My Thai wife and I (I'm British), would like to take a holiday next year, visiting Italy, Switzerland and France. Our intention is to fly into Rome, hire a nice car and drive up via the Italian lakes, over the snowy bits in Switzerland and around France. (I did a similar trip 15 years ago in an open-top sports car and it was memorable).

Previously, the nice chaps at the UK embassy refused my wife a tourist visa because they considered that she would not return to Thailand after our holiday. (Despite her and me being legally married, with business in LoS etc). Thanks guys

So, neither of us are interested in visiting the UK for a holiday

I understand that if my wife obtains a tourist visa to visit Italy, then this will also cover her in other Schengen countries and also in Switzerland. Is that correct?

Does anyone have any experience of obtaining a tourist visa from the Italian embassy in Bangkok? From my previous contacts with Italians and Italians in authority, I cannot imagine that they would make any problems for her.

Any advice is appreciated

Simon

I understand that if my wife obtains a tourist visa to visit Italy, then this will also cover her in other Schengen countries and also in Switzerland. Is that correct?

Switzerland is not a signatory to the Schengen agreement but will allow your wife entry as long as she holds a valid visa for Schengen countries. If you travel to Switzerland in the middle of your trip she should hold a multi entry visa to enable her to re-enter a Schengen state. With a single entry visa she should arrive or leave from Switzerland and travel the Schengen countries from one to another. See Swiss Embassy Bangkok