Hello,

Was told of this forum via another one.

I have a current Taiwan/ROC passport, here in Thailand on a 90-day non-immigrant B visa (single entry), and scheduled to apply for a work permit within that time frame.

I would like to visit Europe, but was advised when I visited the French visa section that I need to apply for my Schengen visa in Taiwan, as I was in Thailand at that time with an arrival visa. I was not told exactly why...other than the hint that it was a permanent residency issue.

Would having my non-immigrant B visa allow me to get a Schengen visa? Or after I get my work permit? Would that clear up the residency issue? Or do I have get my Schengen visa in Taiwan no matter what, due to the rather politically sensitive issue of Taiwan/China?

Or should I just contact the French visa section for more clarification? Any other Schengen embassies in Bangkok that seem to be more friendly? Are Schengen visa policies uniformly enforced for all countries?

Thanks.

Dave

As far as I'm aware, the difficulty lies with your residency. Once you can demonstrate that you live in Thailand, the relevant embassy should more readily accept your visa application.

Scouse.

As far as I'm aware, the difficulty lies with your residency. Once you can demonstrate that you live in Thailand, the relevant embassy should more readily accept your visa application.

Scouse.

That's what I thought...so I walked over to the Belgium embassy and French visa office this morning and asked.

As long as I have documents that are valid at least 3 months after the end of the planned journey, I should be good to go. So "work permit + non-immigrant visa" = residence in their procedures.

Thanks for the feedback.