European Visa for Thai GF

[Asmoseus_uk]

Can someone share a recent experience or advice?

 

Based in London. Looking to take my Thai other half, currently in UK on tourist visa, to either Italy or Portugal in August

 

I know usually should apply in Bangkok but possible to get a tourist visa though local embassy? I can see ualso just VFS for the admin..

 

Thanks!

[newbee2022]

As you said...from Bangkok👍

[Upnotover]

A quick look at VFS and it suggests if she is on a type C visit visa (which presumably she is) she can apply from the UK. But her visa needs to be valid for 3 months after the time in Schengenland.

[jimn]

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

As you said...from Bangkok👍

Don't comment if you don't know. It is possible to obtain a schengan visa direct from some embassies direct as long as you contact them first to ask. Those that do will inform of the process. I suggest you email a few ie Spain, France, Portugal etc and see. A schengan is valid across the EU although you are supposed to get a visa from the first country you visit or if visiting a few countries, the country where you will be spending most time. This is rarely enforced.

[Antti]

If you are not particular about the country and don't want to deal with visa hassles, take her to Turkey. Thai people can stay there for 30 days without a visa.

[sandyf]

11 hours ago, Asmoseus_uk said:

 

I know usually should apply in Bangkok but possible to get a tourist visa though local embassy?

Yes it is possible.

The Schengen guidance says the visa should be obtained in home country before travelling unless there is some reason why it couldn't be done.

I know a few that have made successful applications in London, mainly on the basis it was a last minute decision to travel to Europe. For example a last minute promotional deal that wasn't available before leaving Thailand.

My wife has recently done one in Bangkok for Germany, more tedious than anything. The first since she stopped being the spouse of an EU citizen.

[sandyf]

34 minutes ago, Antti said:

If you are not particular about the country and don't want to deal with visa hassles, take her to Turkey. Thai people can stay there for 30 days without a visa.

Indeed, took my wife to Turkey last year.

No problem whatsoever getting into Turkey. Different story trying to get out, passport checked multiple times and every check resulted in a protracted phone call over her UK visa. Scared stiff of any fallout from UK immigration.

[Paris333]

This is from Greek forum : www.thai.gr : (see the report for Thais to Schengen countries and  it has included official form that you may download it from Britain Embassy in Bangkok)

Subject: Thai citizen's visa for Greece  

See also the signed declaration that must be completed and which you can get from our embassy in BKK.

Source:

https://www.thai.gr/forum/index.php?topic=592.75

and the Official form in PDF format is :

https://app.box.com/s/nrmk0qsp6i

 

[daejung]

2 hours ago, Antti said:

If you are not particular about the country and don't want to deal with visa hassles, take her to Turkey. Thai people can stay there for 30 days without a visa.

It's not a european country

[theoldgit]

7 hours ago, jimn said:

Don't comment if you don't know. It is possible to obtain a schengan visa direct from some embassies direct as long as you contact them first to ask. Those that do will inform of the process. I suggest you email a few ie Spain, France, Portugal etc and see. A schengan is valid across the EU although you are supposed to get a visa from the first country you visit or if visiting a few countries, the country where you will be spending most time. This is rarely enforced.

It’s actually a requirement that a Schengen Visa must be applied via the Consulate with jurisdiction for the applicants main destination in the Schengen Area, ie where they are spending the most time. If they are spending an equal amount of time in one or more Member State, they should apply via the Consulate with jurisdiction for the port of entry into the Schengen Area.

Far from being rarely enforced, l understand that it’s being rigorously enforced by some Member States, remember details of travel and accommodation must be submitted with application.

 

Not all the countries in the EU are in the Schengen Area, and not all countries that are Schengen Area member states are in the EU.

 

There are currently problems submitting applications in the UK, due to the lack of appointments at Visa Application Centres, it’s got to the point where agents are using bots to scan the appointment websites, booking slots and selling them on.

[theoldgit]

2 hours ago, daejung said:

It's not a european country

Türkiye is in Europe and Asia, but not currently in the EU.

[jimn]

23 hours ago, theoldgit said:

It’s actually a requirement that a Schengen Visa must be applied via the Consulate with jurisdiction for the applicants main destination in the Schengen Area, ie where they are spending the most time. If they are spending an equal amount of time in one or more Member State, they should apply via the Consulate with jurisdiction for the port of entry into the Schengen Area.

Far from being rarely enforced, l understand that it’s being rigorously enforced by some Member States, remember details of travel and accommodation must be submitted with application.

 

Not all the countries in the EU are in the Schengen Area, and not all countries that are Schengen Area member states are in the EU.

 

There are currently problems submitting applications in the UK, due to the lack of appointments at Visa Application Centres, it’s got to the point where agents are using bots to scan the appointment websites, booking slots and selling them on.

I understand what you are saying. However my wife has had a number of Schengan visa's. First one was on the back of a recommendation by yourself to use the Netherlands embassy in Thailand. We never went to the Netherlands but entered first France and then Spain. Second was from the Swedish embassy, we went to France first before Sweden. Third we got again from the Swedish embassy but only went to France and Italy. 

At one time I wrote to one of the embassies in the UK and they replied with a process to get from the UK that we ended up not doing, so it is possible and not always has to be done in Bangkok. Also in my experience they do not check what country in the Schengan area issued the visa.

