Schengen Visa Application

[melodymedley]

Another good thread. Lots of info. Keep them coming! 

Question: Do they really require the proof of payment of the hotel bookings? I am eyeing some places to stay in airbnb.com. Naisip ko lang, baka may makita akong kakilala or meet a nice fellow female solo traveler who would like to share a room. Sayang naman if I book agad.

Hopefully, I can give back to this thread after securing my Schengen Visa. 

[chez]

hello sisters, i have a proposed trip to attend a seminar in austria, company sponsored all expense paid trip.  how much money po ang kailangan sa bank account? which is better po? to course my application sa travel agency or to apply personally and just asked my sponsor company for the invitation, the copy of tickets, insurance, T, and hotel booking?  the sponsoring company actually offered to process the visa though im hesitant (actually) since maliit lang ang laman ng bank account ko now. TIA

[vhanya]

^better to have your company process your visa =)

[mama squeak!]

^^Agree ako kay vhanya. Better to have your sponsoring company do it for you. Your bank account will not matter when you do so since the sponsor company will be the ones to take care of your expenses. Though meron pa rin yan personal appearance as the consul will have to verify the application.

Tip: If you're into Swarovski crystals/jewelry, buy there as it is so much cheaper. They come from there kasi.

 

[lavieenrose]

Another good thread. Lots of info. Keep them coming! 

Question: Do they really require the proof of payment of the hotel bookings? I am eyeing some places to stay in airbnb.com. Naisip ko lang, baka may makita akong kakilala or meet a nice fellow female solo traveler who would like to share a room. Sayang naman if I book agad.

Hopefully, I can give back to this thread after securing my Schengen Visa. 

If you plan on doing this I think it's better to present "fake" bookings via booking.com or venere? Just make sure the hotels you booked can be canceled without extra charges. My friends did this and they had their visas approved with no issues. Also don't cancel your hotel bookings if you haven't received your visa yet

I recently applied for my schengen visa and presented all my (legitimate) airbnb bookings. BTW some airbnb accommodations are also cancellable without fees, some with a % charge you may also want to check that out. (Cancellation fee types: flexible, strict, et cetera) But personally I wouldn't do that in deference to the airbnb hosts.

[chez]

thanks vhanya and mama squeak....

[vhanya]

tama si lavieenrose, i also made "fake" hotel bookings on booking.com hehe. kasama yun sa visa application ko. =)

[mama squeak!]

Ay! Parang di maganda pakinggan yung "fake". "Dummy bookings" or "tentative bookings" is a better phrase to use, I think. Pero yun na rin yun. 

[vhanya]

LOL o sige dummy bookings na lang lols

[melodymedley]

LOL at dummy bookings.  I am looking and I may be booking via http://www.hostelbookers.com/ . Pero madaming bad reviews kasi re website - mga invalid prices and yung downpayment hindi honored ng hostels. Some do allow cancellation without extra charges.

Lots of good deals in airbnb.com pero $50 is relatively expensive compared to some $25-30 kapag dorm-type sa hostles. Plus, I get to meet new people sa hostels.

[joeceline]

hi everyone! sino jan ang magtravel to France? please pm me...

[mama squeak!]

^sis, PM call outs are not allowed. Please read the GT rules.

 

[chubchik]

Mga sis, I need your advice. Me, my mom and my brother are planning to go to Paris and London from June 24-July 10 with Paris as out point of entry. We haven't passed our requirements yet due to my mom's leg that's in a cast that's making it hard for her to walk, the cast comes off on June 8.  we plan to go to the embassies on June 9. Should we go to the French embassy first or the UK embassy to process our visas? Aabot pa kaya [textspeak!] visas namin by then? pwede ba sha ipa expedite? help pls. 

[mama squeak!]

^sis, for the schengen visa baka mabitin kayo. The standard processing is 3 weeks or 15 working days upon completion of the interview. My experience with the French embassy impunto sila mag release ng visa. Not later or earlier. Di din pwede pa-expedite unless may kakilala kayo siguro dun.

To be sure better if you can still move your departure dates para di kayo ma-stress sa visa application.

 

[chubchik]

oh no, Then i guess i really have to discuss with my mom and brother if we can move the flights. I already made hotel bookings kasi, so i might have to move those as well. waah! sis Mama squeak, how about with the interview, should i call the french embassy to schedule an appointment na for June 9 or 10? also, does the French embassy get the passport na agad with the requirements? or do we go back on the given date after interview WITH the passport? because i was thinking, if they dont keep the passport muna, we can process naman our passport sa UK embassy while waiting, what do you think? Thank you thank you thank you in advance sis mama squeak.

[lavieenrose]

oh no, Then i guess i really have to discuss with my mom and brother if we can move the flights. I already made hotel bookings kasi, so i might have to move those as well. waah! sis Mama squeak, how about with the interview, should i call the french embassy to schedule an appointment na for June 9 or 10? also, does the French embassy get the passport na agad with the requirements? or do we go back on the given date after interview WITH the passport? because i was thinking, if they dont keep the passport muna, we can process naman our passport sa UK embassy while waiting, what do you think? Thank you thank you thank you in advance sis mama squeak.

Just wanted to share my experience with the French embassy as well. My departure date is May 28 and I so emailed them in early March to schedule my appointment. They scheduled me on May 2. I was quite worried that May 2 could be cutting it too close, so I asked to have it recheduled in April but they refused and told me they are already giving out mid-May appointments. This was way back March pa. Not sure if they can squeeze you in depending on your departure dates they probably can.

AFAIK they don't get your passports. You have to bring them on the releasing date.

I read from pinoyexchange they give out the visas after 10 days. True enough I got mine 10 days later.

[mama squeak!]

^sis, with the French embassy they don't get your passports (unless binago nila procedure nila ha). We brought back our passports as soon as the visa was ready. Stick on type visa.

You still don't have an interview date? Better give them a call asap kasi may quota rin sila kung ilang applicants lang interviewhin nila per day. Ask if available pa yung gusto mong interview date. And when you call them ask na rin their procedure kung same pa rin na you don't leave your passport (so you can apply for a UK visa).

Good luck!   

[chubchik]

Thank you so much sis. I'll post my updates here, baka makatulong sa iba nating mga sis.

[Lally_leeds]

Hi mga peeps.. Meron naba sa nyo nakakuha ng Schengen visa, issued dito sa Philippines? San embassy kayo apply? Any helpful tips how to secure one? Excited nko for a Euro tour, but am quite nervous sa interview? Mahigpit daw kasi mga embassies ngaun eh.

Hi ang airbnb.com booking ba acceptable for the schengen visa application?

[mama squeak!]

^Yes