Thai male friend and I (Australian) have 'done' Thailand and thinking of visiting a few European countries this November.

Two questions:

1) If we fly BKK to Paris to London to Switzerland to Rome to Paris and back to BKK, do we need to get separate visas for each of the countries or will we need a combination of visas and a Schengen visa?

2) Just looking through the UK Visitors Visa (VAF1-Guidance Notes) and I am a bit concerned by Question 5.2 Have you ever been refused a visa for any country, including the UK?. In his case he applied for an Australian Tourist Visa in August last year and was knocked back. I want an honest application. Will answering YES to this question harm his chances of getting a UK Visit Visa?

Peter

Peter,

Your friend should declare his Australian visa refusal as failure to do so is likely to cause additional problens should the british embassy otherwise find out.

That he has been refused a visa for Australia does not automatically consign his UK application to the same fate. A lot will depend upon the circumstances, and what is noteworthy is that you will be travelling to a country where you too will be a visitor, so, I would suggest, there is less reason to think that your friend will be an immigration problem.

Scouse.

Thai male friend and I (Australian) have 'done' Thailand and thinking of visiting a few European countries this November.

1) If we fly BKK to Paris to London to Switzerland to Rome to Paris and back to BKK, do we need to get separate visas for each of the countries or will we need a combination of visas and a Schengen visa?

The Thai passport holder will need a visa for UK and, in order to tour the countries you name, a Schengen visa which would allow entry into the other countries. He should apply at the French embassy in Bangkok (if he is resident in Thailand)

Switzerland is not part of the Schengen agreement but allows holders of a valid Schengen visa freedom to pass through Switzerland.

As your schedule shows you intend entering Europe from a non Schengen state on at least two occasions he should obtain a multiple entry Schengen visa.