Schengen visa from German embassy

[raro]

Looks like the German embassy scrapped their call center to apply for a visa appointment and replaced it with a website that let's you jump through countless Captchas.

After several hours of either Captcha wrong or server down we gave up.

We will spend also some time in Denmark, actually the vast part of our trip. Can we apply through the Danish embassy? What are the rules?

[raro]

Oh, and we could get easily an invite from Switzerland as my sister in law lives there. Is a Swiss visa accepted in Schengen states?

[Donutz]

You may wish to check the Schengen sticky.

- Where to apply? At the country that is your main destination (ea were you will spent the most days). If there is no such main destination you need to apply at the country that you will enter first.

- Swiss is a Schengen country so...

[raro]

Swiss is Schengen now? I thought they wouldn't join any international treaties...

[Donutz]

They signed up in 2004 and became part of the whole system (visa etc) since 2008.

It is correct that Switserland is not an EU/EEA ( European Union / European Economic Area) member but they did sign up for many important treaties and directives. So they are obligates to follow many EU/EEA rules but without any democratic input via Brussels!

[lostinisaan]

Oh, and we could get easily an invite from Switzerland as my sister in law lives there. Is a Swiss visa accepted in Schengen states?

All four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – have signed agreements on association with the Schengen Agreement, even though they are outside the EU.

Best of luck for both of you.....

[raro]

Aha... Thanks for info.

Interestingly... I just tried to book the appointment from my phone, no problem to get through. Looks like I have to call TRUE rather than the embassy to let off steam...

[lostinisaan]

Aha... Thanks for info.

Interestingly... I just tried to book the appointment from my phone, no problem to get through. Looks like I have to call TRUE rather than the embassy to let off steam...

Please read this: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g188113-i337-k4308590-I_have_a_Schengen_visa_is_it_possible_I_can_go_switzerland-Zurich.html

[raro]

Interesting. I was under the impression that you can travel as you please once you're in. More so, as my wife applies for a 90/180 visa with multiple entries

[Donutz]

Interesting. I was under the impression that you can travel as you please once you're in. More so, as my wife applies for a 90/180 visa with multiple entries

You can, sort of. You have to supply a plan regarding were you will go, and you need to be truthful. But plans can genuinly change, so there won't be any harm in changing your plans if hings simply turn out that way. Besides after crossing the external Schengen area border there aren't many checks (migh run into one due to the asylumseekers). Unless your actual travels raise questions about being hones during your first appliction there shouldn't be anything to worry about. There is no rule in the Schengen Code on Visa that says "thou shall not change thei plans and stick to the scedule evenif the world will come down"... That's just poor explination by the embassy staff quoted on that forum. The first page of that topic really only adds confusion were there should be none to be had. Didn't continue on, the infomation there didn't seem to be written by people who bothered to check the Visa Code and the handbooks that come with it (see the EU Home Affairs website for those).

Edit: I forgot to ask if you happen to be a EU/EEA citizen. If you are, and if your non EU (Thai spouse) joins you on the trip, and you are not visiting you own country but any other memberstate of the EU/EER/Schengen then such a visa will be issued ASAP, free of charge and with minimal hassle/paperwork:

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-family/index_en.htm

These links are in the sticky aswell but some ended up in the incorrect place (I think the link to the Visa Code actually directs to the Freedom of Movement directive for instance... ).

Edited April 19, 2016 by Donutz

[sandyf]

You mention your wife so I assume the visa is for her and as the spouse of an EU national.

I did Germany last year and the process at the embassy is probably the most efficient of the EU countries, we were at the desk for about 7 minutes and the decision is made there and then. Just a question of overcoming the external hurdles.

We also had a problem with the appointment, the girl gave my wife the wrong day or she may have misheard, we got sent away and had to go back. Changing to a web bases appointment system would be a good move provided it works.

As the spouse of an EU national the visa would be completely free for Germany but if you end up with VFS, their processing fee is now 1120 baht.

[theoldgit]

As the spouse of an EU national the visa would be completely free for Germany but if you end up with VFS, their processing fee is now 1120 baht.

That's not correct, the OP is German so, as Donutz has already pointed out, an application for visa via the German Visa Application Centre would not be free.

[sandyf]

As the spouse of an EU national the visa would be completely free for Germany but if you end up with VFS, their processing fee is now 1120 baht.

