Schengen Visa Process

[purple]

Hi all,

I'd like to share my experience on applying a schengen visa multiple entry without having to have an appointment go to London and queue up.

Me and hubby with family are going to France for snowboarding late January. Flights and accommodations are booked. I've included in the post the itinerary, marriage cert (authenticated at Phil. Embassy in London (take the original birth to PE Embassy, photocopy it, pay the fees and , my passport, hubby's passport.

TLScontact is the new service (like VFS) that the French Embassy in London are using.

You only need to apply online and select the option whether you want to post the documents or make an appointment and go to London. I chose the first as it cost effective (no need to pay for train tickets) and time saving (no need to go to London).

you may go to their website http://tlscontact.com/gb2fr

and you will be asked to submit the documents:

Below is the list of documents that you need to provide. Please prepare the following mandatory documents according to the order on this list. All the copies must be in A4 format. If many applicants share one original, one of the applicants gives the original and translation,each one of the others should provide copy and translation.

*Two identical ID photos less than 3 months old and meeting set standards – one of which must be attached to the application form
Size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, with white background, taken within 3 months.

*Short stay visa application form duly completed and signed by the applicant (or the legal guardian for children) in both places provided (fields 36 and 37 AND in the signature box at the bottom of the third page), original
Download.

*Debit note, original

*Fully completed and signed debit note. Download.

*Self-addressed A4 sized envelope

*Passport, original

*A full national private passport or official travel document valid for at least more than 3 months beyond the validity of the requested visa, with two blank visa pages with the mention “visa” to affix the visa sticker. Should be issued less than 10 years ago.
(Passport, copy)

*2 Copies of the passport containing personal identity information including one copy containing the validity extension information, note on remarks page and all the pages which contains Schengen visas.
(Old passports, original)

*If you are in possession of one or more previous passports, it is mandatory to bring it.
(Old passports, copy)

*Copies of the passport containing personal information, and all the pages which contains Schengen visas.

*British Residence permit, original
Your British Residence permit (stamped in passport or in the form of an identity card) must also exceed by more than 3 months the validity of the requested visa.

* British Residence permit, copy

*Valid passport of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child, original

*If your British residency states the name of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child

*Valid passport of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child, copy

*Official proof of relationship, original

*If your British residency states the name of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child

*Official proof of relationship, copy

*Civil marriage certificate, original
•If your Marriage Certificate has been issued outside the European Union, it must be stamped by the Foreign Office of the issuing country, or its Embassy in the UK.
•If the marriage was celebrated in the UK by a religious authority, the marriage certificate must be paired with an official registration at the General Register Office.

*Civil marriage certificate, copy

*Civil marriage certificate, official translation
in French or English, this official translation must be certified as a true copy by the Embassy/ Consulate of the country where your marriage was celebrated or by the legalisation bureau of the Foreign Office in GB

*Valid passport of European citizen, original
or valid national identity card; or an official document less than 3 months old from a competent diplomatic or consular representation; or any other convincing document.

*Original requested only if your family member is not currently living in France.

*Valid passport of European citizen, copy


You may be asked by Consulate-General of France in London to provide further documentary evidence.

[Arthur Little]

... that's EXCELLENT information, Rohany ... and we're indebted to you for taking the time to supply it!

[raynaputi]

I just made this a Sticky thread

[lastlid]

WOW yes. Excellent. Thanks. Cost? Expensive?

[Arthur Little]

I just made this a Sticky thread

GREAT , Rayna ... !

[lastlid]

If anyone knows how much the Shengen visa is to France (posted application as above), would appreciate knowing. My wife is gagging to visit Paris. I had a quick look on the internet but couldnt find it.

[Arthur Little]

WOW yes. Excellent. Thanks. Cost? Expensive?

... it DIDN'T cost US a bean (for the visas!! ) on either of the two occasions Myrna & I went across to the continent in March 2010 and June this year, respectively. However, if you refer to the sentence I have emboldened under the 2nd paragraph of Rohany's thread, you'll observe that the French Embassy (in London - whereas WE dealt with Edinburgh) now employs an agent similar to VFS to deal with applications. Which suggests to me there's a strong probability of a nominal handling fee being levied - albeit a relatively small one - of £50 or thereabouts. There again, you're located on the Isle of Man ... where a different policy altogether might apply!

So it would be worthwhile checking with your nearest French Consulate.

