Schengen Visa for Green Card Holders (especially Housewives)

[farida 5]

I just came back from a visa interview at the French Consulate in New York and would like to share my experience with other greencard holders who require a visa to go to Schengen states (or more specifically, France). Please take note I am just sharing my experience to help others. This is no guarantee that you will get yours too especially if your situation is different.

I just recently arrived in the States and decided to travel for 3 weeks study + 1 week vacation in France. The first thing you have to do is:

1. Go to the Consulate's website (depending on where you live)

2. READ all the instructions and the requirements. PRINT THEM OUT and make a checklist.

If you feel that the instructions are incomplete, please look at other consulate's websites in which the requirements are more complete (I read the French Consulate at Washington's). Depending on your situation, they might ask you for more documents than what is listed, so it is best to be prepared.

3. Read blogs (This is very important because there is a lot of information you might not find in the website).

I read this : http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jrank2889/1/1261968055/tpod.html

4. You'll have to spend first (and take the risk!) so you can have your documents

I originally wanted to go a month after I arrived in the States, but since I figured I won't have enough time for the requirements, I postponed it to 4 months after. Why? Because the following documents are very important, you may not be able to do anything unless you have them.

1. GREENCARD (This is the most important!! This is also required in order to have you Social Security Number.)

2. Social Security Number (This is required when you want to open a bank account, or put your name on your husband's account)

3. Joint account with your husband (Important if you want to satisfy the Financial Requirements without too much hassle!)

You can start scheduling your interview. Please go to the consulate's website AT LEAST a month before your intended date of interview. I learned the hard way. I booked the first week of December, thinking that I could go on an interview on Dec. 16, 2011, but the earliest schedule left was Jan. 3, 2012, and my flight was already on Jan. 20! I am going to pick up my visa on Jan. 17, so I only have 3 days of leeway. So please please, plan ahead, you can't go to Europe on a whim especially if you need a visa!

You should also have an idea on WHEN you are planning to go. If you don't have all documents on hand, please make sure by the time of your interview, you will have all of them already. Look at the requirements, and decide which ones you have to ask from a third party and the timeframe they could give them to you. You should know that the Consulate says they do not accept internet printed copies, so as much as possible, just ask for a hardcopy. I know this is hard in this day and age when everything is online, but trust me, just DO IT!

Since I am unemployed and solely dependent on my husband, it was difficult for me to satisfy the financial requirements (employer-related) listed in the French Consulate of New York's website. They also did not specify on what to do if you're a housewife. That is why I found a more comprehensive list of requirements at the French Consulate in Washington

http://www.consulfrance-washington.org/spip.php?article384

I actually applied for a short-stay student visa, but some of the requirements are the same.

My Checklist (with corresponding comments)

1. Appointment letter print-out

2. Money - if you're paying cash, please make sure you have the EXACT change. They also accept credit cards

3. Application form

4. 2 pcs Photo - they are very strict on this. I have heard that people were denied because of the photo. Do not smile , make sure your forehead and ears can be seen.

5. passport or travel document (+ copy of identity page and validity of passport)

6. + 1 copy of signature page of passport

7. USA residency card (greencard)

8. Flight reservation - they need to see a round-trip ticket. It's your choice either to go to a travel agency (might also be expensive) to have a temporary booking (note, they can only hold your ticket for a few days unless you pay), book a refundable ticket (expensive), or pay a low-priced ticket which may be unrefundable (just take the risk if visa is denied) or which may require you to pay a cancellation fee. Just find out which one's cheaper, it's your choice.

I booked mine through US Airways rewards travel and the Airline e-mailed me the confirmation. I printed the confirmation and the embassy accepted this even if their website said no internet printed copies. From what I read somewhere, I think they accept it if it is a confirmation DIRECTLY from the airline company. But if you book through travelocity, travelzoo, and other websites selling airline tickets, they might not accept that (or they may, depending on who's interviewing!). So, please call the AIRLINE and tell them what you need.