That's not correct, the OP is German so, as Donutz has already pointed out, an application for visa via the German Visa Application Centre would not be free.

Obviously you would be right. I didn't see anything that indicated the OP was German so apologies for the slip up.

[raro]

Just as an update...whereas the CAPTCHA didn't work at all on the computer, it worked flawless on the mobile phone. Appointment booked and from there on smooth sailing.

I am German indeed and as we are legally married, no visa fee applies.

[KhunBENQ]

Are you referring to this form?:

https://videx.diplo.de/videx/;jsessionid=k4qgt5mt13GP7Z9Jgr-3Ktsd.undefined?0

Interesting to see that they have moved to an internet form (and its multilingual ).

Also good to read about this shortcut which would apply to us even if wife is not too keen on a visit in the "old home".

Swiss, having lived with Thai wife in Germany for long.

In exercising their right to freedom of movement, family members of citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland (spouse, child or dependent direct relative in the ascending line) are not obliged to provide information concerning their employment, reference or the financing of their stay. If you belong to this category and you do not wish to provide any information, please select “Yes”. You must submit documentary evidence of your family relationship.

But still thinking about going to the Swiss for a Schengen visa and travel to Germany with it.

More than good reports about Swiss embassy.

[sandyf]

Are you referring to this form?:

https://videx.diplo.de/videx/;jsessionid=k4qgt5mt13GP7Z9Jgr-3Ktsd.undefined?0

Interesting to see that they have moved to an internet form (and its multilingual ).

Also good to read about this shortcut which would apply to us even if wife is not too keen on a visit in the "old home".

Swiss, having lived with Thai wife in Germany for long.

In exercising their right to freedom of movement, family members of citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland (spouse, child or dependent direct relative in the ascending line) are not obliged to provide information concerning their employment, reference or the financing of their stay. If you belong to this category and you do not wish to provide any information, please select “Yes”. You must submit documentary evidence of your family relationship.

But still thinking about going to the Swiss for a Schengen visa and travel to Germany with it.

More than good reports about Swiss embassy.

Unless they have altered it recently, the videx form made no allowance for the spouse of an EU citizen. I did it last year and reported the matter to both Solvit and German immigration in Berlin. There was no feedback from Solvit but German immigration came back and said I should use the standard paper application form, by the time I got the answer I had been to Germany and back.

I didn't pay for the visa but had to supply the same documents as any other tourist.

[sandyf]

Just as an update...whereas the CAPTCHA didn't work at all on the computer, it worked flawless on the mobile phone. Appointment booked and from there on smooth sailing.

I am German indeed and as we are legally married, no visa fee applies.

I have to say that once inside the German Embassy the system is extremely efficient. I think we were at the desk about 7 minutes, job done. That included checking full documents which hopefully they do not do now for an EU spouse.

All we had to do then was buy an EMS envelope and hand it in at another counter.

[sandyf]

As the spouse of an EU national the visa would be completely free for Germany but if you end up with VFS, their processing fee is now 1120 baht.

That's not correct, the OP is German so, as Donutz has already pointed out, an application for visa via the German Visa Application Centre would not be free.

??

I am German indeed and as we are legally married, no visa fee applies.

[theoldgit]

As the spouse of an EU national the visa would be completely free for Germany but if you end up with VFS, their processing fee is now 1120 baht.

That's not correct, the OP is German so, as Donutz has already pointed out, an application for visa via the German Visa Application Centre would not be free.

??

I am German indeed and as we are legally married, no visa fee applies.

Yes, I worded that badly, the visa is free but I was referring to charge imposed by VFS, but I suspect you realised that.

[sandyf]

As the spouse of an EU national the visa would be completely free for Germany but if you end up with VFS, their processing fee is now 1120 baht.

That's not correct, the OP is German so, as Donutz has already pointed out, an application for visa via the German Visa Application Centre would not be free.

??

I am German indeed and as we are legally married, no visa fee applies.

Yes, I worded that badly, the visa is free but I was referring to charge imposed by VFS, but I suspect you realised that.

There is no VFS for Germany and I had already pointed out that if he did choose another country the VFS charge would be 1120 baht.

So what did I actually state that was incorrect?

[Donutz]

Freedom of Movement rights, including the free visa fee can be applied to citizens of the country that the embassy represents. But they don't have to, and most embassies chose not to. The embassy can also waive fees for other applicant categories, but again most chose not to.