Visa From Hell - Schengen, Schmengen!

[thongd4me 69]

FINLAND...

I've been in the process of attempting to get a Schengen visa for my Thai wife

because we will be traveling to Thailand via Helsinki and the stopover will be

around 10-12 hours. For me there is no visa requirement, but for my wife

it seems as if we will be doing the fiancée visa all over again, just for walking

around Scandinavia for a couple of hours.

They want MEDICAL insurance TRAVEL insurance and a BANK statement

(showing that she has enough money to pay for the smorgasbord).

Problem is, she doesn't have any cash to speak of in her US bank account,

because she sends almost all the salary from her 2 jobs back to Thailand

to help her son buy a car.

I know I have to check with the consulate and I will, but did any of you have

any trouble getting a Schengen for your spouse and what were the requirements?

I'm starting to think this visa is not worth the trouble; it costs $81, plus $24

for travel insurance. I'll probably feel better waiting at the airport with my

wife than going into town. :bonk:

[rika60607 215]

Instead of your wife's bank account, you can show them your bank account, marriage license and travel itinerary showing that you two are traveling together. Schengen countries often have intimidating information on their websites, but once you show up in person... a person with GC is not seen as a threat and they can be very flexible.

Edited July 19, 2011 by rika60607

[anya-D 8]

you are going to Thailand via Finair? that's cool! I looked at that too and sometimes theya re a bit cheaper to fly but the lay over are so long I dont know if I can do it, with my son. But if I can stop for a night or two that might be good trip. Tell me how the flight goes, will y a?

I had to get theSchengen visa twice fromThailand, no problem at all and I used only my boss invitation and I think he called the embassy or something becasue I didnt have to show anything when I got there :/

[thongd4me 69]

Instead of your wife's bank account, you can show them your bank account, marriage license and travel itinerary showing that you two are traveling together. Schengen countries often have intimidating information on their websites, but once you show up in person... a person with GC is not seen as a threat and they can be very flexible.

Do you think they would accept a screen shot of a brokerage account,

or would I have to go to the broker to get an "official" statement?

[rika60607 215]

Hi,

no I am not going to Thailand.. but I have traveled to Europe from the US many times. Both as a student on F-1 visa and as a GC holder. I've been sitting in Schengen consulates waiting for my turn to get my next visa and listening to how they resolved issues with other applicants. They are very reasonable.

I proved my funds with statement printouts from checking/savings accounts. Have your wife bring a printout of her bank statement even if she does not have much - I do not think she needs to show much money for a 1 day visit. $500 should do it, and brokerage (or other) account of her husband (marriage certificate + your US passport) who is traveling with her (itinerary) clearly will show that she is not a homeless chick trying to immigrate to EU.

It should go like this: "Hi, I am traveling with my husband to Thailand via Helsinki and I would like to get a tourist visa so we could go into town for a day. He's a US citizen, he does not need a visa. Here is our itinerary, what other documents would you like to have? (proof of "some" funds and medical insurance)." They usually give a 30 day visa even if you ask for less.

They want to see that you have money which is easily available to you, I am not sure if brokerage account meets this criteria. But if you are going on a trip to Thailand, surely you have some money in your checking account?

Do you think they would accept a screen shot of a brokerage account,

or would I have to go to the broker to get an "official" statement?