Hi,

my Thai girlfriend is presently staying with me for 6 months in the UK. Her visit visa runs out on 18 Jan 2011.

I want to take her to Spain for Christmas. We have the flights booked, i have travel insurance for her.

Can I get a Schengen visa for her in London from the Spanish embassy/consulate?

I'm worried because she's not a UK resident. Do I have to apply to the Spanish embassy in Thailand?

If she's here in the UK how can we do it? Now fingerprints are necessary I think?

Many thanks in advance

-Jack

As with most, if not all, Schengen countries, the Spanish say that applicants not resident in the UK should apply at the Embassy in their country of residence, so your girlfriend would not be able to apply in the UK, this is a lift from their (VFS) website:

You must apply in person at the Spain Visa Application Center to lodge your application. If you are not a resident of the UK you should apply at the Embassy in your country of residence.

Whilst they are the published rules others may have been successful in a similar situation to yourselves, I suppose you need to contact them and hope for the best. Good luck, I think you will need it.

http://es.vfsglobal.co.uk/

http://www.maec.es/s...t_services.aspx

Edited November 22, 201015 yr by theoldgit

Thanks.

This is my concern. That line is quite hard to spot. What qualifies as resident? I suppose a UK visit visa doesnt qualify?

I hope someone can tell me what they did in similar circumstances.

Thanks again

As with most, if not all, Schengen countries, the Spanish say that applicants not resident in the UK should apply at the Embassy in their country of residence, so your girlfriend would not be able to apply in the UK, this is a lift from their (VFS) website:

You must apply in person at the Spain Visa Application Center to lodge your application. If you are not a resident of the UK you should apply at the Embassy in your country of residence.

Whilst they are the published rules others may have been successful in a similar situation to yourselves, I suppose you need to contact them and hope for the best. Good luck, I think you will need it.

http://es.vfsglobal.co.uk/

http://www.maec.es/s...t_services.aspx

Just give them a call mate, or a visit in person. I doubt they'll regard her as a UK resident, but if you explain the situation, who knows? By the strict letter of the rules it looks unlikely that they'll grant the visa but it's worth a shot. Worst case scenario, they'll say no, but I think you're kind of expecting that anyway so you'll be pleasantly surprised if they say yes

What qualifies as resident? I suppose a UK visit visa doesnt qualify?

You are, unfortunatly, correct a visit visa doesn't count, she would need to have a stamp in her passport proving she has permission to live in the UK, leave to remain etc.

Is it possible to do an application for a Schengen visa by post?

Thanks

Is it possible to do an application for a Schengen visa by post?

Thanks

Legally? Not outside of the country she is presently in.

Is it possible to do an application for a Schengen visa by post?

Thanks

If you are suggesting send the passport to Thailand for a visa, then no. It is illegal to send passports internationally through the mail. There may also be a further problem now that biometrics ( including fingerprints ) are required. I suppose it would be possible to send the fingers, but I don't think we want to go there ( ways of geting around the problem of biometrics is already big business in parts of the world ! ) .

I want her to keep the fingers. They are very much needed here.

I called the Spain's Edinburgh consulate as they have good reviews. They said no chance.

However when I called the Thai Consulate in Hull they were amazed I couldn't get a visa for her and suggested contacting the Spanish Embassy direct.

The search continues.

Thanks for the new insight into a whole new area of biometrics trickery. Sound reminiscent of James Bond.