9. Letter of Enrollment specifying exact dates of attendance and length of studies. - I had to make a downpayment in order for me to get this letter. They e-mailed me a PDF but I asked them to mail me a hardcopy. It took about 1-2 weeks to get here from France, so please have this in mind when making the appointment

10. Lodging – please read the instructions on the website especially for the hotels

You have to account for all the days you are staying in Europe and have proof on where you're staying. This is what I meant by not travelling on a whim and say, “oh this day I'll go to this country or city.” You have to PLAN everything.

I paid this in FULL just for me to get a Certificat D'Hebergement from them (This is what I said about take the risk!). I also asked for a hardcopy from them.

I made reservations for the rest of my stay in a hotel with my husband. Make sure your name is in that reservation. My husband used his points, had to call the hotel and ask them to put my name on it. They e-mailed the reservation. Since the website said no internet printed copies, we had to ask the hotel to fax it. Surprisingly, during the interview, they accepted my internet printed copy and returned to me the fax copy. Again, I think this has something to do on WHO sent it. It was the HOTEL who directly sent it, and it didn't pass through Travelzoo or Travelocity. So call the hotel directly and tell them what you need. You might (or not) also have to pay for your hotel even before getting a visa.

If you have a relative, you can ask for an Attestation D'Acceuil but this also takes a long time to get, so you must be really close. I decided not to let my aunt get it because she has to submit an application to the Mairie, the Marie will forward it to the Prefecture for approval, and then it goes back to the Mairie. Who knows when that document will be back!! So, if you're pressed for time, this might not be an option.

11. Notarized Financial Guarantee – I had both for a student and a visa … just to be sure. My husband was my guarantor. However, when they saw that my name was in the bank account, they said it wasn't necessary. Still I would advise you to make it .. just in case!

12. Bank Balance Certification on bank letterhead – For your CURRENT account . The website doesn't say it (the website just says bank statement, I know , but this is VERY IMPORTANT! Just go to your bank and they will gladly make it for you. Make sure you have enough funds for your trip ($100/day for a tourist, $600/month for student). If the account is only under the name of your husband, be sure to have a Notarized Financial Guarantee

13. Latest personal bank statements – We had to ask the bank to mail us hardcopies, so call ASAP when you're still in the planning stage. They need 3 months worth. It has to be the latest. I had my interview on January 3, so naturally, I didn't receive the December statement. I had to print out online my December statement because I had no choice. They accepted it.

They will not accept excuses. The lady who was interviewed before me was required to go back and give her latest bank statement.

14. Medical Insurance covering $45,000 USD. - I gave them my plan coverage sent by the insurance company but they didn't need it. They just wanted the VISA Letter. I booked mine through Atlas Insurance. There are a lot of options. You can go to www.quotewright.com .

15. VISA LETTER (for the Insurance) – This letter must contain these words: medical, hospitalization, and repatriation expenses. This is what the Consulate requires.

They accepted the PDF file e-mailed to me by the insurance company which I printed out. Please read this.

http://www.***removed***/guide/faq/schengen-visa-insurance-faq.jsp

FOR UNEMPLOYED SPOUSES

I prepared these documents even if the consulate did not ask for these during the interview. As I said, better be safe than sorry!

16. Marriage certificate

17. Proof of employment of husband (letter of employment)

18. Last 3 payslips of husband – we had to call the company to give us a hardcopy

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT THEY MIGHT ASK

As I said, the Consulate might ask for more documents depending on the situation, so be prepared.

19. State ID

20. Letter of Presentation for the trip, summarizing all info

21. husband's ID

22. Income Tax Return

23. Husband's ticket (if he's going with you)

24. Previous Schengen visa (if you had one before)

I just wanted to share this with you, since a lady before me and her daughter had a hard time. The documents the Consulate asked were not listed in the website, but the lady tried to argue. The Consulate said it was a special situation so they should comply with the requirements.

Notarized Financial Guarantee for her daughter was not signed by her husband because he's deceased, so they asked for Husband's Death Certificate. Since the child was a minor, they asked for her birth certificate.

Oh, by the way, make sure you are organized! I had to put tags on the photocopies so I could locate them easily.

I hope this helps!!

