If you make an appointment to submit your visa application make sure you are prepared for a very long wait appointment time 1:45 got seen at 17:25 then to be told that they wanted an invoice for the cost of flights which is not in the list of documents required.

Suspect they are being bloody minded, whilst they ask for details of the ticket, as you say they don't ask for an invoice, they specifically advise against actually buying a ticket, but they do reserve the right to see the ticket before the visa is issued.

Suspect they are being bloody minded, whilst they ask for details of the ticket, as you say they don't ask for an invoice, they specifically advise against actually buying a ticket, but they do reserve the right to see the ticket before the visa is issued.

I printed off the flight tickets but they still wanted to have the invoice (she wanted prove that they had been paid) which we then had to use the internet there to print them at a charge of £4 for 30 minutes and 25p for printing which OK is not very much money but it was an expense which was not required by the own document requirements

From your previous posts I assume that you are British; or at least an EEA national.

In which case, provided your wife is travelling with or to join you, airline tickets, hotel bookings etc. are not required; although as she needs to show that she is travelling with or to join you, then tickets is one way of doing so.

The invoice, though, most certainly is not.

Neither did she need to apply via VFS and pay them any handling fees; she has the right to apply direct to the embassy and the visa should be free.

I think a complaint to SOLVIT is in order.

- For a Schengen Visa you indeed do not have to buy a ticket, a flight reservation or flight option is sufficient. Saves the applicant from losing money if the visa is not granted. Various airliners or booking agencies may offer a free reservation/option on a ticket (which will expire after X days, a week for example). So there certainly is no need to show you bought any tickets, any Schengen embassy should know this. and VFS? They are incompetent BLEEPs. Edit: competent embassies explicitly state you are advised not to buy airplane tickets, hotels and other bookings but just reservations/initiaries. Providing an actual ticket is not a requirement for the application -as per Visa Code-, though some wish to see the ticket(s) if the visa is granted.

- Lucky for a Schengen Visa you do NOT have to go through an external service provider such as VFS or TLS. The embassy should state that you are entitled to a direct application, without ever bothering with incompent external service providers or service fees. If you have been directed to VFS explicitly or due to misleading instructions then you could sent a complaint (and ask the extra costs -such as the service fee- back) to the embassy and/or Min. Of Foreign Affairs and/or Solvit. This is covered in article 17 of the Schengen Code on Visa. There should be a clear and genuine choice to optionally go to a service provider rather then a direct application at a Schengen embassy.

- If you as an EU/EEA citizen are going to an other country then your own traveling together with a non-EU family member (spouse, children) they are entitled to a free visa, issued swiftely and with minimum hassle. Basically a marriage certificate (for spouse) or birthcertificate (children) should be sufficient. No need for insurance, hotelbookings etc.

You may wish to read this topic aswell:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/703486-spanish-schengen-visa-new-rule/?view=getnewpost