Thai friend in UK - travel to France

[Apostate]

Hi my Thai friend is coming to visit me in the UK.

Will her visitors visa allow her to travel from the UK to France and back (thinking of a few days in Paris)?

Or will she need other documents namely a Schengen Visa?

Thanks

[theoldgit]

She will need a Schengen visa to travel to France, she also needs to ensure that she has a multi entry UK visa to allow her entry back into the UK, they normally are.

[Jip99]

She will need a Schengen visa to travel to France, she also needs to ensure that she has a multi entry UK visa to allow her entry back into the UK, they normally are.

Will she need to get the Schengen in Thailand before she travels to the UK.

I recall being told that a Thai could not get a Schengen whilst in the UK ?

[theoldgit]

What Jipp99 says is correct, she will need to apply for her Schengen Visa in Bangkok.

https://www.tlscontact.com/th2fr/login.php

[Apostate]

Thanks for all your replies

[7by7]

I recall being told that a Thai could not get a Schengen whilst in the UK ?

It depends.

Usually a Schengen visa must be applied for in the applicant's country of nationality or country of residence. So a Thai legally resident in the UK can apply for one in the UK.

However, if the applicant is a qualifying family member of an EEA national, e.g. spouse, and travelling with or to join their EEA national family member then they can apply anywhere, even if they are only a visitor in the country where they submit their application.

So if the lady in question were the OP's qualifying family member she could apply in the UK whilst there as a visitor.

But as she is a friend of the OP, not a family member, then she does have to apply in her country of nationality or residence. Both of which, it seems, are Thailand.

[Donutz]

7by7 is spot on. If the Thai national is the direct or dependent family member of an EU/EEA/swiss national traveling to an other EU country together or joining eachother there one would be entitled to a free visa issued ASAP, with minimal documentation and hassle (sadly not all embassies apply the rules of the EU Freedom of Movement Directive 2004/38 correctly due to ignorance or arrogance). That would include applying from any relevant embassy in the world.

Since the OPs partner is not a spouse or 'durable partner' the above sadly does not apply. Which means she needs to get a regular visa, applying under the regular rules and only from BKK (either directly via the embassy -appointment via e-mail to the embassy- bypassing TLS entirely or by going via VFS for an additional fee).

More on the Schengen visa in the Schengen sticky.

[theoldgit]

Let's not confuse the OP with "what ifs", the applicant is a friend not a family member, as I said in the initial reply, the friend will need to apply in Thailand.

[Apostate]

Thank you for all the replies so far. Couple more questions:

1. what are the financial requirements for (a) Schengen visa and ( UK visa?

2. will a letter from myself guaranteeing I will meet all expenses be enough for either or both?

Thanks

[theoldgit]

If you are providing financial support for your friend visiting you in the UK and then traveling to France then no, a letter from you guaranteeing to meet expenses isn't sufficient, you need to provide evidence of your ability to do so as well as satisfying the decision maker that it's reasonable for you to do so.

For the UK application there are no set figures, it will depend on the actual plans the applicant has for their visit.

For France the applicant needs to provide proof that they meet the subsistence levels, the level would depend on their plans re accommodation, but I think it's in the region of €120 per day. They will also need to provide details of insurance cover, accommodation arrangements and travel out of Schengen.‎

This is the required documentation for a Schengen Visa for France https://fr.tlscontact.com/th/BKK/page.php?pid=toursim