Wondering if anyone else has experience with this.

I am American citizen living in Thailand on Marriage visa, wife is Thai.  We want to go to Italy and France.  For Americans, no problem.  Just land and enter.  For my wife differnet story.  She has a 10 year tourist visa to American already in her passport allowing us to travel back and forth without issues.  Is there a way for us to apply together so she can benefit from being married to an American.  We are both retired.  

 

Any other Americans tried to bring there Thia wives to Europe. What was your experience and what is the best way to do it.  Out last city in America with be DC, so its a short flight to France or Italy.

No in a word, as you say as an American citizen you don't need a visa, your wife will need to apply for a Schengen Visa.

She should apply via the Consulate that has jurisdiction for the port of entry in the Schengen Area or of the Member State where she intends to stay longest.

She will need to provide evidence of affordability, insurance and your travel plans, as a US visa holder she shouldn't have a problem.

There's more details in the pinned topic, written by Donutz, had the top of the forum.

 

 

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Schengen Visa exempt nationals such as US citizens still need to meet certain entry requirements. You will not need a visa but you are required:

 

1) to have sufficient funds (be able to afford the trip, exact requirements are different for each Schengen member state but range from roughly 20 to 100+ euro per person per day).

2) genuine travel goal and reasons to return  (there should be no real risk if overstay but that you are here for genuine purposes and short term only)

3) medical travel insurance 

4) a valid passport (valid for 3+ months after you intend to leave the Schengen area)

5) not a rush to national security or in an international wanted list etc. 

 

Your wife will need to proof more or less the same but she will need to get a visa. She will apply at the country that is your main destination (where do you stay the longest?), if there is no clear main destination you apply at the country of first entry.

 

If your wife shows her us visa and evidence if trips to (western) countries that goes a long way in showing she is unlikely to overstay (become an illegal resident). She can ofcourse point out that she travels with you in her supporting letter. Just include a 1 page letter in which you (she) explains why she wants to visit, for how long, that she travels with you (add your passport copy) and any explanation on the supporting evidence in regards of reasons to return etc.

 

More info in the Schengen sticky. If you still have questions, let us know. :)