Schengen Visa (belgium) Recent Experience

[Krub]

Here we go :

Applicant : 20 years old man with no work history (apart from some real part-time work in catering/restaurants no bars), no assets, single, no education,few stamps of neigboring countries no visa history

Me : Schengen country passport, history of frequent visits to South-East Asia, long term expatriate of Japan, employed full-time, one previous sponsorship history for a similar successful visa 2 years ago.

Applied day 1 got tel call day 3, pick-up passport with multi entry 3 months validity visa day 4

Application folder included the following :

Application form from Embassy's website

ID picture of applicant

2,700 baht visa fee

ID card and copy

Tabien baan copy

Passport and passport copy

Letter from employer stating salary (less than 10k baht)

Bank book copy (balance of 50k baht)

Copy of ticket reservation

Copy of travle insurance

Fotos at work

My cover letter explaining our 2 years relationship (work mates + friends)

My passport copy

Sponsorship letter to guarantee all cost of travel and accomodation

Letter from my employer stating work history and salary

Bank book and salary slips copies

Fotos of both of us together (working and at airports in the region)

The bitch at the reception asked him : Is he your sex friend ? If not how come he is sponsoring your application ?

He replied without losing his temper or his smile : maybe he has the money to do it....

She also decided that a few documents were not necessary although I thought they were relevant to the application and she gave them back refusing to keep them with the application folder.

All quite straightforward but an unpleasant experience for the applicant

[sjaak327]

Congratulations.

I will be going to get the third Schengen Visa for my Lao partner in two weeks time (The Netherlands).

My partner has pretty much the same features as the applicant in your case, no assets, no work history, (He is a cook, but worked in Thailand without WP) and when we first applied, an almost empty passport, short from the Lao exit visa (not needed anymore) and Thai entry stamp. Passport was issued a few weeks before. But we had a solid history which I described in the cover letter, including the nature of the relation.

A few questions were asked while we applied (I was there the first time, we are not allowed to be there anymore the second time). Next day, visa approved.

A very simple procedure, no nasty questions or additude. Actually I would go as far as to say, that it was easy. I believe that once you have all the necessary paperwork, and produce a solid cover letter, you stand a good chance to get the visa. Major concern is of course the reason to return issue.

In our case, there wasn't any proof of reason to return, no children, no assets and no work (other then farmer in Laos).

Still the visa was approved. The second 3 month visa (13 weeks after his return to Thailand) was also approved in the same manner. And I'm sure so will the third.

[lotus eater]

Is there some internal coordination in the processing of schengen visa applications with the result that there is the same likelihood of approval or disapproval no matter to which schengen country embassy the application is made?

[Krub]

Is there some internal coordination in the processing of schengen visa applications with the result that there is the same likelihood of approval or disapproval no matter to which schengen country embassy the application is made?

As you know the application form is the same and the requirements are almost identical.

You must apply either at the country of your first entry into the Schengen countries (this will show from your ticket) or at the country where you intend to spend the most time during your stay (this will show either with accomodation sponsorship or hotel reservations, etc.)

Regarding the processing, as far as I know there is none for individual applications as they are processed within 2 or 3 working days making it impossible to have it checked by all Embassies of the Schengen countries.

It is however very likely that they have a list of names/passports of previous refusal cases shared between them (il is only my own thinking).

It is always the first application on an empty first passport which is the most likely to be processed very strictly with second or third visas given much more freely.

One experience in Indonesia of coordination between the Schengen states (I suppose because of the risk of terrorism) is that all approved applications are passed around the other countries before the visa is applied in the passport. It takes minimum 14 days at the quickest before you get any visas in Indonesia.

[takesall]

Is there some internal coordination in the processing of schengen visa applications with the result that there is the same likelihood of approval or disapproval no matter to which schengen country embassy the application is made?

My partner (male) had a very unpleasent refusal form the Belgian Embassy and an R (refusal) stamped in the back of the passport. Reason given for refusal was accomodation booking was 1 day shorter than the visa length requested.

Next day applied to the French Embassy and was granted a Schengen visa 3 days later.

Belgian Embassy is slow, disorganised and at least 2 of the staff are rude and arrogant.

[lotus eater]

Is there some internal coordination in the processing of schengen visa applications with the result that there is the same likelihood of approval or disapproval no matter to which schengen country embassy the application is made?

As you know the application form is the same and the requirements are almost identical.

You must apply either at the country of your first entry into the Schengen countries (this will show from your ticket) or at the country where you intend to spend the most time during your stay (this will show either with accomodation sponsorship or hotel reservations, etc.)

