received multiple entry Schengen

[stevenl]

I just received for my son (who is not officially my son, hence the visa application) his passport with approved visa return from the embassy. We applied for single entry, but received multiple entry 90 days valid till November 2018.

I presume no reason to take action and have the requested visa issued?

[theoldgit]

That's what my girlfriend was given last year, she's entered Schengen four times since she was issued with it.

As a matter of interest which consulate issued that visa?

[stevenl]

That's what my girlfriend was given last year, she's entered Schengen four times since she was issued with it.

As a matter of interest which consulate issued that visa?

Dutch embassy.

Thanks, glad to hear we can use it again in the future. It just looked strange to me, since in the past we were issued with single entry visa for the exact duration of the indicated timeframe for the visit, except for the one time we needed multiple entry.

[theoldgit]

I thought it might have been the Dutch, my girlfriend was also issued with a longer term visa from the Dutch, they certainly seem to take a sensible approach when dealing with family members as she was issued with her visa as the long term unmarried partner of me, an EU National.

I actually spoke to the Consular Officer who I had met at a conference in Rotterdam, she told me that they take the view that it's more cost effective to them to issue a visa to family members for the maximum validity allowed under the Schengen agreement, in particular that a passport must be valid for three months beyond the intended duration of the stay, I understand that member Donutz had a similar conversation with the Dutch consular staff.

Now if only other consular staff would take the same pragmatic approach.