Taking Thai GF to france/germany from UK

[dnrc]

have had a good read about this but just want to clarify some points

going to thailand tomorrow to visit the girlfriend, she previously visited the uk last year and we are going to apply for another visa while i am there for a visit in the summer.

Q1 - I can apply to back date her visa for a few months right? where should i specify this on the application?

when she comes we want to go for a break to france/belgium/germany for a week or so.

Q2 - do we have to apply in thailand for the shengzen visa or can she do it when she is in the uk?

Reason i ask is because i would have left by the time she hopefully gets her uk visa and she would have to then arrange the other visa herself between getting the uk one and coming over here.

Q3 - Would she have to show a pre-booked holiday to europe? we are going to get a ferry in july, stop in bruges for a night, germany for a few nights then back to paris on the way home to the uk.

i see i should probably apply to france for he visa but see they can be funny about going other places as well as france for large portions of the trip.

Q4 - would france be the best place to apply to?

Thanks.

[Donutz]

You may wish to check the Schengen sticky near the top of the forum:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724180-schengen-visa-faq-when-applying-from-thailand/

A1: You can apply up to 3 months in advance of the intended travel date. Just as with UK visas.

A2: Generally yes, as you need to apply from the country which you are either a national of or have long term residency. In cases of emergency or when it would be considered unreasonable you could apply from elsewhere though. It would be up to the embassy to decide if an application elsewhere would be reasonable or if the applicant simply failed to plan and prepare properly and should (must) apply from -in this case- Thailand.

A3: She would have to show how she plans on entering the Schengen area (often from TH to EU or in this case possibly from within the EU (UK) to a Schengenmember), show accomodation and an initiary of her plans. She'd be accompanying you so you could cover this together. I assume you'd be staying in hotels or other such places. Ofcourse private accomodation would also be fine if you'd happen to have friends or relatives who are willing to provide this.

A4: There is no "best place" , as she would need to apply at the Schengen embassy of the country which is her main destination (where she will stay the longest). if that cannot be decided, then apply at the embassy of the country that is one will visit first.

If you are wondering which embassies are a bit uptight, difficult, tw*ts or which embassies are friendly and helpfull: even though the general rules are the same, when it comes to tourist visas, the French and Spanish tend to be more difficult then say the Dutch or Germans, if the experience on this forum shared by various users is a good indication.