[proton]

16 minutes ago, jimn said:

I understand what you are saying. However my wife has had a number of Schengan visa's. First one was on the back of a recommendation by yourself to use the Netherlands embassy in Thailand. We never went to the Netherlands but entered first France and then Spain. Second was from the Swedish embassy, we went to France first before Sweden. Third we got again from the Swedish embassy but only went to France and Italy. 

At one time I wrote to one of the embassies in the UK and they replied with a process to get from the UK that we ended up not doing, so it is possible and not always has to be done in Bangkok. Also in my experience they do not check what country in the Schengan area issued the visa.

 

Thats interesting, so just apply to the easiest one then, going there or not

[jimn]

8 hours ago, proton said:

 

Thats interesting, so just apply to the easiest one then, going there or not

That's what I have done before, yes

[Henryford]

I find it bizarre all these regs to enter countries when they let in multiple thousands of migrants without visas, passports or any documents.

[brewsterbudgen]

15 minutes ago, Henryford said:

I find it bizarre all these regs to enter countries when they let in multiple thousands of migrants without visas, passports or any documents.

They are entering illegally and/or claiming asylum.  Not the same thing.

[theoldgit]

On 6/28/2024 at 2:20 PM, proton said:

 

Thats interesting, so just apply to the easiest one then, going there or not

 

By all means follow that advice if you’re prepared to ignore the rules and risk being denied entry at the border, and entered onto the SIS (Shenghen Information System) which could could affect future applications and attempts to enter the Schengen Area.

 

The rules are very clear, applicants must apply via the Consulate with jurisdiction for their main destination, if they are planning to spend an equal amount of time in two or Member States they should apply via the Consulate with jurisdiction for your point of entry into the Schengen Area.

 

I have no doubt that other members have had no problems flouting the rules, but I’m aware that some member states are clamping down on “visa shopping”, that’s where they supply details of a trip to one country and then attempt to enter with a totally different itinerary, and are refused entry.

[theoldgit]

23 hours ago, jimn said:

Also in my experience they do not check what country in the Schengan area issued the visa.

The issuing country is printed on the Visa Vignette. 

[rasg]

On 6/29/2024 at 1:37 PM, theoldgit said:

The issuing country is printed on the Visa Vignette. 

 

A question for you please. If somebody wants to go to Spain for a holiday from the UK but they want to drive there via France etc, in which country do they apply for a Schengen visa? Just interested to know. Thanks.

[theoldgit]

18 hours ago, rasg said:

 

A question for you please. If somebody wants to go to Spain for a holiday from the UK but they want to drive there via France etc, in which country do they apply for a Schengen visa? Just interested to know. Thanks.

The rules state that an application should be via the Consulate with jurisdiction for your main destination, ie where you intend to spend the longest time.

If you are spending an equal amount of time in more than one Member State then you should apply via the Consulate with jurisdiction for your point of entry into the Schengen Area.

In your case it would depend how long you intend spending in Spain, and how you will be spending travelling through France during your outward and return journeys.

 

[GypsyT]

18 hours ago, theoldgit said:

The rules state that an application should be via the Consulate with jurisdiction for your main destination, ie where you intend to spend the longest time.

Those are the rules but in real life The First country where you land and get processed is the most critical.

They put zero value where you spend time.

If they smell rat you don't get in. It's that simple. They are responsible for you.

[2ndhomepattaya]

We just got a Tourist visa for "her" via VFS  to visit Germany/Austria Aug/Sept 24.

The process to obtain was fairly straightforward. Downloaded the application for "C" visa and made an appointment with VFS. They then forward the paperwork to the embassy of your first arrival port and a week later visa was issued for 3 months starting the date of intended arrival. The whole process did not take more than 2 weeks

[theoldgit]

5 hours ago, GypsyT said:

Those are the rules but in real life The First country where you land and get processed is the most critical.

They put zero value where you spend time.

If they smell rat you don't get in. It's that simple. They are responsible for you.

I’ll bow to your knowledge and experience of “real life”, however let me share some experiences.

 

A year of so back my wife and l were planning on flying to Paris from London where we were spending a couple of nights before travelling to Rome where we were spending a couple more nights before flying to Bangkok.

 

We supplied all the details of our travel and accommodation plans and as we were spending an equal amount of nights France and Italy my wife applied via the French Consulate as they had jurisdiction for our point of entry into the Schengen area, the French refused the visa on the grounds that we were spending five hours longer in Italy than France, so should have applied via the Italian Consulate, they refused to refund the application fee or return her paperwork.

 

I challenged their refusal of the refund of processing fees and return of the supporting evidence, citing the Schengen Handbook that decrees that if an application is submitted to a Consult that doesn’t have jurisdiction for the main destination they should not process it but return the fees and supporting documentation, which they reluctantly did.

 

I am aware that some Schengen States are clamping down on so called “Visa Shopping”, that is where applicants are applying to Consulates that are deemed to be a more relaxed with their interpretation of the rules, as a result some applications are being refused or visa holders being denied entry at the border. Visa holders are being recommended that they have proof of return travel, accommodation, insurance and sufficient funds for showing to Immigration Officers at Schengen Borders.

[rasg]

Thank God my wife now has a British passport!