Schengen Visa For Spain. Need To Prebook Flights?

[baannambua]

Firstly sorry as I know this has been done to death. I have been reading all morning but couldn't find what I was looking for.

The wife and I are looking to go to Spain at some point this summer. I am a UK citzen, she is here in the UK with me on an FLR (Future Leave to Remain) and has another year left on it. Do we need to book a flight first so we can show that she has a return date to fly back to the UK?

Also we have an English copy of our marriage certificate. Is this enough? Do I just need to book an appointment with the Spanish Embassy? Any ideas how long it will take from the appointment date to the ganting of the visa ?

Thanks for any help with this

[baannambua]

Also do we need to have the marriage certificate legalised? We used the copy we have now to get her FLR visa at the UK border agency.

[ALFREDO]

A flight reservation including return, presented to the Embassy-Consualar Section is enough, no need to buy the flight beforehand!

Normal Schengen Visa need usual at least two days, some days, a week, up to some weeks.

But you are already married, I do not know any specifications for that.

[baannambua]

Thanks for the reply. So I can just pay a deposit toward a holiday and show the preposed itinerary? Can she apply online or do you book an appointment at the embassy or consulate? Thans aain

[wooloomooloo]

You don't need any to show any reservation for a holiday.

[Bpuumike]

You need to apply online for an appointment and they will email a date and time back to you.

They seem to operate on 'Spanish' time and I don't think it matters so long as you get there before noon.

[baannambua]

Thanks for the info there. So should I just get the application form online,print it and fill it in. Then take it to the appointment at the embassy? Along with any neccessary documents. Cheers again.

[MJCM]

You don't need any to show any reservation for a holiday.

This completely depends on the Embassy where you are applying !!

Some require even insurance (which must be valid for the entire trip)

My advice would be, talk to the embassy and ask what the requirements are.

Edit: // Added PS:

PS

Spanish tourist visa is issued for a short time of leisure travel and no business activities allowed.

• Fully completed visa application form for Spain and required declaration
• Passport size photographs
• Valid national passport and one copy
• Original of valid visa if you are national of another country and one copy
• Your current bank statement and one copy
• Confirmation letter from your travel health insurance stating the coverage and one copy
• Reference letter from your employer or education establishment
• Proof of group travel/ hotel reservation in Spain / airline ticket reservation for Spain and one copy
• Visa fees for Spanish visa

Please click on Spanish visa requirments to check if you need a tourist visa to travel to Spain or the current visitor visa requirements for Spain.

Link: http://spain.embassyhomepage.com/spanish_visa_information_spain_visa_service_cheap_flights_spain_hotels_madrid_travel_insurance_spain_embassy_london.htm#tourist-visa

Edited June 3, 2013 by MJCM

[7by7]

Check carefully what is required; as the wife of an EEA national who is travelling with her EEA national husband; most of the requirements in the above post wont apply to her.

The links in the above post are to commercial sites.

This is the link to the Spanish visa application site in London.

But depending on where you live, she may need to apply to Edinburgh.

See here.

Edited June 3, 2013 by 7by7

[jpinx]

Check carefully what is required; as the wife of an EEA national who is travelling with her EEA national husband; most of the requirements in the above post wont apply to her.

The links in the above post are to commercial sites.

This is the link to the Spanish visa application site in London.

But depending on where you live, she may need to apply to Edinburgh.

See here.

Ya gotta love the spaniards for recognising everything down to Cheshire as "Scottish"

[baannambua]

I live in North Wales. Does it mean we have to travel to Edinburgh? Manchester or Liverpool are alot easier to travel to. do I need to contact the Spanish Embassy or Consulate? Seems there are no set ways of how to get this visa. Everyones story seems differant.

So step 1 get the application form, fill it out accordingly. Step 2 send it off? Or take it to them once an appontment is booked?

[baannambua]

Just been reading the website. Do we have to travel to London for the appointment? Is there no other way?

[ALFREDO]

Sorry, I have no idea from Spanish Schengen Visa circumstances and also not from he special "treatment" of Thais who are married to an English man.

I would suggest, to call the Main Consular section of Spain in Great Britain and ask, or send e.mail.

Cheers Alfred

Edited June 3, 2013 by ALFREDO

[malct]

we went to Edinburgh, it was a nightmare sorting out the Wifes Visa, We paid for the holiday, bought her insurance which you need a certain amount of cover, plus it needs quoted that if she dies, the insurance will fly her out of Spain.

Because it stated about bank statements and my wife did not have a UK bank, I informed them about this and they told me that she would not be able to get a visa and that there was no need for us to attend and to cancel the appointment. After seekng advice from this forum, I was given this link on My rights http://www.yourrights.org.uk/yourrights/rights-of-immigrants/european-union-nationalisits-and-european-union-assiations-agreements/european

I informed the Spanish consulate of my rights and told me to re-book an appointment and submit the paperwork. When we arrived at Spanish consulate, i was allowed in and they went through the paperwork and informed me that i needed a photo copy of my passport telling me that there was a place over the road charging £10 a copy. (what narked me was the fact that there was a photo copy machine in the office which they would not use for us. I ended up going to the bank and getting a copy of my passport there.

On our return to the Spanish consulate, I was told that i was not welcome and had to leave my wife with the not so happy consulate people.

This was the tread that i started in Mov 2011

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/511508-need-to-show-money-in-bank-account-for-schengen-visa/

Next time i will travel to the Spanish consulate in Manchester.

[baannambua]

Thanks Malct. Interesting reading. So you went to Edinburgh and it was a nightmare.

So next time You will go to Manchester? You think I can just book an appointment in Manchester rather than going all the way to London or Edinburgh?

Think I will just go with as much documentation as possible, marriage certificates, bank statments and upto date passport photos. And a folder for each, one with photocopies and one with originals.

Don't really want to book a flight or anything until the visa is issued. Worried I might book it and then they start messing about and we could end up losing out on the holiday alltogether if they don't grant the visa in time.

After all the fuss they did grant your wife the visa?

[malct]

I was told that i could have gone to Manchester but just checked the web and found this http://www.antonioguillen.co.uk/2011/08/the-spanish-consulate-in-manchester-has-closed-now-what/

Edited June 4, 2013 by malct

[7by7]

Sorry, I have no idea from Spanish Schengen Visa circumstances and also not from he special "treatment" of Thais who are married to an English man.

Thais who are married to an Englishman do not get special treatment.

Any non EEA national who is married to an EEA national has the same freedom of movement rights within the EEA as their EEA national spouse; provided they are travelling with or to join their spouse.

Other qualifying family members have the same right.

Note that these rights do not apply if they wish to enter the country of which their spouse is a citizen.

[ALFREDO]

Thais who are married to an Englishman do not get special treatment

Interesting, but had -malct- and -baannambua- not a lot of hurdles to jump to get the VIsa for their spouses?

Bit "incomprehensible"!

Edited June 4, 2013 by ALFREDO

[7by7]

It appears that they did; because the Spanish were not applying the regulations correctly!