$500 application fee is not expensive so far. I know several kids already received K1 offer from esf kindergarten this week. They have siblings priority. You have to prepare to apply other international kindergarten if you don’t have any priority.
The final step to complete an application is payment of the application fee. The ESF ...
The quote stated the long standing policy of all ESF schools, i.e. paying of application fees do not always guarantee an interview. It is not the first day this policy is implemented.
This is the rule of the game. Application fee for year 1 for all international schools are way more expensive than this $500. Interviews are never guaranteed. There are more people willing to be obliged to the rule of this game when you found it unacceptable.