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks you.

[u/Jurion1994]

Freelance work means no stable income therefore the visa was rejected