[lastlid]

LOL Thanks. We don't have any consulates on the IOM. (Well as far as I know we dont). Same as there are no IOM consulates / embassies in the Phils etc. All dealt with through the UKBA in the main.

My wife has a UK visa that gives her entry to the UK and also the IOM which is not part of the UK but is part of Great Britain. Get your head around that....

Having said all that, I have yet to find out where we will have to go for my wifes ILR......up till now the Spouse visa was dealt with via the UKBA in Manila but they did have to send it to IOM Immigration for their perusal / approval.

[Arthur Little]

My wife has a UK visa but for entry to the IOM which is not part of the UK. Get your head around that....

... Ah ... well now, I've since discovered it's the EDINBURGH Consulate that deals with applicants from Scotland AND the I.O.M. They're located at:

11 Randolph Crescent, [Entrance to the Visa Section next door]
EDINBURGH
EH3 7TT

Seems they operate an online booking system. But, if I were you, I'd phone them first to ascertain this ... and to see how to go about it.

Telephone: ... 0131~225~7954
Fax: ............ 0131~225~8975

[Arthur Little]

Having said all that, I have yet to find out where we will have to go for my wifes ILR......up till now the Spouse visa was dealt with via the UKBA in Manila but they did have to send it to IOM Immigration for their perusal / approval.

Hmm ... COULD be there's SOME involvement with the respective 'Lieutenant Governors' for persons applying from both the Channel Islands and the I.O.M - but I'm not entirely sure - therefore I would suggest you email the UKBA using the undernoted link:

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

[purple]

WOW yes. Excellent. Thanks. Cost? Expensive?

They charged me 34 quid and 8 quid for postage.
The visa is multiple entry and good for one year

[lastlid]

They charged me 34 quid and 8 quid for postage.
The visa is multiple entry and good for one year

Thankyou. Thank god it isnt 800 quid....

[subseastu]

Purple, excellent information you've posted here, have a rep point thing. Unfortunately there is now no reason not to take the wife to france!!! I'm thinking of getting a "short stay spouse of EU citizen" visa for the wife.

Just a question though. In the text it says

"Civil marriage certificate, official translation
in French or English, this official translation must be certified as a true copy by the Embassy/ Consulate of the country where your marriage was celebrated or by the legalisation bureau of the Foreign Office in GB"

Does this mean we'd have to go to london to the philippine embassy just to get a certified photo copy of the marriage certificate? Or is it ok just to include the original marriage cert and a photocopy?

Also is it the person applying for the visa that signs in box 36 and 37 as well as the signiture box at the bottom of the form?

[tboy555]

Planning a trip to Prague next year and checked on VISAHQ and it said this:

'Unlike other Schengen countries family members of EU citizens with a temporary or permanent residence permit for the UK can travel without a visa to the Czech Republic for up to 90 days, with or without their family member, providing they can prove their relationship and the nationality of their partner/family member.'

Anyone found this to be true? I will give the embassy a call to check later this week.....

[lastlid]

Interesting......thanks for the info.

[Arthur Little]

The visa is multiple entry and good for one year

S'funny ... MY wife's - for France (2009/10) & Italy (this past year) - were BOTH 'Multiple Entry'... but valid for 6 months only ...

[Arthur Little]

They charged me 34 quid and 8 quid for postage

... but in OUR case there were NO visa fees payable ... just the cost of postage!

[Bluebirdjones]

'Unlike other Schengen countries family members of EU citizens with a temporary or permanent residence permit for the UK

I think this is the problem... there seems to be misunderstanding or confusion as to what this residence permit is.

The FLR / biometrics card is NOT a residents permit..... it's merely a temporary pass to remain. (at least in my case, the Dutch certainly did not view them as a "resident's permit")

How they view the ILR is another matter, but when I looked some months' ago on the French Embassy's website, that suggested that the ILR is not recognized by them as a "resident's permit".
I got the impression that this applies to EU citizens living in the UK, who's partner is non-EU

..... but happy to be corrected.

[tboy555]

'Unlike other Schengen countries family members of EU citizens with a temporary or permanent residence permit for the UK

I think this is the problem... there seems to be misunderstanding or confusion as to what this residence permit is.

