Hey folks, let me share my Egypt visa application mess-up story. When I decided to visit the pyramids last month, I totally underestimated the visa process. Here’s exactly how it went down:
My Initial Disaster Attempt
Grabbed my laptop at 11pm thinking “this’ll take 20 minutes.” Filled the online form super tired. First mistake? Uploaded this dark passport photo where my ear was cut off – didn’t even notice until later. Paid the $25 fee thinking “done deal.”
The Rejection Shock
Got the rejection email 3 days later citing “incomplete documentation.” Total facepalm moment! They’d actually sent a follow-up email requesting hotel booking proofs which landed in my spam folder. My stupid assumption was “tourist visa just needs passport stuff” – wrong!
Fixing The Top 3 Mistakes
After talking to other travelers and embassy staff, here’s what I corrected:
Mistake 1: Passport Photo Errors
- Took new photos in natural daylight at 10am
- Measured exact 2×2 inch dimensions with a ruler
- Stood against plain white wall (no shadows!)
Mistake 2: Payment Date Confusion
- Paid immediately before application (not after)
- Screenshot payment confirmation with timestamp
- Printed physical receipt just in case
Mistake 3: Missing Travel Details
- Printed all flight confirmations showing return date
- Booked refundable hotel for entire stay
- Typed full itinerary explaining day-by-day plans
The Successful Do-Over
Resubmitted everything at 9am with fresh coffee triple-checking each page. The clerk actually complimented my photo setup! Got approval email exactly 48 hours later – longest 2 days ever. Lesson learned? Never rush visa apps after midnight and always check spam folders!
