Schengen Visa Application

[MahalKongPinas]

Hi all,

Walk-in lodging of application at the Spanish Embassy, possible?  If not, how soon can they sched an appointment if coursed through phone?  Thanks.

My first time...by the way! ;>

[chubchik]

Sis mama squeak, as per your suggestion, i talked to my mom and brother na. We've decided to move our trip to July 6-21 instead of June 24 since baka mahirapan kami with 2 visa applications to attend to. So point of entry na namin ngayon is London and not Paris, should we process our uk visa application first and not our schengen visa at the French embassy?

[mama squeak!]

^^Not possible. Interview is by appointment only as to when will depend on the slot availability.

^sis, if you can do it at the same time better. Have you checked with both embassies if you have to leave your passports with them? Check first how their procedures are now then decide.

 

[MahalKongPinas]

Hi Mama Squeak and Chubchick,

Thanks, Mama Squeak for the reply regarding the Spanish embassy.

Chubchick, the UK Embassy in Manila has a fast track service:

*If the applicant has travelled to (except transit) in the last 5 years, and has evidence:
•    UK, Ireland, Schengen Country, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand and has complied with their conditions of entry;

If not qualified, as per my experience in the past, it took the British embassy (in Switzerland) 2 solid weeks before I got the visa.

With fast-track (courtesy of my mom's Australian visa), it was just 3 working days and she had to leave the passport during the processing. 

Now, I'm working on her Schengen visa.  I wrote an email early last week to the French embassy and they offered me a June 9 appointment.  Not keen on grabbing this because the kick-off target for my mom's European tour is on June 5.  I informed the French embassy about this and requested if they could still save the date for my mom.  This, inspite of the uncertainty in moving her travel dates to a later sched. And, they did.

I've got another appointment via email reserved at the Czech Republic Embassy on May 30. 

Tomorrow, I'll call up the Spanish embassy to check for even an earlier appointment date this week.

I can move around my mom's main destination in Schengen area that's why I've been getting in touch with these different embassies. 

My only wish is that I wouldn't have to resched her trip on a much later date.

Have a good week everybody.







Thank you.

[chubchik]

^sis, i got my first schengen visa 2 years ago from the french embassy. How can i avail of the fast track service at the UK embassy? Also, i saw sa website ng UK embassy that you should fill up an application form online and request for the interview date online also? is this correct? or should i print out application forms then call the embassy to schedule the interview? sis, if you have suggestions also for my problem below, pls advise. Were you able to contact the spanish embassy?

@sis mama squeak, My mom changed her mind na ulit, this time it's final. Our travel plans will be as follows: July 6-12 - London, July 12-15 - Barcelona, then July 15-21 - Paris. So this means naman ngayon, that our point of entry will be in Spain, so i need to get our schengen visas from the Spanish embassy, right? I'm having a hard time finding out the requirements for the spanish embassy, i found a site with requirement info but i'm not sure if it's the official list or not.

[chubchik]

follow up question pala - Our point of entry is spain pero our stay in Paris is longer, where do we apply? spanish embassy or french embassy? TIA.

[MahalKongPinas]

^sis, i got my first schengen visa 2 years ago from the french embassy. How can i avail of the fast track service at the UK embassy? Also, i saw sa website ng UK embassy that you should fill up an application form online and request for the interview date online also? is this correct? or should i print out application forms then call the embassy to schedule the interview? sis, if you have suggestions also for my problem below, pls advise. Were you able to contact the spanish embassy?

Hi Chubchick,

Check out this website for more infos: http://vfs-uk-ph.com/ . Several options re: visa application are on the left box.

Your qualification for the Fast Track service will be screened by the consul based on your Schengen history trip...that's why it's vital that you have copies of your Schengen visas upon lodging your application form.

My sister in London printed out the application form for my mom and sent it and all supporting documents to her (in Manila) via courier while I made the schedule for her online.  Per my experience here in Switzerland and the Philippines (this time for my mom's application), I could always avail of the appointment the next day and at a time convenient for me. 

Regarding the online application form that my sister used for my mom, it was rejected by the VFS (the agency accredited by the UK embassy to accept applications to be forwarded to the Embassy).  My mom was given by the VFS another application form and asked to make another appointment date.  In my previous online application, my forms were always accepted here in VFS Switzerland. 

Instead of making another date, my mom just made a walk-in application (allowed every Friday, I think from 6-11...I'm not sure anymore until what time but she was there as early as 6 am and was given a number allowing her to submit her application. Maybe try calling up the UK embassy for the right application form.

For the Spanish embassy:  No one took the call I asked my niece to do for my mom 'coz I had no access from Switzerland in dialing the number...32php/minute.  Here's the embassy info they sent to me in reply to my query:

Consulado General de España en Manila
5th Floor, A.C.T. Tower
135 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.
1227 Makati City, Filipinas
Teléfono:  (63-2) 818 3561
Fax:  (63-2) 810 2885
E-mail: con.manila@maec.es
Web: www.maec.es/consulados/manila/es/home
For Visa Information:  http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Consulados/Manila/es/MenuPpal/NoticiasActuaildad/Paginas/Canal%20dinmico%202.aspx

At the moment, I have 3 pending Embassy appointments.

Czech - May 30
France - June 9
Italy - June 6 which was just confirmed today. In their mail, they say the processing will take at least 7 days.  I'm still tossing on whether getting Italy or France for the my mom's visa application.  I can't believe Italy will take at least 7 days.  Of course, I hope this is true.  Any take on this from previous applicants? 

