Schengen Question

[vulcan903]

Sorry but I can't find the exact answer looking at other posts.

I plan to bring my Thai GF over again to the UK for the summer on a 6 month visit visa. I would like to take her to France to see her mate and also I would like to go to Norway to see the midnight sun in June.

The way I see it for Schengen, we have to have the UK visa first in her passport. Then apply in Thailand only for France and Norway. Usually we lose a month on the UK visa as they start the visa in the month of the application though I ask for a post dated visa. So if we apply for France and Norway that could take a futher two months thus 3 months lost and indeed the midnight sun in Norway will have long gone by the time she gets to the UK.

Thats the process right....?

That being the case she does not want to see her friend in France and will just come to the UK so she gets longer with me. Seems the EU have missed a trick here as this is putting me off visiting the EU and not spending much needed tourist euros?

vulc

[Donutz]

It's generally best to get the main visa (in this case UK visa) first, and then apply for the secondairy visa (in this case Schengen visa). But their is no obligation to do so, if you think you will run short on time for the Schengen visa, you could apply for this first and include an explanation about your plans (will visit France, Norway, will apply for UK visa but we cannot do so right now so we apply for the Schengen first, blablabla) . If you include the other required evidence such as hotel bookings, evidence that shows strong ties to Thailand (reasons to return) etc. you should be fine. But if the UK visa would be denied this would mean she could visit the Schengen area but not the UK.

Both for a UK visa and Schengen you can apply 3 months before the intended date of travel, so that should give you plenty of time to arrange both? Even if you'd hop over to Schengen after 2 months in the UK you could apply for the UK visa 3 months in advance, and two months later (1 month before heading to the UK, 3 months before the mainland trip) apply for the Schengen visa. Now if she would come to the UK for 6 months and you'd wish to visit Schengen near the end or after 6 months, then you could not apply for the Schengen yet. Though you could then consult the Schengen embassy in the UK and ask if they allow her to apply from there (no guarantees but they should consider it and see if it would be unreasonable to tell you to apply from TH instead, which I think it would be...).

Seems the EU have missed a trick here as this is putting me off visiting the EU and not spending much needed tourist euros?

Not sure what you mean, last time I checked the UK was in the EU (Norway isn't, it's an EEA member though and member of the Schengen agreement). That the UK and most of the rest of Europe have separated visas isn't the EU's fault, the UK doesn't wish (yet?) to join the common Schengen area or alternatively an agreement that Schengen countries allow entry on UK visas and vice-versa.

I'd love to see the day that my wife could hop the Channel to spend some GBP on her Dutch residence permit (or previously on her Schengen visas). No such luck, and yet this does put us off from visiting the UK, guess Downing street doesn't want mainland non-EU tourists to spend some Pounds.

Note that spouses of EU citizens should be able to gain entry at the border of the UK-Schengen if they manage to prove they are family of an EU citizen and visiting an other EU/EEA country then the one the EU person is a national of, though even they are advised to get a (free, accelerated procedure) visa in advance..