Question: Proof Of Funds When Travelling To France

[JayBird]

Hello all,

 

A little note was attached to a Visa that was put into a Thai Passport.  It indicated that there needed to be proof of funds for the duration of the stay.  The listed:

Cash

Traveller's Cheques

Credit Card

 

The Thai person travelling does not use a Credit Card.  So it's a choice of over 3,000 EUR in Cash or Traveller's Cheques (which both seem a lot to travel with).  Does anyone know if they would be okey with:

 

Debit Card

Bank Statement

Something Else?

 

I checked the 'official' web site, and it even lists 'Other' as an option, but nothing explicit.  So any advice here would be appreciated.

 

Thank you.

[Donutz]

Debit cards are fine, though you may wish to carry some cash for the first day(s). If the alien carries a copy of all documents that were part of the vida application you should have no issue. I assume that in this case that would be a copy of the handbook with sufficient funds for the entire trip. Not many people would carry thousands of euros cash but rather draw some money from the ATM every X days. 

 

This is was the Schengen rules say:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32009R0810

 

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Article 14

Supporting documents

1.   When applying for a uniform visa, the applicant shall present:

(a)	documents indicating the purpose of the journey;

(b)	documents in relation to accommodation, or proof of sufficient means to cover his accommodation;

(c)

documents indicating that the applicant possesses sufficient means of subsistence both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to his country of origin or residence, or for the transit to a third country into which he is certain to be admitted, or that he is in a position to acquire such means lawfully, in accordance with Article 5(1)(c) and (3) of the Schengen Borders Code

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The border code says:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32016R0399

 

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Means of subsistence shall be assessed in accordance with the duration and the purpose of the stay and by reference to average prices in the Member State(s) concerned for board and lodging in budget accommodation, multiplied by the number of days stayed.

Reference amounts set by the Member States shall be notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 39.

The assessment of sufficient means of subsistence may be based on the cash, travellers’ cheques and credit cards in the third-country national’s possession. Declarations of sponsorship, where such declarations are provided for by national law and letters of guarantee from hosts, as defined by national law, where the third-country national is staying with a host, may also constitute evidence of sufficient means of subsistence.

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I know, it doesn't mention debitcards but if you would meet a crazy border guard who does not accept the same evidence as the embassy accepted, in theory you could go to an ATM and draw cash etc. But I wouldn't worry too much about facing a crazy official.