Good day everybody!



@sis mama squeak, My mom changed her mind na ulit, this time it's final. Our travel plans will be as follows: July 6-12 - London, July 12-15 - Barcelona, then July 15-21 - Paris. So this means naman ngayon, that our point of entry will be in Spain, so i need to get our schengen visas from the Spanish embassy, right? I'm having a hard time finding out the requirements for the spanish embassy, i found a site with requirement info but i'm not sure if it's the official list or not.

[Lally_leeds]

Mama squeak,
Anong airbnb number ng accomodation mo sa Paris nun?
Also sa airbnb kumuha ako ng signed and stamped confirmation receipt from airbnb staff. ok na ba yun or kailangan ko ng letter from the host themselves?
Yung Paris host kasi ayaw magbigay ng letter.
Yung sa Milan ok na.

[Lally_leeds]

^Yes   

Mama squek nakuha ko na yung apartment na sabi mo kay Cara. I am corresponding to her now. Any reviews sa place nya? May 'must-do' list kaba on sites nearby? August kasi kami darating sa Paris, I assume walang a/c ang unit ni Cara. OK lang ba? di ba uncomfortable? Orly airport land namin, malayo ba yun kina Cara?
Naku I have tons of questions, senxa na ah. Paris trip will be 5D/2N tapos will be heading to Milan mga 4D/3N. Iniisip naming pumunta ng Rome kaya lang medyo mahal eh.
Any suggestion?

[Lally_leeds]

^Yes   

Another question. Yung airbnb kasi hindi nagbibigay ng stamped confirmation receipt according to their email. Anong document binigay mo as per your accomodation? Ok na ba yung printed receipt lang? Di ba sa requirement dapat stamped hotel reservation/temporary accomodation?

[lavieenrose]

Another question. Yung airbnb kasi hindi nagbibigay ng stamped confirmation receipt according to their email. Anong document binigay mo as per your accomodation? Ok na ba yung printed receipt lang? Di ba sa requirement dapat stamped hotel reservation/temporary accomodation?

I used all my airbnb printed receipts when I applied at the French embassy.

[Lally_leeds]

I used all my airbnb printed receipts when I applied at the French embassy.

They did not asked you for a stamped or signature?

[chubchik]

^sis lally, how much is your budget for paris accommodations? I booked sa hotel des carmes, it's very near Notre Dame cathedral. You can check that out baka pwede siya sa budget niyo. 

[lavieenrose]

@Lally leeds

No, they didn't. Although 2 out of 4 of the airbnb bookings are under my friend's name and not mine. They just asked for a photocopy of her passport and visa as proof that we are really traveling together.

Just make sure all your paid accommodations cover the entire length of your stay.
I met someone while at the embassy, she only booked 3 days hotel. The consul granted her the visa but they asked her to come back to the embassy after her trip as proof that she has no plans of overstaying or the like.

[Lally_leeds]

@Lally leeds

No, they didn't. Although 2 out of 4 of the airbnb bookings are under my friend's name and not mine. They just asked for a photocopy of her passport and visa as proof that we are really traveling together.

Just make sure all your paid accommodations cover the entire length of your stay.
I met someone while at the embassy, she only booked 3 days hotel. The consul granted her the visa but they asked her to come back to the embassy after her trip as proof that she has no plans of overstaying or the like.

Thank you ah you made me feel secure. Baka next month namin iprocess yung husband to be ko kasi nag rerenew pa ng passport eh ang tagal. Ayun. Godbless

[juana_antonia]

follow up question pala - Our point of entry is spain pero our stay in Paris is longer, where do we apply? spanish embassy or french embassy? TIA.

As far as I know, you should apply to the country where you'll be staying the longest-- or if it is hard to determine (ex. during cruise etc.), one should apply to the first point of entry into the Schengen area.

[chubchik]

As far as I know, you should apply to the country where you'll be staying the longest-- or if it is hard to determine (ex. during cruise etc.), one should apply to the first point of entry into the Schengen area.

Thanks sis juana_antonia. i called the french embassy yesterday since that is where our longest stay will be, they gave me the appointment date of june 21, 830am. Natatakot ako kasi our flight is supposed to leave on July 6. The person i talked to said it's 10 working days to process visa, so that means i'll know pa sa July 5. Cutting it too close! hay.

[chubchik]

@sis mahalkongpinas - Thank you for all the information you gave me, it's going to be a big help. I'll call the UK embassy asap to know what application form they will honor. i'll update you soon.

[tr1x]

Sisses, kelangan ba personal ang claiming ng visa? 4 of us applied and plan namin isa na lang pupunta to claim.. kanina pa  ko tumatawag sa french embassy, walang sumasagot. tia sisses

[MahalKongPinas]

Hi all,

Insurance-related query lang...itong Schengen insurance for Italian embassy.

My mom's tentative European travel route : Manila-London (7days) ---->Schengen area (10 days) ---->London (10 days) ----> Manila

Ang Schengen insurance coverage nya ba ay ang first day and last day nya sa schengen area [textspeak!]? Iba kasi ang quote pag Schengen lang and pag combo, Schengen and UK.

No insurance requirement sa UK eh.  I called up the Italian embassy in Manila but was put on hold, better yet, put to sleep by the embassy's music 

Thank you.