Visa Process For Tgf & Us Citizen To Visit Holland For Short Holiday?

[mjochim]

Hello,

First time post here, although I've been reading the forums for a few months now.

I'm an American citizen, 40 years old. I met my 35-year-old Thai girlfriend during a visit in December/January. We fell madly in love and we have had daily telephone calls since my return to the States (and I've just opened a $9,000 cellular bill -- OUCH!! ). I return to Thailand in early April (23 days to go!) to live with her. We've talked quite a bit about spending our lives together and will look for a house to rent soon after my return. I have no reason to believe things will go sour and am already looking into getting married in Thailand; perhaps later this year...

She is not currently working but has been a food vendor, hotel maid, and motorbike taxi driver in the recent past. When we get settled, she would like to open a small food shop. I will initially be on a double-entry tourist visa so will not be working. I plan to eventually take a TESL certificate course from a school that would help me obtain a work permit and Non-Immigrant visa for a post-graduate teaching position. In the meantime, I have considerable savings with which to support both of us (an inheritance and wrongful death suit); I really don't have to work for years but would get very bored just doing nothing.

I'm fairly certain I will want to take my girlfriend back to the States for at least a short visit later in the year, probably for the Christmas/New Year's holidays. At any rate, the process for that seems rather straightforward with plenty of information found elsewhere on this forum and the 'Net.

But information regarding what I want to attempt seems much more elusive:

I have accommodations/tickets to attend a three-day musical event to be held in The Netherlands early February 2007. I would like to take my girlfriend with me. We would probably fly from Bangkok to Amsterdam, stay in Holland a total of five days, and then return to Bangkok. For an American citizen, I will receive a visa-on-arrival without a problem.

However, I can't seem to find much information about what would be involved for my girlfriend. I don't know if we'll be married by then; in all likelihood we will be, but would the process be any different based on our marital status?

I cannot seem to find a listing for a Dutch embassy in Thailand; there are several lists of Royal Dutch embassies but the closest listed is for Singapore (which seems remarkable to me). Would we have to go to Singapore in order to apply for her visa (make use of one of those Tiger Airways deals)? I know that it's likely a visa application would be denied if you apply outside of your home country....

At any rate, what documentation would be required? Although she does have a bank account, she never can seem to keep much money in there (always sending some to her parents and barely able to make her rent with what's left over each month; I'll be instituting my finance-management skills once I return!). As her previous employment was basically cash transactions only, she doesn't have any wage slips that I'm aware of. Should I simply make sure she gets a proper job with documentation for the next months until this trip? (At least she's never worked in a bar...) Will putting her name on the lease when we rent our home help in this matter?

I apologize for writing too much information and asking too many questions in my first post but I really need to find this out as soon as possible.

Which brings up another question, how long before a holiday-type trip such as this one should I begin the visa application process?

Please help! I'm going bleary-eyed from trying to find the answers by following Google links that don't lead to the information I'm seeking...

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Mark in Albuquerque, New Mexico

[vinny]

Royal Netherlands Embassy Bangkok

[GU22]

I cannot seem to find a listing for a Dutch embassy in Thailand;

Try this Royal Netherlands Embassy Bangkok-Visa application

Self edit:- Vinny types quicker than me, or his search engine works faster!

Edited March 14, 2006 by GU22

[mjochim]

Thanks so much! (Don't know why my Google searches didn't turn up the Dutch embassy in Bangkok )

Another question: what exactly is a "valid Thai residence permit"? Will a rental agreement qualify? (She currently rents a tiny apartment -- cash only so I'm not certain if she has a lease she can show -- and we'll be renting a house together when I get back to Phuket next month. Don't really want to buy a house until I eventually am employed...)

[vinny]

Only citizens of Thailand and citizens of other countries with a valid Thai residence permit can apply for a visa at the Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok

If she is a Thai citizen then she would not have/need a Thai residence permit. She will have her Thai ID, passport and house registration.

[GU22]

Another question: what exactly is a "valid Thai residence permit"?

It says

Only citizens of Thailand and citizens of other countries with a valid Thai residence permit can apply for a visa at the Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok. (my emphasis)

As she is a Thai citizen (presumably) the part I have emphasised doesn't apply to her.

(and the fastest fingure in the west has beaten me to it, again!)

Edited March 14, 2006 by GU22

[mjochim]

Thanks again!

Reading the Dutch Embassy site, it states that the period of validity for the tourist visa once issued is a 14-day window from the date it is issued (at least that's how I understand it).

Does this mean that we have to enter The Netherlands within 14 days of the granting of the visa? That would mean that we would literally have to wait until the last minute before applying -- the site recommends not purchasing her plane ticket until the application has been approved so I certainly wouldn't be able to get a good (i.e., low) airfare... And, what if she's turned down? Not much time to appeal...

[vinny]

I'll let GU22 answer this one.

[GU22]

Reading the Dutch Embassy site, it states that the period of validity for the tourist visa once issued is a 14-day window from the date........Does this mean that we have to enter The Netherlands within 14 days of the granting of the visa?

No. However, entering after the 14 days would decrease the life of the visa.

Departure after 14 days after the date of validity decreases the period of stay.

Reading the site it does appear as if they try to give a decision, and if successful, issue the visa within a few days.

Day 1 : Submit the application.

Day 2 : Contact the Embassy by telephone (02-3095240) from Monday to Friday between 12.00 and 16.00 hrs., to ask about the status of the application.

In case the visa application has been approved, the Embassy staff will state from which date the passport with the requested visa can be collected

However, I see no harm in applying a few weeks early and asking that the visa commence on a specific date.

[LaoPo]

Hi Mark !

I read your post. Applying for a tourist visa for your girlfriend to Holland is a difficult, if not impossible, job...sorry to say that.

You best bet would be to go/talk to a well-informed travelagent in BKK which of the Schengen countries is 'easy' to get a touristvisa from. In that case it will be a so called 'Schengen-visa'.

Maybe you can join a 'tour'-group to another Schengen-country (Germany for instance) ; once you have that you can travel throughout the other S-countries as well, without any problem.

To apply individually (for her) is an almost impossible job (in your case, being American). The Visa-rules for Holland are one of the touchest in Europe and the Dutch Embassy in BKK is quite 'harsh' on giving out visa; most of the time, in case of doubts (guarantee of the girl returning to Thailand) they will ask advise from the so called IND* in Holland, the Immigration Department. And THEY are really sh_t to deal with...believe me, I know

It is, by far, the most complained-about Government Institution in The Netherlands

Also, it might take up to 3 months (in many cases much longer) before you get an answer; positive or genative...

Sorry to tell you this.

* www.ind.nl (also in English)

LaoPo

[vinny]

Talk to Mr. Martinus Arie Pronk, First Secretary (Immigration), at the Embassy, about your concerns and to get an idea of how easy or difficult her application will be.