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Question about Schengen Visa
Hello,
My wife is a US green card holder, but a national of China (she carries Chinese passport). As such, we will need to obtain a Schengen visa. On the embassy's website for France (where we intend to spend most of our time), I was a bit curious about a few things: - Applicant must have "complete itinerary or round trip ticket with confirmed dates. No open tickets accepted. Do not purchase tickets until the visa has been approved." My question is, what is the best way to obtain a ticket with confirmed dates, without purchasing it? Is there a general way to take care of this with a travel agent? - Applicant must have "confirmed reservation by fax from the hotel(s) (the fax(es) must be sent directly to you and not to the Consulate) in France and in the Schengen countries to be visited, confirming your reservations for each night you will spend in France and the Schengen States (we do not accept emails nor online, internet reservation confirmations)". This would be a major inconvenience since we intended on backpacking and finding accommodation as we go (with the exception of perhaps the first week or so, which we can book prior). Does the Schengen visa simply require this much planning? Or is there a way to make an exception? Also, I'd be interested to hear anyone's experiences with obtaining a Schengen visa, and what kind of complications I might expect. We can easily provide the financial proof that we can afford our vacation. However, we were curious about best ways to handle the airline ticket proof (without purchasing them ahead of time) and lack of accommodations (whether it's even possible to get a visa without it). Thank you very much! |
#2
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Question about Schengen Visa
wrote in message oups.com... Hello, My wife is a US green card holder, but a national of China (she carries Chinese passport). As such, we will need to obtain a Schengen visa. On the embassy's website for France (where we intend to spend most of our time), I was a bit curious about a few things: - Applicant must have "complete itinerary or round trip ticket with confirmed dates. No open tickets accepted. Do not purchase tickets until the visa has been approved." My question is, what is the best way to obtain a ticket with confirmed dates, without purchasing it? Is there a general way to take care of this with a travel agent? - Applicant must have "confirmed reservation by fax from the hotel(s) (the fax(es) must be sent directly to you and not to the Consulate) in France and in the Schengen countries to be visited, confirming your reservations for each night you will spend in France and the Schengen States (we do not accept emails nor online, internet reservation confirmations)". This would be a major inconvenience since we intended on backpacking and finding accommodation as we go (with the exception of perhaps the first week or so, which we can book prior). Does the Schengen visa simply require this much planning? Or is there a way to make an exception? Also, I'd be interested to hear anyone's experiences with obtaining a Schengen visa, and what kind of complications I might expect. We can easily provide the financial proof that we can afford our vacation. However, we were curious about best ways to handle the airline ticket proof (without purchasing them ahead of time) and lack of accommodations (whether it's even possible to get a visa without it). They are very strict about Schengen visa applications and no exception is made for any of its requirements. It's simply the case of if you don't meet all the requirements, they don't issue a visa, and as they are the only people who can, you have no choice but to comply. Having a US Green Card may make it slightly easier, but don't count on it. European countries have big problems with illegal immigration (just like US with Mexicans, Guatemalans etc) so scrutinizing visa application is their first line of defense. As for your airline ticket, they do understand you cannot buy a non-refundable ticket before getting your visa. So just get your itinerary sorted which accounts for every day of your intended stay, where you are going to arrive, which places to be visited and when, and your departure airport. For your fax confirmation, I would book refundable rooms and ask the hotelier to send you a confirmation fax (tell them you need it for visa). Once your visa is granted, cancel those reservations you don't want to keep and make your own arrangement. It will be easier to book for a week at the same hotel, rather than one night each at different hotels. Large international hotel groups allow you to book with a credit card with no-penalty cancelation until a day or so before check-in. Alec |
#3
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Question about Schengen Visa
Alec wrote:
They are very strict about Schengen visa applications and no exception is made for any of its requirements. It's simply the case of if you don't meet all the requirements, they don't issue a visa, and as they are the only people who can, you have no choice but to comply. Having a US Green Card may make it slightly easier, but don't count on it. European countries have big problems with illegal immigration (just like US with Mexicans, Guatemalans etc) so scrutinizing visa application is their first line of defense. As for your airline ticket, they do understand you cannot buy a non-refundable ticket before getting your visa. So just get your itinerary sorted which accounts for every day of your intended stay, where you are going to arrive, which places to be visited and when, and your departure airport. For your fax confirmation, I would book refundable rooms and ask the hotelier to send you a confirmation fax (tell them you need it for visa). Once your visa is granted, cancel those reservations you don't want to keep and make your own arrangement. It will be easier to book for a week at the same hotel, rather than one night each at different hotels. Large international hotel groups allow you to book with a credit card with no-penalty cancelation until a day or so before check-in. Alec Alec, Thank you very much for the response. I will be sure to take every requirement seriously. Also, that is a good idea to just book hotels at a few international hotels that allow easy reservations and cancellations. We also just found out that applicants now have to appear in the embassies in person, which means we would have to fly to the nearest embassy just to apply. Is this a fairly recent rule? |
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Question about Schengen Visa
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Question about Schengen Visa
B Vaughan wrote:
On 25 Oct 2006 08:22:47 -0700, wrote: We also just found out that applicants now have to appear in the embassies in person, which means we would have to fly to the nearest embassy just to apply. Is this a fairly recent rule? Are you sure you need to go to the embassy? These things are usually processed at consulates, which have offices in any major city, while the embassy is usually located in the capital city. -- Oops, my mistake. I meant Consulate. In any case, it still requires traveling in my case since none of the euro consulates are near me. |
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Question about Schengen Visa
On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:06:55 -0700, squarenesswafer wrote:
Hello, My wife is a US green card holder, but a national of China (she carries Chinese passport). As such, we will need to obtain a Schengen visa. On the embassy's website for France (where we intend to spend most of our time), I was a bit curious about a few things: - Applicant must have "complete itinerary or round trip ticket with confirmed dates. No open tickets accepted. Do not purchase tickets until the visa has been approved." My question is, what is the best way to obtain a ticket with confirmed dates, without purchasing it? Is there a general way to take care of this with a travel agent? - Applicant must have "confirmed reservation by fax from the hotel(s) (the fax(es) must be sent directly to you and not to the Consulate) in France and in the Schengen countries to be visited, confirming your reservations for each night you will spend in France and the Schengen States (we do not accept emails nor online, internet reservation confirmations)". This would be a major inconvenience since we intended on backpacking and finding accommodation as we go (with the exception of perhaps the first week or so, which we can book prior). Does the Schengen visa simply require this much planning? Or is there a way to make an exception? Also, I'd be interested to hear anyone's experiences with obtaining a Schengen visa, and what kind of complications I might expect. We can easily provide the financial proof that we can afford our vacation. However, we were curious about best ways to handle the airline ticket proof (without purchasing them ahead of time) and lack of accommodations (whether it's even possible to get a visa without it). Thank you very much! Try shopping around for a visa, a visa from any of the Shengen countries is valid in the whole area. Friends of mine have had good experiences through the German consulate (although the requirements may formally be the same, the attitude of staff is not). It also helps if you can say that you are going to visit family and have a certified invitation from them (you won't need all the pre-bookings). I don't know if this option is open to you? -- Otto de Voogd http://www.7is7.com/otto/travel/ - Travel Stories |
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Question about Schengen Visa
Otto de Voogd wrote: Try shopping around for a visa, a visa from any of the Shengen countries is valid in the whole area. Friends of mine have had good experiences through the German consulate (although the requirements may formally be the same, the attitude of staff is not). Theoretically you're meant to get the Schengen visa from the country in which you'll be spending the most time, but as there aren't any intra-border restrictions once you're in the Schengen zone, that can probably got around. As someone who used to need a visa to go to France, I can heartily concur with the exceptionally bad attitude of French consulate staff. They even make the Russians look good. Patrick |
#8
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Question about Schengen Visa
Otto de Voogd skrev: On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:06:55 -0700, squarenesswafer wrote: It also helps if you can say that you are going to visit family and have a certified invitation from them (you won't need all the pre-bookings). I don't know if this option is open to you? Somebody you know that is not family is probably better. To admit to have family is normally on the not-do list when it comes to immigration authorities as that normally is interpreted as an indication of risk that you intend to stay in the country permanently with your family and not leave on the exit date. Jan |
#9
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Question about Schengen Visa
On Thu, 26 Oct 2006 06:21:07 -0700, oystein wrote:
Otto de Voogd skrev: On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:06:55 -0700, squarenesswafer wrote: It also helps if you can say that you are going to visit family and have a certified invitation from them (you won't need all the pre-bookings). I don't know if this option is open to you? Somebody you know that is not family is probably better. To admit to have family is normally on the not-do list when it comes to immigration authorities as that normally is interpreted as an indication of risk that you intend to stay in the country permanently with your family and not leave on the exit date. Jan True, although people from the US (as OP is) are not generally considered risky in this sense and many do have relatives in Europe that they visit on vacation. As long as they apply to visit his relatives and not hers there shouldn't be a problem. Then of course any other good friend willing to send an invitation should be OK as well. -- Otto de Voogd http://www.7is7.com/otto/travel/ - Travel Stories |
#10
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Question about Schengen Visa
Otto de Voogd skrev: On Thu, 26 Oct 2006 06:21:07 -0700, oystein wrote: Otto de Voogd skrev: On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:06:55 -0700, squarenesswafer wrote: It also helps if you can say that you are going to visit family and have a certified invitation from them (you won't need all the pre-bookings). I don't know if this option is open to you? Somebody you know that is not family is probably better. To admit to have family is normally on the not-do list when it comes to immigration authorities as that normally is interpreted as an indication of risk that you intend to stay in the country permanently with your family and not leave on the exit date. Jan True, although people from the US (as OP is) are not generally considered risky in this sense and many do have relatives in Europe that they visit on vacation. As long as they apply to visit his relatives and not hers there shouldn't be a problem. Then of course any other good friend willing to send an invitation should be OK as well. First, we almost totally agree on this. Second, several sources advice Schengen residents going to the US to say they are on business or tourists and not to mention they have friends in US immigration. Neither is it that unusual with American citizens staying beond the expire date of their visa in Europe, because they have a girlfriend, have objections to the political developments in the US in recent years etc. I will not be surprised if immigration authorities in Europian countries is aware of this and that "tourist" or "business" is a better answer to avoid problems than "girlfriend", "family" or may be even "friends". Jan |
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