Recent experiences getting Schengen visa

Sinbad said:
I can't even get a ****ing appointment with VFS in london.
Click to expand...
See my Orange Carpet posts in the UK immigration thread.

You can forget about getting a VFS appointment in the UK in the foreseeable future.
 
I am planning to go to Spain spur of the moment, I have not bought the tickets yet but have an appointment at the Spanish Agency in Cape Town on 5 September 2023, I then have exactly 13 working days before I fly out.

Has anyone had recent experience with them? If it is iffy then I will not book the flight tickets.
 
Or what is the quickest that you have got your Schengen recently from any country?
 
Tman* said:
See my Orange Carpet posts in the UK immigration thread.

You can forget about getting a VFS appointment in the UK in the foreseeable future.
Click to expand...
For the record we got it done by paying for the premium service and having an official come out to our house to do all the stuff here.

Was a bit more expensive, but cheaper than taking a day's leave and going up to London when you work it out...
 
Sinbad said:
For the record we got it done by paying for the premium service and having an official come out to our house to do all the stuff here.

Was a bit more expensive, but cheaper than taking a day's leave and going up to London when you work it out...
Click to expand...
I did this in October 2022. Cost me £400 (Spain) and I got a 6 month visa.
 
Tman* said:
I did this in October 2022. Cost me £400 (Spain) and I got a 6 month visa.
Click to expand...
I think it came to nearly £500.
Also 6 months... Grrrr.
This visa thing is such a money making racket.
 
bokka1 said:
I am planning to go to Spain spur of the moment, I have not bought the tickets yet but have an appointment at the Spanish Agency in Cape Town on 5 September 2023, I then have exactly 13 working days before I fly out.

Has anyone had recent experience with them? If it is iffy then I will not book the flight tickets.
Click to expand...

I was at that CT venue last year and received a visa within 7 working days.
 
bokka1 said:
I have not bought the tickets yet
Click to expand...

Remember to sign up for travel insurance beforehand, or at the same time as booking your flights.

Please help me read for meaning :D

Since the words comprehend and comprehension have been wiped off the face of the earth, please help me read for meaning. Back Story: When I applied last week for travel insurance the policy stipulated the ticket had to be purchased 48 hours prior to taking out insurance. My ticket was bought 3...
mybroadband.co.za
 
Update: I bought my tickets to Spain on 4 September, went for my Schengen on 5 September, received it today, I am flying out this Sunday. My nerves were shot with this one.

My wife got a 4 month visa, I got an 18 month one. Same motivation letter, same application. :)
 
bokka1 said:
Update: I bought my tickets to Spain on 4 September, went for my Schengen on 5 September, received it today, I am flying out this Sunday. My nerves were shot with this one.

My wife got a 4 month visa, I got an 18 month one. Same motivation letter, same application. :)
Click to expand...
How bizzare.. my wife got a year I got two years for Portugal so cant complain...
 
How does a one year multiple entry Schengen Visa work if you are doing different trips where your time is in different countries? Do you have to re-apply to the new country even though your Schengen is till valid because your entry country / longest stay country is different on the next trip?? If so, seems moronic.
 
Just received my Spanish VISA yesterday in Cape Town. Took 15 days from my appointment until I could collect.

Make sure you have everything on the Checklist when you go for the meeting. DO NOT Leave if there is something outstanding - the call center sits in India and when you can understand them, they prove useless because they can't confirm anything. Basically, there might as well not be a call center!

I had to email the letter confirming Travel Insurance because they didn't want the actual policy (which I had on hand) and the email address they gave me didn't work. Other than then actually going in again, you have no way to sort it out.

The tracking on the BLS website is just BS. It tells you basically nothing so you just wait and hope.
 
MrGray said:
How does a one year multiple entry Schengen Visa work if you are doing different trips where your time is in different countries? Do you have to re-apply to the new country even though your Schengen is till valid because your entry country / longest stay country is different on the next trip?? If so, seems moronic.
Click to expand...

No you don't need to reapply as long as it is valid you can enter any Schengen country.
 
bokka1 said:
My wife got a 4 month visa, I got an 18 month one. Same motivation letter, same application. :)
Click to expand...
I believe it depends on how many prior visas you've had and in what period. If you've had more valid visas to the EU in the last two years than her then it would explain it.
 
MrGray said:
I believe it depends on how many prior visas you've had and in what period. If you've had more valid visas to the EU in the last two years than her then it would explain it.
Click to expand...

I have never been without her, I got one year last year and she only got for that trip, but in her passport was a pencil note from the German Consulate that they could not grant her a longer one as her passport was expiring.

My new Schengen is till three months before my passport expire in 2025.

She applied for a new passport and I made certified copies of the Schengens she received since 2019 and included it with this application, maybe they did not look at that.
 
MrGray said:
I believe it depends on how many prior visas you've had and in what period. If you've had more valid visas to the EU in the last two years than her then it would explain it.
Click to expand...
My wife and I have exactly the same amount of VISAs and did the same applications etc but mine are always double her time.
 
Snyper564 said:
My wife and I have exactly the same amount of VISAs and did the same applications etc but mine are always double her time.
Click to expand...

Do you include her as a housewife and then use your bank statements? I suspect that this can also play a role.
 
bokka1 said:
Do you include her as a housewife and then use your bank statements? I suspect that this can also play a role.
Click to expand...
Nope she has her own business sometimes exceeds my income. Provided two sets of bank accounts.

Historically when she was employed though and applied at the same time she was also granted half of mine two sep sets of accs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X