Should i be afraid of this?!

[Jonathang]

Hi, my girlfriend and i are already waiting for over 1 month for our tourist visa. (Belgium)

(the time it takes is around 2 weeks)

She is obsessed with going to Belgium.

 

And im afraid the visa papers are getting used for something.

We got ourself a VFS code to see where the papers are right now. And all im getting right now is Papers are being sent to Bangkok Belgium Embassy.

 

Is it normal that it takes this long for a Tourist visa?!??

Edited June 3, 2017 by Jonathang

[GuiseppeD]

What's the question?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rob13]

15 minutes ago, Jonathang said:

Hi, my girlfriend and i are already waiting for over 1 month for our tourist visa. (Belgium)

 

Did you apply directly to the embassy or go through an agent?

[Jonathang]

If its normal that it takes this long.

 

We did use an agent first, and the agent took 2 weeks. After she went alone to the embassy & after the embassy we are waiting already over 1 month

[cornishcarlos]

Don't be afraid, just go on your own !!!

[Rob13]

30 minutes ago, Jonathang said:

After she went alone to the embassy

Tell her you need to see the receipts and other paperwork the embassy gave her. If she can't you know where the problem lies.

 

Edited June 3, 2017 by Rob13

[jpinx]

So many questions arise.  Why Belgium?  Are you Belgian?  Does she have her "reserve man" in Belgium?  What exactly are you afraid of - see topic?   Why not ask the people you paid the money to as agents for a progress report? 

[Jonathang]

@jpinx   don't think there is another man. But have a feeling its being used for something else. (she is with me every day), and yes I am from Belgium.

@Rob13  will ask now ;edit; She  told me she had to give them all the papers i sent her, and then they will respond back in email (the email contained the code as explained)

Edited June 3, 2017 by Jonathang

[howard ashoul]

I once apllied for a multiple entry thai visa in my country, which should take a 2 working days, and I was waiting for them 4 weeks. Got them day before my flight. My wifes sister applied for a Europe visa and she also waited like 5 time longer than normal expected time.

 

Don't know whats going on with your application, but sometimes it just takes time. Especially when you're taking 3rd world country to 1 st world country... .

Edited June 3, 2017 by howard ashoul

[Donutz]

Jonathan have you read the Schengen sticky topic here and/or the information the Belgium authorities provide (embassy website, DVZ  dienst vreemdelingenzaken)?

 

VfS is just an optional paper pushing service agent. So they wont be able to say anything. The embassy process the visa and decises if they issue a visa or not. If the embassy cannot decide on their own if they should deny or approve the visa it can be handed over to DVZ in Brussels for further review.

 

Standard processing time is maximum 15 calenderdar days. But if further investigation is needes and more files need to be pulles up this can be extenses to 60 calender days.

 

Be aware that embassies, especially during peak seaaon, sometimes may reach the maximum of 15 calenderdar days and tell you it is 15 working days to buy some more time. They know most applicants are too nervous or scared to question the authorities and will buy such nonsense. There is not much you can do anyway. At best you may ask the embassy what is taking them so long after the 15 calender days are up. I would ask the embassy directly, see the embassy website for details. 

 

See what they answer, and then see what your options are. They probably will tell you to wait longer. If you are  annoyed by their answer you can consider a complaint to the Belgian ministry of foreign affairs.

[Donutz]

Not trying to spook you but the Belgians are one of the more difficult member states. The common Schengen refusal rate is 2-3-4 percent. The average is 3% for 2016. The Belgians refuse between 8 and 15 %, last year's average refusal rate for Thailand was 10%. Source: EU Home Affiars.

 

Also, some commenters seem to have some trust issues. Not really helpful for the OP if you ask me... 

[Rob13]

8 hours ago, Jonathang said:

But have a feeling its being used for something else. (she is with me every day), and yes I am from Belgium

 

Visa requirements are open information. Just go on the embassy website or call them and  find out what the visa requirements are. 

[bert bloggs]

I went to Belgium once , it was closed 

[Rob13]

2 minutes ago, bert bloggs said:

I went to Belgium once , it was closed 

 

yeah but the beer's good.

[chickenslegs]

6 hours ago, Donutz said:

...

Also, some commenters seem to have some trust issues. Not really helpful for the OP if you ask me... 

Some commenters may have read the OP's other topic, where he tells of unexplained withdrawals from the cash he loaned her for her application.

