Schengen Visa

[mickmac]

Hi GUYS,

            Just wondered whether anyone knows if a Schengen visa can be obtained from one of the embassy/consulates in Chiang Mai, rather than having to go down to BKK to apply at one of the embassy's there?

[beau thai]

There may be others now but 2-3 years back when we needed one, the only option was the German Consulate out at Mae Hia. They were insistent though that we would have to spend more nights in Germany than in any one shengen country. Worked for us as we just added 9 days split between Berlin and Munich.

 

They were insistent that if we tried to subvert the process by submitting an itinerary that we later changed, they would find out and be able to somehow block our trip or enforce the original agenda. May have been BS. Dunno

[moontang]

Tokio Marine sells the required accident insurance, and you can print the official letter out online.  You nationality will determine where and if you can buy it..

[pgrahmm]

They all now use a company in BKK to screen applicants....My wife had to fly down to interview when she got hers....

We used Star Visa to assist us for this visa & they do a good job gathering the info for presentation + have a guide to assist in BKK....

We also used them for the US visa.....

Very thorough & both easily approved.....

[pgrahmm]

39 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

They all now use a company in BKK to screen applicants....My wife had to fly down to interview when she got hers....

We used Star Visa to assist us for this visa & they do a good job gathering the info for presentation + have a guide to assist in BKK....

We also used them for the US visa.....

Very thorough & both easily approved.....

Footnote....

 

She flew out about 7AM to BKK....Took a taxi to the building - met there by a rep that guided her to the correct place - did the interview & visa photo there then flew back in to CM by about 2PM.....

We both took our travel insurance through Star....They also function as travel agents for flights (& hotels?) but we made our own arrangements....

Edited November 13, 2018 by pgrahmm

[boonrawdcnx]

Since most of the foreign consulates are honorary consulates here in Chiang Mai I don’t think you can get a Schengen Visa here in Chiang Mai.

You can get the information of requirements and application form but the actual visa has to be obtained at the respective embassy in Bangkok.

If you plan to travel around in Europe you should always apply at the embassy of the country where you intend to spend most of the time while there.

For example although we arrived in Paris first from Bangkok and spent a few days there - later traveled also in Germany - but spend most of the time in Austria - we applied at the Austrian Embassy for the Shengen visa.

 

There are two ways to apply - Thais apply themselves and fulfill the requirements- or by invitation of a Shengen country resident - If by invitation the person who invites the Thai person has to sign a sworn statement at a government office where he/ she resides. This document is legally binding.

All you need is the application form the required pictures- photographers usually know which format- return flight reservation NOT booking - and a travel health and accident insurance.

Required funds to be able to support yourself during your stay - if not traveling by invitation.

Note that some European embassies for example the Austrian Embassy will issue the exact dates from the arrival date to the date of your return flight.

So if between your arrival and return flight there are 21 days - they will issue the visa exactly for these 21 days.

 

The application process is usually very straight forward without any problems - the only thing I find a bit odd in the digital age is that embassies still ask for flight reservations when probably a 99% of people now book their flights online and not through a travel agent.

Of course there is no such thing as a flight “ reservation” online you either book a flight or not. This leaves most people no choice then to find a travel agent who will make a dummy reservation for them or book a full price ticket which is then canceled without penalty.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

 

[mickmac]

Thanks for all the information guys. So the long and tall of it is that we will have to go through things in BKK rather than get one in CNX.  Many thanks to all the people that took the time to reply.

[wgdanson]

12 hours ago, moontang said:

Tokio Marine sells the required accident insurance, and you can print the official letter out online.  You nationality will determine where and if you can buy it..

Got ours online through AXA Thailand....Bht 2500 for 4 weeks.

[moontang]

3 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Got ours online through AXA Thailand....Bht 2500 for 4 weeks.

Tokio Marine would give you 17-33 million USD in coverage for that amount...A+ rated by AM Best.  What are the limits on AXA?

[wgdanson]

6 minutes ago, moontang said:

Tokio Marine would give you 17-33 million USD in coverage for that amount...A+ rated by AM Best.  What are the limits on AXA?

Dunno, never used it, or showed it at the borders. I have heard about Tokio Marine, even though they spell Tokyo incorrectly. lol

[moontang]

45 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Dunno, never used it, or showed it at the borders. I have heard about Tokio Marine, even though they spell Tokyo incorrectly. lol

That is how the Brits spelled it in 1879, when the company was founded.  BTW, did you have to show your policy to get the visa?  THX.

Edited November 13, 2018 by moontang

[eyecatcher]

We gota schengen from the German consulate just three months ago.

Dead easy, the German one is the way to go and you dont actually need to stay in that country.

 

We said we were stopping one night there and had a booking  com reservation (which we cancelled)

 

We actually went into France for a few days, then Swiss, then Austria, then Italy and actually stopped in Germany only for 3nights but it wasnt necessary.

All schengen providers know that travel plans cannot be stuck to and have to change.

 

Yes make out an itinery and go and have the interview at Mae Hia.

The visa is free but the consulate charge 1700bt as a processing fee for doing all the postal work and the biometrics (at mae hia)

 

Just be careful how many days you ask for, if you make a mistake the overstay penalty will result in a two year ban from Europe.

[eyecatcher]

7 hours ago, mickmac said:

Thanks for all the information guys. So the long and tall of it is that we will have to go through things in BKK rather than get one in CNX.  Many thanks to all the people that took the time to reply.

No need to go to Bkk, thats incorrect info

[eyecatcher]

6 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Got ours online through AXA Thailand....Bht 2500 for 4 weeks.

I remember ours was simply a cheap add on to our Emirates flight. Again it was Axa, I was a bit dubious that this insurance was covering for a month rather than just a flight but the Axa office in CM assured us it was good to go...and the Consulate were happy

[WinnieTheKhwai]

On 11/12/2018 at 11:49 PM, beau thai said:

There may be others now but 2-3 years back when we needed one, the only option was the German Consulate out at Mae Hia. They were insistent though that we would have to spend more nights in Germany than in any one shengen country. Worked for us as we just added 9 days split between Berlin and Munich.

 

They were insistent that if we tried to subvert the process by submitting an itinerary that we later changed, they would find out and be able to somehow block our trip or enforce the original agenda. May have been BS. Dunno

 

It seems strange for an official government communication to peddle bullshit.  (Well, for Europe anyway, it seems more common now in other parts of the Western world..)

 

Because without border crossings within the Schengen area, they have absolutely no way of knowing, and that's fully intentional by their own design.