Schengen Visa questions (for touring Europe)

[cxmpc]

If I may add, the visa fee is now Euro 60 (in peso equivalent) and no longer 35 as mentioned in my link above.

[basje]

hello, di ko na matandaan eh, basta nung tumawag kami sa German Embassy for sched ng Interview eh ask lang is san mail yun Passport sabi ko sa Office, yun lang.
Kakatakot naman kasi magatanong baka isipin eager ka talaga. Sana nga makapasa...

[basje]

By the way, If I may ask, Kinukuha ba un Original Docs, or binabalik after the Interview? Mine kasi binalik after the Interview, ang iniwan lang eh yun mga Photocopy. Tapos nabasa kp sa website ng German Embassy na:
The processing of your Visa application will take at least 14 calendar days (2 weeks). In some cases, it can take
longer due to the involvement of German and Schengen authorities in the processing. As soon as a final decision
has been made, the Embassy will send your passport and original documents to your residence or office via
courier. (Applicable charge per usage of courier service: 160,- PhP one way, 320.- PhP round trip)"[/I]
hmm... nakakatuliro naman

[basje]

Guys ok lang ba another question ulit, Nag veverify rin ba and mga Embassy tumatawag rin ba sila sa work or something like investigating? ask lang kasi nakakagulo eh. thank you.

[mariadams]

By the way, If I may ask, Kinukuha ba un Original Docs, or binabalik after the Interview? Mine kasi binalik after the Interview, ang iniwan lang eh yun mga Photocopy. Tapos nabasa kp sa website ng German Embassy na:

hello basje........ in my own experience, binabalik nila yung originals on the spot at kinukuha lang yung mga photocopies.

yung sa last question mo kung nagve-verify sila sa work, hindi na... schengen visa lang naman yan. nagi-investigate lang sila kung immigrant or student visa. sa student visa, they usually call the uni or college na papasukan mo.

[basje]

Thank so much Mariadams... such a big comfort for all the infos you've shared.

[xxkissbangxx]

If/when I'll be joining a Contiki tour half the time (the tour is around 28-29 days, entry point is France so I assume the application will be with the French embassy) and the rest of the time I'll be backpacking, is it likely that I'll get approved (as a first-time applicant)? How quick is the processing with the French embassy?

Still the same question/concern but now I've been advised to apply to the ITALIAN EMBASSY because the tour stays longer in Italy even if it enters France first. So now it's the Italian Embassy. Has anyone experienced obtaining a Schengen tourist visa from here? Any info/advice? I heard it takes longer/is stricter here??

[mariadams]

^^^^^hello kissbang

when vanlei posted about his visa getting denied at the Italian Embassy, i reckon, it's because there are now thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of Pinoy TNTs in Italy ... that's why they are really getting very strict there.

I don't know why your tour agent advised you to apply at the Italian Embassy because you are staying there the longest.... it's actually not necessary...you can also apply at the French Emb because that is your first point of entry....

but anyway, it's a case-to-case basis so maybe the Italian Emb will grant you that schengen visa...

[xxkissbangxx]

^ The travel agent told me that if I do send an application to the French embassy, they will most likely reject it on the grounds that the main destination is Italy (in terms of length of stay).

On another note, I've informed the agent that I'm intending to continue the trip even after the tour ends in Amsterdam. I'd like to go to Portugal and then Spain then back to London for my return flight. For the latter part (the Portugal-Spain segment), it'll be solo travel and no tour group involved but I'm planning to stay in Spain the longest (11 days) so I assume this now becomes my "MAIN DESTINATION" and where I should apply for the visa?

I'm assuming (or maybe hoping ) that the Spanish embassy is faster and more lenient?

[p@cm@n!@c]

yes. it's case-to-case basis.

getting a schengen visa from any schengen embassy is unpredictable as the weather.

they say that because italy has become the haven for thousands and thousands of filipino undocumented workers (majority of the estimated 140,000 pinoy pop here are), the italian embassy has become stricter than ever. i got my schengen visa from the italian embassy but then again i was supported by my company.

i have a friend who got hers from the french embassy and while it was her first time, she got hers in less than 2 weeks.

i got two schengen visas from the spanish embassy already. if you intend to make spain your main destination, make sure you have your itinerary clearly plotted out, complete with hotel reservations if possible.

[xxkissbangxx]

^ Thanks for the tips and advice.

As the itinerary, since it's my first time to apply, what's an example of a good one? Do I only put the things I will do on a daily basis there, etc.?

