We Want To Go To Paris

[anaorak]

My Thai wife is in London with me on her second tourist visa trip. She has to return to Thailand in October.

If I want to go to Paris with her, could we apply for a Schengen-visa in London, even if she is only here on a tourist visa.

When you apply for this visa do you have to sit an interview. How much is this visa.

Would we go to the French Embassy in London to apply.

[Mahout Angrit]

From the French embassy web site.

People are advised to apply for their Schengen visas in their country of residence before travelling to the UK. Holders of ‘C-Visit visas’ or of ‘British residency valid for 6 months or less’ may apply at the French Consulate, London, but should expect a delay of at least 6 weeks for the processing of their application

So you may be lucky but Schengen visa rules state that she should apply in her country of residence but from this comment they may well consider her application. Contact them.

[sgunn65]

Check my thread on Schengen visas and how to get round the interview. I got my visa by post in 4 days

[Mahout Angrit]

Check my thread on Schengen visas and how to get round the interview. I got my visa by post in 4 days

But your wife is resident in UK (has a settlement visa) isn't she? As a resident she does apply in UK but as a tourist the application should be done in the country of residence.

[SirPaul]

Check my thread on Schengen visas and how to get round the interview. I got my visa by post in 4 days

It is like we are not members of Europe. If they have issued a UK tourist visa, then why the need to consult everyone ( read below)

Why does it take so long for some nationalities to obtain their Schengen visas?

Before issuing a Schengen visa, the French Consulate General must consult the other Schengen partners. Applications are forwarded to France for this consultation, a lengthy but compulsory procedure. Be advised that this consultation will occur evry time you apply for a visa.

[Rinrada]

The sooner WE sign up for Schengen the Better but seems some people dont like the idea.....

eye dont know whyyyy .....?but can hedge a guess......

[sjaak327]

Check my thread on Schengen visas and how to get round the interview. I got my visa by post in 4 days

It is like we are not members of Europe. If they have issued a UK tourist visa, then why the need to consult everyone ( read below)

Why does it take so long for some nationalities to obtain their Schengen visas?

Before issuing a Schengen visa, the French Consulate General must consult the other Schengen partners. Applications are forwarded to France for this consultation, a lengthy but compulsory procedure. Be advised that this consultation will occur evry time you apply for a visa.

UK is a member of the EU, but hasn't joined Schengen. Therefore a UK tourist visa doesn't give you a right to visit Schengen states, it works the same way the other way around.

The text you quoted from the French consulate does sound a little strange, I mean why would they have to consult the other Schengen partners, I'm sure most Schengen states don't do that, even though a Schengen visa does grant access to all the other Schengen states.

[SirPaul]

Check my thread on Schengen visas and how to get round the interview. I got my visa by post in 4 days

It is like we are not members of Europe. If they have issued a UK tourist visa, then why the need to consult everyone ( read below)

Why does it take so long for some nationalities to obtain their Schengen visas?

Before issuing a Schengen visa, the French Consulate General must consult the other Schengen partners. Applications are forwarded to France for this consultation, a lengthy but compulsory procedure. Be advised that this consultation will occur evry time you apply for a visa.

UK is a member of the EU, but hasn't joined Schengen. Therefore a UK tourist visa doesn't give you a right to visit Schengen states, it works the same way the other way around.

The text you quoted from the French consulate does sound a little strange, I mean why would they have to consult the other Schengen partners, I'm sure most Schengen states don't do that, even though a Schengen visa does grant access to all the other Schengen states.

Could it be an excuse to charge, if not now then in the future.

[the scouser]

I believe it relates to only certain nationalities, perceived to be "dodgy", rather than across the board.

Scouse.

[anaorak]

Could it be an excuse to charge, if not now then in the future.

I am not worried about charges, I just want to take my wife over to France whilst she is in the UK with me on a six month tourist visa.

[gregchambers]

A Mr Hicks has posted that he wandered into the French embassy (probably in Bangkok) and got his girlfriend not wife a French visa with no hassle and little paperwork, she already had the UK Visitors Visa... so it may just be worth it to turn up there with the newly minted UK visa in her passport and try your luck. Someone else said that health insurance, copy bank book and travel itinary (confimred bookings) were also needed in similar circumstances. Would suggest dressing sensibly would be mandatory to pull this off. I am in similar position and may give it a whirl in about a month's time and report back.