The FLR / biometrics card is NOT a residents permit..... it's merely a temporary pass to remain. (at least in my case, the Dutch certainly did not view them as a "resident's permit")

How they view the ILR is another matter, but when I looked some months' ago on the French Embassy's website, that suggested that the ILR is not recognized by them as a "resident's permit".
I got the impression that this applies to EU citizens living in the UK, who's partner is non-EU

..... but happy to be corrected.

I agree - but then why would it say it was 'unlike other schengen countries'

Oh well, it can't hurt to ring and ask them. Will report back with the findings.

[Arthur Little]

T'would APPEAR all this "S(c)henanigan" business has its origins in former Conservative Prime Minister, John Major's refusal to sign the 'Treaty of Maastricht' in 1991 ... in order to [purportedly] safeguard against the widespread implications inherent in opening up its Borders, willy~nilly to the masses ...

... whether he was *richt (Scots for *right! ) or wrong remains a moot point ... BUT -

What a com~pli~ca~ted web, John Major weaved
When the Maastricht Treaty - he first perceived
Would in~fil~trate Britannia's Border,
Putting our Nation in rank disorder.
T'was then he chose to draw the line
There~by, de~ci~ding not to sign
And thwart the chance of our being bluffed,
By exhorting Eurocrats to "GET STUFFED!"

... Arthur Little, 15 December 2011

- with apologies to Wm McGonigal (Scots' poet of the late Victorian era)

[Terpe]

What a com~pli~ca~ted web, John Major weaved
When the Maastricht Treaty - he first perceived
Would in~fil~trate Britannia's Border,
Putting our Nation in rank disorder.
T'was then he chose to draw the line
There~by, de~ci~ding not to sign
And thwart the chance of our being bluffed,
By exhorting Eurocrats to "GET STUFFED!"

... Arthur Little, 15 December 2011

- with apologies to Wm McGonigal (Scots' poet of the late Victorian era)

Very nice Arthur. Well done

[jlags90]

Hi all,


*Debit note, original

*Fully completed and signed debit note. Download.

*Passport, original

*British Residence permit, original
Your British Residence permit (stamped in passport or in the form of an identity card) must also exceed by more than 3 months the validity of the requested visa.

*Valid passport of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child, original

*Valid passport of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child, copy

*Official proof of relationship, original

*If your British residency states the name of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child

*Official proof of relationship, copy


*Civil marriage certificate, copy

You may be asked by Consulate-General of France in London to provide further documentary evidence.

Hello purple... Will I be allowed to apply for a schengen visa if I only have fiancee visa to the UK or will we need to wait for the marriage before obtaining one? What is a debit note?

[purple]

Hi jlag,

I am not sure for people here who are on Fiancee Visa.. I think you would need your FLR first.
Please check with the Schengen country

[mylittleuk]

Hi Purple, this thread is very informative, thank you. Me and husband planned to apply for a short stay visa for a holiday in France this March but we decided to move it later this year. Following up the questions of Subseastu and jlags90:

1. DO we really need to have the marriage certificate authenticated by the PE in London? (got married in the PH)

2. What is a Debit Note?

Thanks again.

[Stevi]

Very informative your very kind to do so God Bless you and your family

[aryM]

Hi all,

I'd like to share my experience on applying a schengen visa multiple entry without having to have an appointment go to London and queue up.

Me and hubby with family are going to France for snowboarding late January. Flights and accommodations are booked. I've included in the post the itinerary, marriage cert (authenticated at Phil. Embassy in London (take the original birth to PE Embassy, photocopy it, pay the fees and , my passport, hubby's passport.

TLScontact is the new service (like VFS) that the French Embassy in London are using.

You only need to apply online and select the option whether you want to post the documents or make an appointment and go to London. I chose the first as it cost effective (no need to pay for train tickets) and time saving (no need to go to London).

you may go to their website http://tlscontact.com/gb2fr

and you will be asked to submit the documents:

Below is the list of documents that you need to provide. Please prepare the following mandatory documents according to the order on this list. All the copies must be in A4 format. If many applicants share one original, one of the applicants gives the original and translation,each one of the others should provide copy and translation.

*Two identical ID photos less than 3 months old and meeting set standards – one of which must be attached to the application form
Size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, with white background, taken within 3 months.

*Short stay visa application form duly completed and signed by the applicant (or the legal guardian for children) in both places provided (fields 36 and 37 AND in the signature box at the bottom of the third page), original
Download.

