Visa help please

[jamacouve]

Hey guys,

Okay before I start I realise this may be part my fault but I'm posting here to try and find some helpful information rather than read unnecessary posts.

Long story short I am meant to be leaving to the UK next week Friday then from there I am going to Europe.

I went and handed my passport in at the UK Visa's and immigration last week Wednesday and I am waiting for it to return then I have to apply for my Schengen one.

Now firstly this is my first time ever travelling only being 22 so I figured that the travel agency we are going through would have thought of all of this and known when to start applying etc.

What options do I have if I don't get both VISA's in time ?

I have booked my Contiki, my flights , accommodation in the UK.

I'm stressing my ass off.

 

[*SynergyX*]

well thats a stuff up... you can apply for emergency schengen visa.
but that has a lot of terms and conditions attached to it.

 

[Kornhub]

What have the travel agency said? Also pretty sure the terms and conditions put the whole visa thing on you :/

 

[The_MAC]

Not good man.

When you say travel agency, you mean the ones organising the logistics, not a Visa Agency?

Did you apply for your Visas (UK and Schengen) in your private capacity or via an Agency?

 

[bwana]

Which Schengen country are you visiting first? My wife got her passport returned the next day with the visa from the French consulate in Cape Town.

 

[jamacouve]

Travel agency I mean the lady I went to to organise the contiki and flights etc. I am going into France first and I have heard they take 48 hours to get the VISA done. But then again this travel agent told me the UK one would take 5 days and when I went there they told me 15 working days :/.

If I receive my passport back today or tomorrow I should be okay if the French one does only take 2 days.

Agency booked all the flights and trips and I had to do the VISA's

 

[bwana]

Travel agency I mean the lady I went to to organise the contiki and flights etc. I am going into France first and I have heard they take 48 hours to get the VISA done. But then again this travel agent told me the UK one would take 5 days and when I went there they told me 15 working days :/.

If I receive my passport back today or tomorrow I should be okay if the French one does only take 2 days.

Agency booked all the flights and trips and I had to do the VISA's

Yeah - the UK visa can take a while. IIRC you can monitor its progress via sms?

 

[Brawler]

Wow. Rookie error of note. It makes me wonder if you have sorted other important aspects of your trip?

Travel insurance?
How are you going to be paying for things?

UK visa takes about 2 weeks. Contact them and ask for them to expedite it (emergency visa). It is quite a lot more expensive.

 

[TheGrove]

Travel agency I mean the lady I went to to organise the contiki and flights etc. I am going into France first and I have heard they take 48 hours to get the VISA done. But then again this travel agent told me the UK one would take 5 days and when I went there they told me 15 working days :/.

If I receive my passport back today or tomorrow I should be okay if the French one does only take 2 days.

Agency booked all the flights and trips and I had to do the VISA's

I was told 2 weeks for my UK visa, had it back in 3 working days, so suppose it can be done a bit quicker just depends on the work load I suppose.

 

[The_MAC]

Travel agency I mean the lady I went to to organise the contiki and flights etc. I am going into France first and I have heard they take 48 hours to get the VISA done. But then again this travel agent told me the UK one would take 5 days and when I went there they told me 15 working days :/.

If I receive my passport back today or tomorrow I should be okay if the French one does only take 2 days.

Agency booked all the flights and trips and I had to do the VISA's

Make sure you apply for Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa if you are leaving and entering the Schengen states more than once i.e. From France (or any other Schengen) into the UK and then back again into Schengen

 

[TheGrove]

Wow. Rookie error of note. It makes me wonder if you have sorted other important aspects of your trip?

Travel insurance?
How are you going to be paying for things?

UK visa takes about 2 weeks. Contact them and ask for them to expedite it (emergency visa). It is quite a lot more expensive.

I don't think you can expedite it after the fact, you need to select that option and pay for it before submitting the application. I found this out the hard way.

 

[Brawler]

I don't think you can expedite it after the fact, you need to select that option and pay for it before submitting the application. I found this out the hard way.

He should try anyway. Otherwise he or she is not going anywhere...

 

[Emjay]

Wow. Rookie error of note. It makes me wonder if you have sorted other important aspects of your trip?

Travel insurance?
How are you going to be paying for things?

UK visa takes about 2 weeks. Contact them and ask for them to expedite it (emergency visa). It is quite a lot more expensive.

Shame - cut him some slack. If he has no one assisting him, international travel can be quite a minefield. But, not confirming expectations can cause huge issues and incur some very expensive school fees.

Good luck. Let us know how it pans out.

 

[jamacouve]

Wow. Rookie error of note. It makes me wonder if you have sorted other important aspects of your trip?

Travel insurance?
How are you going to be paying for things?

UK visa takes about 2 weeks. Contact them and ask for them to expedite it (emergency visa). It is quite a lot more expensive.

Everything else is taken care of. Just this issue. Is it possible to expedite so late though ?

 

[jamacouve]

Yeah I've filled out the docs for Schengen and have done so thank you.

 

[jamacouve]

Shame - cut him some slack. If he has no one assisting him, international travel can be quite a minefield. But, not confirming expectations can cause huge issues and incur some very expensive school fees.

Good luck. Let us know how it pans out.

Thank you I appreciate it and will let you know.

 

[Brawler]

Shame - cut him some slack. If he has no one assisting him, international travel can be quite a minefield. But, not confirming expectations can cause huge issues and incur some very expensive school fees.

Good luck. Let us know how it pans out.

I wasn't being ugly, wake up call maybe. Would you prefer if I say "shame poor guy" and not mention the other important things to consider?

iirc, there was another thread where visas were mentioned.

 

[Brawler]

Everything else is taken care of. Just this issue. Is it possible to expedite so late though ?

I am not sure but I have heard from other people that things can be done. Visas in 24 hours etc. Act now.

 

[Pitbull]

Hey guys,

Okay before I start I realise this may be part my fault but I'm posting here to try and find some helpful informations rather than read unneccesary posts.

Long story short I am meant to be leaving to the UK next week Friday then from there I am going to Europe.

I went and handed my passport in at the UK Visa's and immigration last week Wednesday and I am waiting for it to return then I have to apply for m Schengen.

Now firstly this is my first time ever travelling only being 22 so I figured that the travel agency we are going through would have though of all of this and known when to start applying etc.

What options do I have if I don't get both VISA's in time ?

I have booked my Contiki, my flights , accomodation in the UK.

I'm stressing my ass off.

Don't stress about it.

They needed copies of your bookings for the application right? They know when you're flying and you'll get it in time unless something unpredictable happens in the next few days. Not all is lost, you still have till next week Thursday. So chill your tits

 

[Emjay]

I wouldn't be able to relax at this point. I am flying to Manila on Sunday (no visa required), and I am stressing like a crazy person. First trip to an Asian country. I am usually a stress ball until the day I leave. Need to triple check everything, and ask a million questions. If this were me, I would be at the embassy until I got firm answers.

I would make a few calls to confirm and discuss options. I really hope it gets sorted out.