Regarding the processing, as far as I know there is none for individual applications as they are processed within 2 or 3 working days making it impossible to have it checked by all Embassies of the Schengen countries.

It is however very likely that they have a list of names/passports of previous refusal cases shared between them (il is only my own thinking).

It is always the first application on an empty first passport which is the most likely to be processed very strictly with second or third visas given much more freely.

One experience in Indonesia of coordination between the Schengen states (I suppose because of the risk of terrorism) is that all approved applications are passed around the other countries before the visa is applied in the passport. It takes minimum 14 days at the quickest before you get any visas in Indonesia.

Do you think a passport showing travel to a neighbouring s-e asian country like Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia or Singapore would get past this strictest scrutiny (for empty passports)?

Do you think having children in Thailand would in itself provide the necessary evidence of intention to return?

I know you cannot provide definitive answers and I ask only on the off chance you may have come across people whose experien would throw light on these ponts.

I intend to make an application not now but in about a year and want to prepare the ground. (I'd be wanting just a holiday visa for a month or so for my partner; and the application would be to the French embassy.)

[Krub]

Is there some internal coordination in the processing of schengen visa applications with the result that there is the same likelihood of approval or disapproval no matter to which schengen country embassy the application is made?

As you know the application form is the same and the requirements are almost identical.

You must apply either at the country of your first entry into the Schengen countries (this will show from your ticket) or at the country where you intend to spend the most time during your stay (this will show either with accomodation sponsorship or hotel reservations, etc.)

Regarding the processing, as far as I know there is none for individual applications as they are processed within 2 or 3 working days making it impossible to have it checked by all Embassies of the Schengen countries.

It is however very likely that they have a list of names/passports of previous refusal cases shared between them (il is only my own thinking).

It is always the first application on an empty first passport which is the most likely to be processed very strictly with second or third visas given much more freely.

One experience in Indonesia of coordination between the Schengen states (I suppose because of the risk of terrorism) is that all approved applications are passed around the other countries before the visa is applied in the passport. It takes minimum 14 days at the quickest before you get any visas in Indonesia.

Do you think a passport showing travel to a neighbouring s-e asian country like Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia or Singapore would get past this strictest scrutiny (for empty passports)?

Do you think having children in Thailand would in itself provide the necessary evidence of intention to return?

I know you cannot provide definitive answers and I ask only on the off chance you may have come across people whose experien would throw light on these ponts.

I intend to make an application not now but in about a year and want to prepare the ground. (I'd be wanting just a holiday visa for a month or so for my partner; and the application would be to the French embassy.)

Yes definitely YES. If you have the luxury of a year's preparation, make sure you can document your relationship as a sponsor (even for a short term tourist visa). You do not need to specify the kind of relationship in details but it pays to show you do not sponsor the first guy you met 2-3 month before the visa application.

Any reason to come back to Thailand is good to through into the application and having kids can only help. Make sure you have an accomodation perferably local citizen offering free accommodation for the whole stay. Hotels are expensive and must be pre-paid to give you the same strengh as a 'sub-sponsor' in the form of an accommodation sponsorship.

Pictures of you together in different locations (countries, cities think of well known tourist spots easily reginizable or airports, booard pplanes, eating licaly, with other friends, etc.) Also pictures ofhim and you at work or at charity type activities.

As it is not a long term visa they are not trying to establish the strengh of the relationship or its genuiness but you must show them that you are related enough to sponsor him for such a high profile (for an average Thai).For exampleto return a favour he and his family did when your family visited Thailand (with foto 'proof') would be fine but any other likely reason is a plus.

Don't forget letters or 'proof' fromhis work history.

Good luck

[Krub]

Is there some internal coordination in the processing of schengen visa applications with the result that there is the same likelihood of approval or disapproval no matter to which schengen country embassy the application is made?

My partner (male) had a very unpleasent refusal form the Belgian Embassy and an R (refusal) stamped in the back of the passport. Reason given for refusal was accomodation booking was 1 day shorter than the visa length requested.

Next day applied to the French Embassy and was granted a Schengen visa 3 days later.

Belgian Embassy is slow, disorganised and at least 2 of the staff are rude and arrogant.

I only had to deal with one staff (not so young Thai lady at reception).She is not only rude (making direct, crude remarks and suggestions on the possible sexual implications of the applicant and his sponsor, worse she takes out of the prepared application forder some documents she judges not relevant. Doing this she can make or break an appllication as the applicant has no power to insist she keeps it in the folder. She seems to be bitter looking at applicants having sponsors and seems to have her own opinion on the outcome the visa application should have.

It looks like the ECO officers are unaware of this happening/state of affairs