Are you yearning for a glimpse of the majestic Alps? Do you dream of capturing the Eiffel Tower with your camera? Or are you captivated by the ethereal northern lights in Iceland? Like many, I found myself deeply frustrated, grappling with the seemingly insurmountable barriers to fulfilling these dreams. Being a Filipino residing on a Caribbean island without a Schengen state embassy only compounded my challenges, making the process feel almost out of reach.
Despite these obstacles, my desire to explore Europe's diverse wonders never waned. I realized that obtaining a Schengen visa was the key. Traveling to the US emerged as my best option, but this path was not without its own set of hurdles. Yet, I refused to let these difficulties deter me.
This article, while sharing my personal journey, is relevant to anyone of any nationality who finds that the US is their most viable route for securing a Schengen visa. Here, I will detail how I overcame the odds and secured my Schengen visa from the USA. My hope is that my experience will not only enlighten but also inspire you to persevere in pursuit of your own European adventures, despite any challenges you may face.
Firstly, the Schengen visa allows entry into the 26 European countries that comprise the Schengen Area, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The visa application can be completed online, with a mandatory visit to a visa center for biometrics. If you've applied for a US or Canadian visa before, you'll find the process somewhat similar.
However, for the Schengen visa, you must apply through the country where you'll first arrive. In my case, France was my host country. Let's dive into the process, so prepare your passport and personal details as we go along.
Ensure you have your travel itinerary ready, as the application will ask about your arrival date in the Schengen area, the first country you'll land in, and details of your accommodations.
Visit the [Visa Application Process - France-Visas] for general guidelines. Bookmark this page as you'll need to refer to the links provided throughout your application journey.
After assessing your eligibility through the visa wizard, you'll begin filling out the online application form.
Go to [Online Application - France-Visas] and click "start your application" to create an account.
Important Note: There may be times when the France visa website does not function properly on Google Chrome. I experienced difficulties initially and switched to the Edge browser, which resolved the issues. If you encounter slow responses or glitches, try using a different browser.
Once inside the "My Application" page, click "create new application." This leads you to pages where you must enter your personal details.
The first page checks your eligibility for the Schengen visa, asking for details like your passport number and the purpose of your visit.
Subsequent pages request your personal information, job details, and travel specifics, such as the name and address of your accommodations in France and how you plan to sustain yourself financially during your travels.
After filling out the form, submit it to be directed to the "my application" page, where you transmit your application. You will then receive a soft copy of your application, a registration receipt, and a checklist of documents to bring to your appointment. Ensure you review this checklist thoroughly. The registration receipt, showing your application reference, will be needed when booking your appointment and can be found on your "my application" page.
The booking of an appointment is based on your preference. You can find a list of submission locations at [Place of Submission - France-Visas]. Here, you'll also find the site to create an account for your appointment booking.
For my application submission in Miami, I used [Login | VFS Global]. Select your country and specific location on the "place of submission" page to proceed.
Once your account is created, fill out the form using your reference application. A calendar will open for you to choose your schedule. After selecting a date, you'll see other services available through VFS. Living in the Caribbean, I opted for the courier service to have my passport returned. Finalize by making payment for the VFS service charge and any other services you choose. You will receive an email confirmation of your payment and appointment.
Important Note: You can purchase your travel insurance through the VFS website where you made your booking. Look for the "apply for travel medical insurance" box and click "get quotes." These insurances meet the requirements for obtaining a Schengen visa. Select the one that best fits your needs.
We traveled to Miami to personally submit my Schengen visa application at the French visa center, located at 2655 S Le Jeune Road, Penthouse 1A, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida.
Upon arrival, the security guard verified my appointment by asking for my name. Be prepared for a wait, as appointment times may not be precise, and you could encounter a queue.
Important Note: Inside, please note that cellphones, tablets, or any electronic devices are not permitted in the waiting area. You can return to the lobby if you need to use your phone, but remember, WiFi access is not available—ensure your mobile data is active.
When it was our turn, we were called forward by the first visa personnel to verify the completeness of my application documents. It's crucial to have your checklist reviewed from your registration receipt.You should have these following documents:
The review process began, and questions about our bank statements were asked to confirm their validity, specifically ensuring they covered the most recent three months. During this review, they discovered that we were missing documents, such as a one-day hotel stay and transportation details between countries we planned to visit. We were instructed to provide these as soon as possible, which is where having mobile data proved handy. After addressing these issues, we waited a few minutes before proceeding with our biometrics.
Following our biometrics, we waited again for the next step. The second VFS personnel called upon us and reassessed our documents. Here, it was found that there was a gap in our payslips; they requested continuous payslips from the last three months, especially critical as we are paid bi-monthly. The second staff member was considerate, allowing us to submit any missing documents later via courier, along with our passports.
Initially, we booked the courier service found on the VFS website during the appointment booking. Although I had initially paid for this service online, I was advised to request a refund since we would be managing international courier costs for sending and returning our documents from home.
The visa fee of around $90 was paid, and they returned my passport, concluding our in-person visit.
Submission of Passport Through Courier: Back home, I sent our passports and the missing documents via DHL, ensuring to include a return label. It's crucial to double-check that all required documents are packaged correctly before dispatch. This step is vital to completing your application process without further delays.
After your visit to the VFS center, you should receive a receipt that includes a tracking number for your application. This number is crucial for following the progress of your application using the VFS tracking tool online. However, our situation was a bit unique as our application was initially deemed incomplete due to missing documents. We needed to send our passports back to complete the application process.
Tracking Your Passport and Documents: In addition to the VFS tracking number, we also had separate tracking numbers for our courier, DHL, which we used to send out and receive our documents. We were able to monitor when our package was successfully delivered to the VFS center, confirmed through email updates from them. This was reassuring, knowing our documents had safely arrived.
Communicating with VFS Global: For any queries related to the application, we contacted VFS Global at info.franceusa@vfsglobal.com. They were responsive and helpful with general inquiries but noted that they would not provide updates on the progress of our application through this channel. Instead, we relied on automatic emails from VFS to stay informed.
Patiently Awaiting Updates: Without the ability to use the VFS tracking tool due to our unique case, our only option was to patiently wait for updates via email. Here’s a brief timeline of our application process:
July 3: Our packages was delivered to Vfs center in Miami.
We continued to check our email regularly for any notifications regarding the status of our application. This waiting period is a normal part of the visa process, and while it can be anxious, staying informed through the available tools and communications helped manage our expectations.
July 17: We received an update from vfs global.
July 18: More updates from vfs global.
July 19:
July 19: Same day,our package was picked up by DHL from Washington Operation Center
July 22:We got our package!
From the time our passports were received by the VFS center to when they were returned to us, the process took approximately three weeks. The duration can vary depending on your location in the Caribbean; at that time, we were in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
When we received our package, it included our passports with the visa stamps and a receipt. The receipt provided the tracking number, which was crucial for verifying the delivery and completion of our application process.
That concludes our guide on how to navigate the complexities of securing a Schengen visa from the US while living in the Caribbean. We hope our experience provides you with helpful insights and eases your own visa application journey. Happy travels and best of luck as you prepare to explore the stunning landscapes and rich cultures of Europe!
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