For reference I would like to denote my experience getting a Schengen visa for my Thai wife.  The complication is that I am American and have no ties to Europe.

 

In general I believe that it all boils down to two items - telling the truth and getting a Verpflictungserklärung - an official document that represents a German taking financial responsibility for my wife.  I was advised by visa agency services (which I believe are not helpful to get this visa) to call it a honeymoon.  Instead we just told the truth.  I needed to visit Germany to help a friend and that I wanted to travel with my Thai wife.

 

For me as an American I needed a German to get the Verpflictungserklärung.  To get this required two separate trips in Germany - one to establish the document at German immigration and the second (after receiving a postmarked document) to go to the local town office to get the document stamped and signed.  My sponsor had to declare his income and is responsible for my wife should she stay in Germany.  We needed the original copy of the Verpflictungserklärung to  submit to the Germany embassy in Bangkok.

 

We had to go to this embassy in Bangkok twice and an initial appointment was required.  During the initial meeting my wife was interviewed for about 20 minutes in Thai by an embassy representative.  The main issue I believe is to convince the immigration officer that you have a real reason to go to Germany, that you will come back to Thailand and that you enough enough money to travel.  We submitted copies of her passport, my passport and visa, the Schengen visa application, a copy of her blue book, a copy of the travel insurance we bought for my wife, booking of our planned flight (not paid for) and a copy of the sponsor's German ID card.  In addition we had a copy of our lease, documents relating to the purchase of a new car and of course the original Verpflictungserklärung.

 

The interview was direct and aggressive.  Luckily I had coached my wife about the trip so she gave good answers to the questions regarding why are you going, who is the sponsor, etc.  We were asked for a copy of my passbook savings which we did not have.  But my wife left feeling pretty confident that she got the visa.  A week later we returned to the embassy (they gave us a time and date after the initial interview was over) and received the Schengen visa.

 

Yesterday we entered Germany.  We were stopped at immigration for about 10 minutes and quizzed in English about our trip.  I was not prepared for this as I thought the visa was enough.  But they were very interested at German immigration about the trip, who the sponsor was, they wanted a copy of our return flight which I did not have and had to use my phone to connect to email then show the return ticket, and they wanted to make sure I had enough cash which I did not have.  But I think after about 5 minutes of hearing our story they realized we were telling the truth and were satisfied that with my credit cards and ATM access we could fund the trip.

 

So the next time we do this it will be easier.  We will enter Germany with printed return tickets, the original Verpflictungserklärung and more cash.  The German representatives were all very kind and professional.  I believe they asked intelligent questions to make sure we would return to Thailand and had a reason and the funds for our 5 week trip in Germany.

Can confirm all of this. 

 

I am german but avoid germany to get a shengen visa like a plague. 

They don't accept a verpflichtungserklärung from me as i am on a PE visa and don't have a work permit here. So i had to bother my parents to get one. 

 

 

They got xrayed like criminals in their local immigration office. They are both pensioners and own houses, they had to show them title deeds, pension letters, bank statements etc. It was hilarious. 

 

It's such a pain in the ass especially as my gf studied medicine in Switzerland and already had tons of shengen visas herself. 

 

We normally visit Spain each year to go to barcelona or ibiza and then visit my family in germany for some days... 

 

What i do now is, we go to Spanish embassy. We tell them we go to ibiza to get wasted, they give us a visa within 5 days and we spare us all this german bs. 

 

It's prolly easier if my gf would claim she lost her passport and is syrian to get entry into my <deleted> home country. 

 

 

PS: i might be wrong but i think the verpflichtungserklärung u got is valid for some years and u don't have to get a new one for the next trip. 

 

20 minutes ago, ThomasThBKK said:

I am german but avoid germany to get a shengen visa like a plague.

I wonder how the consular staff is motivated for their harassment when they look at the situation in Germany. Extremely unbalanced, shameful.

This year the Germans will hand over the visa application process to that "VFS" which is mentioned often here.

What will the effect be?

These things always fascinate  me.

 

You jump through flaming hoops, doing the right things, all for a vacation, yet Merkel was quite happy to let 1 million 'refugees' enter, no question asked!

 

It's a funny old world we live in

There are a few inaccuracies in these posts, if an American citizen, or a citizen of most countries outside of the EU,  wishes to take their spouse to Germany, or another country in Schengen, it isn't always necessary to obtain a financial guarantee from a citizen of that country, a Verpflictungserklärung in the case of Germany.

An American National can enter Schengen visa free, and with sufficient funds and proof of accomodation and insurance can sponsor their Thai, or other third country, partner, that visa would normally be granted, as my girlfriend/spouse has been numerous times.

If of course a German national is sponsoring the trip because the American, Australian or whatever cannot afford to sponsor their partner, or at least can't prove it, then a German can do so, and in these circumastances the hoop jumping process kicks in.
One small clarification about the handling of visa applications by VFS, they will be contracted to collect the applications and/or supporting documents as well as biometric details, they will play no part in the decision making process, that will still be carried out by German Consular staff.

I heard it was possible to make a Schengen visa for one country but then visit all the others. You'd apply to the country you'd be spending the most time in. No idea if this is accurate when the difference might be only a day or three. I recall someone saying you list the countries.

 

58 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

I heard it was possible to make a Schengen visa for one country but then visit all the others. You'd apply to the country you'd be spending the most time in. No idea if this is accurate when the difference might be only a day or three. I recall someone saying you list the countries.

The rules are that you should apply for a visa at the Consulate that has juristiction for the Member State which is the applicants main destination, where they're going to spend the longest time.
If the applicant is touring, and intends spending an equal amount of time in more than one member state, then they should apply at the Consulate that has juristiction for their intended port of entry into the Schengen Area.
Yes, you should advise of all the countries you intend visiting with the application, whilst there no official Border Controls between Schengen Member States, there are sometimes ad hoc checks at borders, or on trains crossing borders.