Hey guys,

I have been with my girlfriend for the past 3 1/2 years now, and i was planning to make it official next year by us two getting married.

I am English and live here in England currently, but i have been offered a job in Amsterdam, Holland! Will this complicate matters greatly if my girlfriend is applying for a visa to Holland, and i am her sponser, but am not Dutch?

We were looking at a holiday visa first ideally, then move onto something more permanent, when we get permanent!

Cheers!

If it helps I sponsored my girlfriend when she applied for a tourist, Schengen, visa to visit France, and I'm British.

I don't think your nationality matters, just the fact that she can prove that she is being sponsored by somebody who ticks all the boxes.

Your GF can apply and should be able to get a Schengen Visa. However, this will only allow her to stay within the Schengen countries for a maximium of 3 months in any 6 month period. A Schengen Visa is therefore not the perfect solution if you plan to stay together full time in the Netherlands. There may also be difficulties in applying for multiple concurrent Schengen Visas. Suggest you contact the immigration authorities in the Netherlands here http://www.ind.nl/en/ with your question. I am a UK National currently living and working here in the Netherlands, my Thai wife is also here with me. She first came on a Schengen Visa that was then easily upgraded to a Resident Permit. I'm not sure how not being married will be an issue, http://www.ind.nl/en/ will advise.

Edited November 19, 201015 yr by malcolminthemiddle

Your GF can apply and should be able to get a Schengen Visa. However, this will only allow her to stay within the Schengen countries for a maximium of 3 months in any 6 month period. A Schengen Visa is therefore not the perfect solution if you plan to stay together full time in the Netherlands. There may also be difficulties in applying for multiple concurrent Schengen Visas. Suggest you contact the immigration authorities in the Netherlands here http://www.ind.nl/en/ with your question. I am a UK National currently living and working here in the Netherlands, my Thai wife is also here with me. She first came on a Schengen Visa that was then easily upgraded to a Resident Permit. I'm not sure how not being married will be an issue, http://www.ind.nl/en/ will advise.

Brilliant response thanks for taking the time out to answer at length i truly appreciate it!

Also thanks to theoldgit for sharing his experience.

All the best!

Your GF can apply and should be able to get a Schengen Visa. However, this will only allow her to stay within the Schengen countries for a maximium of 3 months in any 6 month period. A Schengen Visa is therefore not the perfect solution if you plan to stay together full time in the Netherlands. There may also be difficulties in applying for multiple concurrent Schengen Visas. Suggest you contact the immigration authorities in the Netherlands here http://www.ind.nl/en/ with your question. I am a UK National currently living and working here in the Netherlands, my Thai wife is also here with me. She first came on a Schengen Visa that was then easily upgraded to a Resident Permit. I'm not sure how not being married will be an issue, http://www.ind.nl/en/ will advise.

Brilliant response thanks for taking the time out to answer at length i truly appreciate it!

Also thanks to theoldgit for sharing his experience.

All the best!

- there's no sense to apply for some concurrent Schengen-Visa as it will be valid for the same area

- maybe you're girlfriend will have to improve she's willing to return to Thailand when applying for the holiday-visa. Future marriage to Europe

might be a no go.

- the upgrade from holiday visa is no longer allowed in some Schengen countries as the change of the reason for issuing the Visa might cancel the

Visa!

- for the marriage: be sure you'll have all the paperwork done (legalisation of the documents, accepted translations )

Maybe you should look up the website of the Dutch embassy in BKK.