*Debit note, original

*Fully completed and signed debit note. Download.

*Self-addressed A4 sized envelope

*Passport, original

*A full national private passport or official travel document valid for at least more than 3 months beyond the validity of the requested visa, with two blank visa pages with the mention “visa” to affix the visa sticker. Should be issued less than 10 years ago.
(Passport, copy)

*2 Copies of the passport containing personal identity information including one copy containing the validity extension information, note on remarks page and all the pages which contains Schengen visas.
(Old passports, original)

*If you are in possession of one or more previous passports, it is mandatory to bring it.
(Old passports, copy)

*Copies of the passport containing personal information, and all the pages which contains Schengen visas.

*British Residence permit, original
Your British Residence permit (stamped in passport or in the form of an identity card) must also exceed by more than 3 months the validity of the requested visa.

* British Residence permit, copy

*Valid passport of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child, original

*If your British residency states the name of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child

*Valid passport of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child, copy

*Official proof of relationship, original

*If your British residency states the name of your spouse, fiancé (e), unmarried partner or child

*Official proof of relationship, copy

*Civil marriage certificate, original
•If your Marriage Certificate has been issued outside the European Union, it must be stamped by the Foreign Office of the issuing country, or its Embassy in the UK.
•If the marriage was celebrated in the UK by a religious authority, the marriage certificate must be paired with an official registration at the General Register Office.

*Civil marriage certificate, copy

*Civil marriage certificate, official translation
in French or English, this official translation must be certified as a true copy by the Embassy/ Consulate of the country where your marriage was celebrated or by the legalisation bureau of the Foreign Office in GB

*Valid passport of European citizen, original
or valid national identity card; or an official document less than 3 months old from a competent diplomatic or consular representation; or any other convincing document.

*Original requested only if your family member is not currently living in France.

*Valid passport of European citizen, copy


You may be asked by Consulate-General of France in London to provide further documentary evidence.

Thanks for this information Purple! Just last week my husband ask me to do some research about getting a Schengen Visa for me and my kids

[purple]

'Unlike other Schengen countries family members of EU citizens with a temporary or permanent residence permit for the UK

I think this is the problem... there seems to be misunderstanding or confusion as to what this residence permit is.

The FLR / biometrics card is NOT a residents permit..... it's merely a temporary pass to remain. (at least in my case, the Dutch certainly did not view them as a "resident's permit")

How they view the ILR is another matter, but when I looked some months' ago on the French Embassy's website, that suggested that the ILR is not recognized by them as a "resident's permit".
I got the impression that this applies to EU citizens living in the UK, who's partner is non-EU

..... but happy to be corrected.

I've inquired the DVLA about this "residence permit" when I applied for provisional driving license which was turned down.

residence permit=ILR

Hope that helps.

[purple]

Hi mylittleuk,

Sorry for late reply as I've been very busy and I've missed this forum.

With regards to you question.
Yes, you would need to go to PE and have the marriage certificate authenticated if you were married in the Philippines. Note that you can get your authenticated MC the next day.

A debit note is what you can print out from the tlscontact website where you put the card information where they will debit the amount for the visa processing fee.

Hope that helps.

[Bluebirdjones]

Purple ... re....
"I've inquired the DVLA about this "residence permit" when I applied for provisional driving license which was turned down.
residence permit=ILR
Hope that helps"


You've misunderstood the point.
Yes, in the UK, the residence permit = ILR. On that I TOTALLY AGREE.

... but we are talking about EU (Schengen) countries accepting it as such.

.... and they do NOT.

The DVLA is a UK agency .... nothing to do with the EU and nothing to do with the Schengen area.
Their "thoughts" or "ideas" on what constitutes a resident permit for the purposes of EU/Schengen are irrelevant, and hold no legal standing.

[RickyR]

We got a Schengen Visa for my wife through the Spanish Embassy in Oman. Since my wife doesn't have permenant residence in the UK I assumed we'd have to pay, but it turned out it was free, and also free for my stepdaughter.
We got a 1 year visa, and just submitted our planned flights and itinerary, marriage certificate, photos, a letter from me and the passports. Took about 3 days and didn't cost a penny. Embassy staff very friendly and helpful.

One thing about the Schengen visa is that your can't state how long you want it for, but generally once you've had one visa, they'll issue the next one for either 2 or 5 years, 5 being the max.