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/986249-not-sure-how-to-handle-this-situation/#comment-11950438

Edited June 4, 2017 by chickenslegs

[Donutz]

Belgium requires 95 euro per day per foreigner when staying in a hotel or 45 euro per day per foreigner incase the alien stays with a family, friend or partner (private accomodation). This money needs to clearly belong to the alien and thus not be just borrowed. A sudden lump sum into her account may raise suspicion that the money does not actually belong to her. And that therefore she will not have access to it during her stay in Belgium. 

 

Paying the ticket with it is in theory not an option. On arrival and during her stay the authorities can ask her to show that she has sufficient means of support and means to return to Thailand. For Belgium this is the before mentioned 95/45 euro per day. If there is a sponsor this changes things, but in practise the Belgians want to see that both the alien and sponsor are financially solvable. More (in Dutch) on: http://www.kruispuntmi.be/thema/verblijfsrecht-uitwijzing-reizen/kort-verblijf/kort-verblijf-als-derdelander/welke-documenten-heb-je-nodig-voor-een-visum-voor-een-kort-verblijf#1

 

And also: http://www.kruispuntmi.be/nieuws/verhoging-referentiebedragen-voor-kort-verblijf-van-derdelanders

 

So both by sending a large cash donation and by redrawing the money the Belgians must have raised red flags and be taking a closer look. I am surprised that they have not rejected the visa yet due to failure to comply with the (financial) requirements.

 

Edit: 50.000,- THB is about 1.300,- euro. Divided by 45 this means she has funds for 28,8 days. With this amount of cash she could stay just under a month together with the OP in Belgium.

Edited June 4, 2017 by Donutz

[Rob13]

16 minutes ago, Donutz said:

 

Edit: 50.000,- THB is about 1.300,- euro. Divided by 45 this means she has funds for 28,8 days. With this amount of cash she could stay just under a month together with the OP in Belgium

 

Your other thread makes it sound a bit dodgy.Could all be above board though. Follow your gut. 

[Jonathang]

Hi, thank you all for posting.

 

@Donutz   The money was sent to her for showing that she has that amount. (which she used because she has poor money management levels(she will pay me back)). 

 

For her to get the inv visa.

We needed to get the following:

A: Documents of income (because i would become her 'sponsor' and i would also become responsible if she would get sick that i have enough money) + Bank statements

B: Some sort of residence paper that proves where i live (even had to take pictures of this)

C: Proof of relationship (pictures, conversations, phone-calls)

D: She has to have over 40 000b in her bank account (she had to show her bankbook)

E: Invitation letter + Letter that explains our relationship

 

And even more papers, anyhow the procedure went like this:

Had to go home get all those papers, approve them, send them to her home (took over 1 month)

When i was approving them they told me what the risks were (If she caused any damages etc, that i would be responsible)

After we had all the papers, she went & spoke with somebody at the embassy, she had to give them all the documents.

She had to explain why she wanted to go to Belgium, and how we met etc.

After this conversation the lady that worked there told her its going to be 2 weeks (the 15 days).She would be contacted with e-mail. (she did receive an email with a code in it to follow up the situation).

 

She decides to post 'her story' on facebook, and one of her friends told her 'Her story' of how she is also waiting already over 3 months for her tourist Visa from Belgium.

The last one did raised a red flag. 

 Asking here for advice, if there has been a similar situation. Or if i am overlooking or overthinking this situation (I have always been a negative thinking person).

 

--

 

 

Edited June 4, 2017 by Jonathang

[Donutz]

So you are also her sponsor, having filled in the 3bis"verbintenis tot tenlasteneming" sponsorship form? If your income meets the requirements  (details at the DVZ and Kruispunt websites) the financial affordability should not be an issue. It may then just be the relationship that is causing delays. Belgium prefers to see evidence of a stable and long lasting relationship, a relatively young relationship raises flags with them. This sadly makes things difficult for those who only met their Thai partner less than a year ago and/or only spent weeks together. 

 

The other popular refusal reason is that they are not sufficiently convinced thst she returns back home on time due to lack of connections in Thailand (such as a job to return to). 

 

But all you really can do now is try to contact the embassy and ask what's up. It could still be under review though the vast majority of applications is approved or dismissed within 15 calendar days. But nobody is free from errors so for all we now your application is collecting dust and you may have to remind them that you are still waiting for a decision. 

 

To be frank, the signs so far are not positive so prepare for a dissapointing result. But you won't know for sure untill you get the result, it can still approved.

 

If it is rejected you can appeal as any new application could be tossed out in an instant by referring back to the rejected application as long as the situation has not evidently changed. You may wish to consult an immigration lawyer from Belgium for this. Keep in mind that your girl is the applicant, if Belgium has subsidized or pro bono lawyers for people wity low income she should be able to use such facilities. Best to just call 2 or three lawyers and inquire about your options