Schengen Visa Application Thread 3 **Check page 1 for reference links**

[foxymom]

Hi! Na approve na Schengen Visa ko. Problem naman ngayon is nagmahal na ang mga airfares. Anong Airline ang ma recommend ninyong cheapest or online booking site na maganda. Thanks.

try searching for flights via Hipmunk


had our interview at the Austrian Embassy last Tuesday, we paid for the fee and they said processing is 5-10 working days. Is it safe to assume approved already?  It's our first time to apply via Austria but it will be our 5th Schengen visa

thank you!

[fittotravel]

^Try searching for cheap airline tickets sa mga booking websites (cheapoair, kayak, farecompare, etc.). That's what we usually do. Tapos we make it a point to choose an airline that will service the entire flight (example: kung Singapore Air, Singapore Air mula rito hanggang sa final destination dapat). One more tip, we always compare the prices from these booking website to the airline's official site. More often than not, mas mura pa rin if you book it directly with your chosen airline. Less hassle pa if something goes wrong with your flight. 

@foxymom: Okay na 'yan, sis! May I ask what other EU embassies have you had experience with? We've always gone to the French embassy for our Schengen visa applications. Thank you!

[mama squeak!]

@foxymom, I'm confident approve kayo. Matipid nga lang ang Austrian embassy magbigay ng visa. That's where my hubby and I applied for our first schengen visas. German embassy isa pang matipid magbigay. That's why I always end up applying at the French embassy kasi di madamot mabigay ng validity, the shortest I got is two years. 

[foxymom]

^@mamasqueak, yey thank you!! hopefully yes nga   i really wanted to get french embassy but since we are not passing france this time my hubby was worried they will find out :|  next time i will go via France and hopefully get a 2yr visa!

@fittotravel, thank you! we've tried france & spain. we also mostly used france -- easy to talk to and fast!

[chuzzle]

Where do you get free airline reservations for your application? I used Emirates before as it was free, but now, there's some sort of payment na eh. thanks in advance.

MODIFY: Already found an answer. I think Cathay Pacific reserves for free. =)

Regarding applying for a schengen visa issued by Spain via VFS Global, after the appointment with them ba they will schedule another one for an interview with the embassy? Because I have some aunts coming to manila from cebu just for the VFS appointment and will be leaving immediately. I read from melodymeldoy's post that she was scheduled for an interview with the spanish embassy after the vfs appointment.

 

[summer888]

@chuzzle Yes, usually after 2 days from the time na nag pass ka they will inform you if you'll be required to attend an interview. Then the applicant can choose when to appear for an interview with the Spanish Embassy any day from Mon to Thu.

[chuzzle]

Thanks, sis! I applied thru VFS kasi before, but they did not require an interview so nashock ako when I read na nagrerequest pa pala yung Spanish embassy ng interview from applicants that went thru VFS. Then, what is the point pa kaya of the agency. I should have let them applied directly to the embassy.

[chuzzle]

OMG my mom and my aunt were denied by the Spanish embassy! I do not understand why. Just one of my aunts who has a green card was given, but since di nabigyan yung iba, di na rin siya tutuloy. Anyway, I really do not understand the reasoning behind the denial. Both my mom and aunt have valid US visas. They've traveled everywhere in Asia including Korea and Japan. I'd like to think they have enough funds naman. What the helllll! I am sorry I am just so depressed because I wanted to take them around Europe then ganito

[pinklilac]

^OMG sis ganon kahigpit ang Spanish  Embassy?

[chuzzle]

I've always heard and read in forums na pinaka strict sa lahat ay Spanish and Italian embassies. But, I really did not think they'll get denied (ang yabang ko siguro kaya) kasi they have all the requirements naman and they never had problems with other visas. I am thinking about making them apply sa French embassy before Christmas. Nakaka lungkot. Now, I have to cancel all the bookings and insurance.

[mama squeak!]

^Have you tried appealing the refusal? Meron option to do that.

[Annie M.]

@chuzzle, wow, that's weird. ang higpit na pala ng spanish embassy ngayon. samantalang dati, during the time na wala pa akong masyadong travel experience, wala pa akong US visa, and mababa pa sweldo ko, i got approved sa spanish embassy!

i hope you can appeal that decision. baka may hindi lang malinaw to the consul, like who's paying for the trip, etc.

[chuzzle]

They were informed daw that they can appeal, but you need a lawyer, is that true? also, parang nawalan na sila ng gana bumalik eh. We will just try before Christmas again.

I'd like to think naghihigpit sila talaga lalo. Also, with the refugee situation baka nakaka-affect. I really don't know. Basta ang reason ng embassy like, your intention to leave the territory is not guaranteed. Like hello mag 65 to 70 na kaya mga aunts and mom ko. also, they are retired and with businesses in the Philippines na although small, enough reason for them to go back.

[mama squeak!]

Naalala ko tuloy yung nangyari kay melody_medley the first time she applied for a schengen visa. She was also refused by the Italian embassy naman but she appealed the decision and got an interview with mismong Italian consul. She explained/justified na her trip is purely tourism. Ayun nabigyan din sya with the condition na she has to make a personal appearance after her trip.

[chuzzle]

Girls, would you advice for or against my idea of letting my mom re-apply pero sa French embassy naman? What do you think?

[vain_kixie]

Read a previous post here na ganun ginawa, she got denied by the Italian embassy then re applied at the French embassy and was granted a visa. Yun nga lang parang may note yung visa niya na she cannot enter Italy.

[summer888]

@chuzzle sino ang nag interview sa kanila? yun lalaki? naku, ako nga akala ko made deny rin ako. sinabihan ba naman akong I cannot afford daw to go on a cruise. aba, eh di inulan ko ng sagot...then ipakita ko raw proof lahat ng mga pinagsasabi ko. itinuro ko lahat ng documents ko na nasa kanya din naman. bandang huli sabi sa akin go... just go. So akala ko denied yun pala convinced na siya sa sagot ko.
malakas manindak yung lalaking consul. yun siguro ang style niya siyempre para ma bring out niya yung true intentions ng applicant. nagka migraine nga ako after ng interview. kase ang aga ko nandun then ang tagal ko nag intay tapos parang umakyat lahat ng dugo sa ulo ko nung sabihan akong i cannot afford daw. haay... buti na lang nabigyan ako.
siguro nga mag appeal na lang sila. although, i know the feeling na sinasabi mo na nakaka panghina ng loob talaga.

[loverofsummer]

And so the waiting begins for me. Lodged my visa application through the Embassy of Czech Republic. Mabilis lang 'yung interview. Hoping for the best pero nakakakaba.

[Annie M.]

^anong tinanong sa interview, sis? anong documents ang required?
thinking of going back to europe maybe next year. kung maluwag ang czech baka dyan na kami mag-apply.

Post modified. Please use the ^ or @ sign instead of quoting posts directly above your reply.

[mathet]

Mga sis, hubby's sister is having their wedding next year pa, July 2016... We'll be spending 2 weeks there kasama na vacation, how early can we apply for a Schengen visa in the French embassy?

 by the way, wedding will be in France coz her fiancé is French.