[Scott and Mhay 57]

wow, glad we didn't have to do all that for my wife's visa to italy. Thank goodness I am military and all we needed was the basic stuff since the military orders covered all the financial stuff and we just needed the marriage certificate.

I am sure your write-up will help others in the future.

[pot121 1]

Hi, did you apply using your married name or maiden name? I am going to apply for a schengen visa to go Norway next week. But I dont know what last name should I use cos my green card is in my married name and my passport is in my maiden. Pls help

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Your Green Card has the same value as a Ralph's or Von's club card in Norway.

You are who you claim you are are based on your passport. Your Green Card only means something inside the United States. Norway is not inside the United States, so your passport is what counts.

[farida 5]

You should use the name on your passport. Just bring your marriage certificate and green card so you can enter the US. My passport and my green card are both in my maiden name I don't know why. I thought they would issue green card in my married name coz that was the name I put in my application.

[pot121 1]

You should use the name on your passport. Just bring your marriage certificate and green card so you can enter the US. My passport and my green card are both in my maiden name I don't know why. I thought they would issue green card in my married name coz that was the name I put in my application.

Really? Your green card has your maiden name?

Did your EAD/AP came with your maiden name too?

My EAD/AP is in my married name

[farida 5]

I entered the US on a CR1 visa not fiancé hence no EAD/AP is needed.

[BocaChicaBabe 6]

This is so helpful! I wanted to take a trip to Paris this spring with my husband who is a LPR and I decided to see if anyone else on here had been through this. I really didn’t expect to come across such a great and detailed post. After reading this, I think we’re going to postpone the trip until next year. I really don’t feel like dealing with yet another visa process so soon after getting through the first one. Thank you so much for this!!!!

[farida 5]

I cannot emphasize the need to plan at least 3 months beforehand! I went there on Jan. 17, exactly 2 weeks after the interview, as instructed and my visa wasn't ready yet! I had to go back on my date of my departure, get my visa, and catch my flight! Whew!

[CJ8611 6]

Glad I found this thread! I am planning a short Europe tour for me and my husband next year. I am still in the PH though and still in the NVC stage but I'm foreseeing I'll be able to fly by May. I am aiming for an October 2013 trip, I guess I have ample time to prepare after arriving in the US. Though I guess it all depends on how quick I would get my GC, SSN, etc. I am bookmarking this thread! Thanks for such a detailed recount of your experience!

[Asia 2,498]

Your green card doesn't matter here.

Your nationality it's important to get a Schengen visa.

[CJ8611 6]

Your green card doesn't matter here.

Your nationality it's important to get a Schengen visa.

Yes, I know, however it is one of the requirements as stated by the OP. Even in my other seacrhes, I found that it is required. I guess it's needed to establish residency, but not nationality. Thank you!

[nabi 3]

Thank you for this!  We also had to apply for a Schengen visa for LPR housewife and yours was one of the only recommendations online.  For others, here was our experience: 

 

Two key points.  1. A notarized affidavit of support was key because it allowed my wife to use any of my documents to prove her finances.  With that in hand, the other documents needed, listed below, were straightforward.  2. Every country and every consulate of that country may have different document requirements, so it's best to ask questions of the relevant consulate directly.  In our case, the relevant consulate was very responsive to questions sent to their email address for visa inquiries.

 

Required documents (this will be different depending on where you apply):

Application form, with list of hotels attached since there is not enough space for more than one hotel on the form

Two photos

Passport, with copy of photo page and previous Schengen visas

Green card and copy

Confirmed flight booking (didnt need to be purchased; but we purchased one anyway since US carriers allow 24 hour cancellation for flights departing in more than a week)

Proof of Schengen medical insurance (employer provided medical insurance wasnt good enough)

Proof of accommodation for all hotels (AirBnB booking was okay; print outs of online bookings were okay)

Employment verification -- normally requested but does not apply for housewife

Proof of financial means = affidavit + 3 months bank statements + copy of spouse passport + copy of marriage certificate

Visa fee

 

We also brought utilities bills and drivers license to prove we reside in the consular district, but did not need to show these

 

Hope that helps!