[basje]

Hello Mariadams, Tourist rin ba apply mo? did they send your passport back with visa thru a courier? Thanks

[mariadams]

As the itinerary, since it's my first time to apply, what's an example of a good one? Do I only put the things I will do on a daily basis there, etc.?

hello kissbang

first, it's a package tour with Contiki, right? i'm sure they will give you an Itinerary sheet which you can submit to the embassy along with your own itinerary for the Spain-Portugal stops.

otherwise, it's as simple as the one below. if they need a more detailed plan, they will tell you, only then you can expand it:

May 15 - Departure from Phils
May 16 - Arrival in London
2-day City tour
Hotel: Winchester Inn (example)
May 18 - 20 Italy
Florence, Rome, Venice
Hotels: -------
May 21 - 24 - France
Paris, Nice
Hotels: ------------
May 25 - 26 - Switzerland
Geneva, Basel
Hotels: --------------
May 27 - 28 Germany
Munich, Berlin, Hamburg
Hotels:----------------
May 29 - June 10 - Spain
Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao
Hotels: -----------------
June 11 - 12 - Portugal
Algarve, Lisbon, Porto
Hotels: --------------
June 13 - London, UK
Departure for Manila, Philippines

if any of our readers here had been asked of a different form of itinerary, we would appreciate your sharing it with us... thanks!

[mariadams]

Hello Mariadams, Tourist rin ba apply mo? did they send your passport back with visa thru a courier? Thanks

hello basje

yes, tourist visa.
in 1999-2000, they used to give the passport back to me personally on the date they asked me to go back.

[basje]

Guys just wanna say, I'm not granted, just got my passport. That's life weather weather lang nga anyway ok lang,

[mariadams]

Guys just wanna say, I'm not granted, just got my passport. That's life weather weather lang nga anyway ok lang,

hello basje

that goes to show that whether you are about to be denied or approved, they will still ask you to go back on such date!

your cheerful disposition is quite impressive, basje.....let's pray that you get luckier next time!

did they tell you the reason why you got denied?

[cxmpc]

if any of our readers here had been asked of a different form of itinerary, we would appreciate your sharing it with us... thanks!

Hello mariadams, not that I've been asked for a different form/format.
But would like to suggest to make a it a little bit more detailed and show it by day. i.e.:

Nov 5 Depart from MNL for CDG via ______ (airline)
Nov 6 Arrive Paris, ________ (hotel)
Nov 7 Paris (activity if any), ________ (hotel)
Nov 8 Paris (activity if any), ________ (hotel)
Nov 9 Depart Paris for Rome via ________ (airline or train)
Nov 9 Arrive Rome, ________ (hotel)
Nov 10 Rome (activity if any), ________ (hotel)
Nov 11 Depart for Florence via ________(train detail)
Nov 11 Arrive Florence, ______ (hotel)
and so on.....
If staying with a friend or family, write the address in place of hotel name.

Guys just wanna say, I'm not granted, just got my passport. That's life weather weather lang nga anyway ok lang,

Too bad basje, I'm really sorry to hear that.

[basje]

Hello, Yeah That's Life, It doesn't mean it's the End of Everything. So maybe we'll do it the other way around, Si Boyfriend na lang punta dito. Guys can I ask in this Forum about Marriage Visa or anything concerning Foriegner Marrying a Filipina?
Kasi I just wanna know some of your Idea's & infos, if what are the things needed to be done. Thank you

[p@cm@n!@c]

^

I think in Scandinavian embassies, there is such a thing as a fiance visa.

But it's easier if you get married in the Philippines and he will petition you to follow in his home country.

[mariadams]

..... Si Boyfriend na lang punta dito. Guys can I ask in this Forum about Marriage Visa or anything concerning Foriegner Marrying a Filipina?
Kasi I just wanna know some of your Idea's & infos, if what are the things needed to be done. Thank you

wow! this is getting to be exciting and i'm sure marami sa mga kapwa Pexers natin ang gusto'ng pag-usapan ang subject na ito!

nauna na si P@cm@n, eto naman sa akin...

one option:
puede rin kayo'ng magpakasal sa Thailand or sa Sri Lanka (pinakamadali as to documentary requirements)...then make sure to get an English translation of the Marriage Contract notarized by the Dept of Foreign Affairs of that country... then use this marriage document in applying for a spouse visa at the embassy of your husband.

another option
try to apply again for a multiple schengen visa. get an acquaintance/friend of your BF to send you a certificate of sponsorship.
upon arrival at BF's country, plan for a trip to Thailand/Sri Lanka/other asian country for the purpose of getting married.

When you return to the country of your BF (say, Germany) still using the schengen visa, apply for a residence visa right away (for the simple reason that you are already a wife to your husband).
you can get this very easy without any Phil Embassy interference.