Schengen tourist visa to Europe.....where/how to apply in the US??

[millefleur 5,035]

Hi everyone,

 

So we're in that dreaded situation where my husband's Schengen visa (Finland) is going to expire. In Russia, this was always so easy to get because you could just go down to the local office and apply, there was a kind of quid pro quo for people who lived near Finland so getting a Schengen visa was a painless process.

 

Now, I'm trying to figure out how to do this here in the States. It seems you have to apply in person at a Schengen visa center in LA, San Francisco, Chicago, etc. In addition, they have tons of document requirements, such as hotels, proof of employment/student status, booked flights, etc. It's a nightmare of paperwork plus we will have to travel to another city merely to apply. I've never done this before (obviously, as a USC I have never needed a tourist visa to Europe).

 

Does anyone have any experience with this? We want to buy plane tickets in advance but we don't want to buy plane tickets before he has a visa to Europe, but you need plane tickets to apply for the visa so it's a catch 22. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice if anyone has applied for this before. Thanks in advance.

[bestluck 71]

Where you like to go in Europe ? depend on country you need to contact Consulate or Embassy ,

 

 

 

If you stay in the U.S. on the basis of a United States Permanent Resident Card – or USCIS Form I-551, popularly known as the Green Card – your ability to travel to Europe without a visa will depend on the country that has issued your passport,

 

 

Schengen Visa Requirements for US Green Card Holders and Permanent Residents

• Visa application form – completely fulfilled with the required information. ...
• A valid passport or Travel document. ...
• US residence permit. ...
• Photo – taken within the last three months. ...
• A cover letter. ...
• Round-trip Flight Itinerary.

[bestluck 71]

20 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Hi everyone,

 

So we're in that dreaded situation where my husband's Schengen visa (Finland) is going to expire. In Russia, this was always so easy to get because you could just go down to the local office and apply, there was a kind of quid pro quo for people who lived near Finland so getting a Schengen visa was a painless process.

 

Now, I'm trying to figure out how to do this here in the States. It seems you have to apply in person at a Schengen visa center in LA, San Francisco, Chicago, etc. In addition, they have tons of document requirements, such as hotels, proof of employment/student status, booked flights, etc. It's a nightmare of paperwork plus we will have to travel to another city merely to apply. I've never done this before (obviously, as a USC I have never needed a tourist visa to Europe).

 

Does anyone have any experience with this? We want to buy plane tickets in advance but we don't want to buy plane tickets before he has a visa to Europe, but you need plane tickets to apply for the visa so it's a catch 22. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice if anyone has applied for this before. Thanks in advance.

Hope this information can help you good luck 

Edited January 18, 2019 by bestluck

[Liam2021 557]

Yes, that is a pain. I'm also apply Schengen visa for my spouse in the next month(Denmark). You can take a look at this link because I'm think it will be helpful.

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/denmark-visa/

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

*****  one post violating TOS and one quoting removed ******

[Thegirl 224]

Get a reservation for flights ( you don't pay for a reservation) just need to show it's Reserved. 

Book hotels that have cancellation. Doesn't have to he a hotel you actually plan to stay at, just need to show the reservation. Then cancel after the interview

You should be able to get very cheap travel insurance online, that's what I did. The chances of being denied a Schengen is usually pretty low tho. 

Ask for more days than you actually need, because you'll likely only get the visa for those exact dates then you can't change your itinerary. 

They have guidelines about how much money you should have per day, just ensure you're back account shows a bit more than that. 

Those were the biggest obstacles... There should be a consulate off Finland somewhere in LA I believe. 

 

 

 

[millefleur 5,035]

Just now, Keas said:

Get a reservation for flights ( you don't pay for a reservation) just need to show it's Reserved. 

Book hotels that have cancellation. Doesn't have to he a hotel you actually plan to stay at, just need to show the reservation. Then cancel after the interview

You should be able to get very cheap travel insurance online, that's what I did. The chances of being denied a Schengen is usually pretty low tho. 

Ask for more days than you actually need, because you'll likely only get the visa for those exact dates then you can't change your itinerary. 

They have guidelines about how much money you should have per day, just ensure you're back account shows a bit more than that. 

Those were the biggest obstacles... There should be a consulate off Finland somewhere in LA I believe.

It's a bit confusing. It seems there is an Embassy in LA but the visa application center is San Francisco. I would much prefer to apply in LA but it seems like all applications are now done in SF only...

[Thegirl 224]

21 hours ago, millefleur said:

It's a bit confusing. It seems there is an Embassy in LA but the visa application center is San Francisco. I would much prefer to apply in LA but it seems like all applications are now done in SF only...

Oh wow that's does it make it more frustrating