Schengen For France ( Updated )

[prioritypress]

Anyone any recent experiences of applying for a French schengen?

http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Outsour...-collection-of

What's the "processing fee" and rough turn around time?

Is it worth paying a visa company or is it pretty straightforward to get an appointment?

Just fancy taking the wife on a day-trip to Paris in January for some shopping


Nick

[db1]

I went two years ago with my wife, easy to get an appointment use their web site to do this, there is no fee to pay, just make sure that all your papers are in order, and all translations have been done by the Thai Embassy,can be done in a few days if you can get an appointment.

[-Keith-]

Nick,

Get a German schengen by post in a few days, a French one is hassle.

[colin244]

As are most French things Keith especially as they are not keen on the UK at present.

colin 244

[prioritypress]

Nick,

Get a German schengen by post in a few days, a French one is hassle.

Well, sometimes I like playing by the rules

The wife has got her new Thai passport today so I'm reading up on the info.

It seems pretty straightforward?


Nick

[bifftastic]

French authorities absolutely love paperwork, bureaucracy (I think that's even a French word!) and giving people the run around. In fact, I found the Thai authorities very similar in that regard!

You'll find that the French will have some rules that you've never even heard of. If they discover that you like playing by the rules, they'll let you play, and play and play!

It's their way of being helpful

[prioritypress]

That doesn't sound good


Nick

[bifftastic]

I'll give you an example.

many moons ago, in a previous life, I bought a house in France. One good thing about the whole process is that once a price is agreed and a 'compromis' is signed, no-one can back out or change the price.

I found out why that is.

It took more than 9 months from signing the compromis to actually buying the house!

Every adult member of the family I was buying from had to be present in the Notaire's office to sign the registry. Myself and my partner also had to be there at the same time. It turns out that some of them lived hundreds of miles away (as did we). Also, other people that lived in the village had to approve the sale, they asked questions about what we were going to do with the house (all in the form of paperwork, back and forth to the town hall, the estate agent, and us), whether we were going to live there full time or not, if we were going to do any building work, outside and in etc. etc.

By the time we bought the place, we knew many local officials on a first name basis!

And this was a house purchase with no chain at either end!

The upside was that my French improved no end!

Going to the builder's merchants to pick up some sand and cement, something you can do in 30 minutes in London, took all day, there was paperwork, it was almost like I had to apply for a permit for a couple of tons of sharp sand!

Even the actual phrase 'red tape' has it's origins in France. British soldiers blundering around the battle fields in WW1 followed red tape so they didn't disappear into the mud!


I've just developed a theory, that all words that are anything to do with mincing about making things as difficult as possible, are all French in origin

The Germans, on the other hand, will ruthlessly issue you with a visa as efficiently as possible with, perhaps, a slight smugness about them as they do so.

[prioritypress]

Do they usually give a multi-trip? Or a single entry?


Nick

[the_link]

Do they usually give a multi-trip? Or a single entry?

You duly apply for single or multi-trip, Nick, though, multi-trip is only 90-day visa.

[dan&ploy]

I think you may have pinned down the origin of the word 'farang' once and for all Biffy. None of this Sanskrit/Pali word - it is from the word used for the first French settlers here, kon farangset' which literally means 'to wrap in red tape'.

The Thais may have learnt it from the French, but as with Mexican chillies, they have perfected it into an art of their own.

[indigo]

You duly apply for single or multi-trip, Nick, though, multi-trip is only 90-day visa.

Can get a Multi-Entry Schengen visa for 6 months.

[prioritypress]

Can get a Multi-Entry Schengen visa for 6 months.

You duly apply for single or multi-trip, Nick, though, multi-trip is only 90-day visa.

I thought you ticked which one you wanted on the application form however it was then up to their discretion?


Nick

[indigo]

I think it means the maxium you can stay in any one trip is 90 days

[andyn1066]

As you may be aware, since 6th Febuary 2012 people have to attend TLS Contact office in London for Schengen visa and Biometric prints etc. It seems they want every document translated in english or French, such as marriage certificate, birth certificate etc. The question which I have asked the TLS Contact, but have not received any reply is; do they require the name change Thai document (after marriage surname change), translated as well? It seems obvious to me that when you marry you take the surname of your husband, but will it be obvious to the people in change of the Schengen visa in this office. I would prefer to travel to London once, so if any one has recently had to apply for one of these Schengen visas any information would be greatfully received.

[lamai]

Anyone any recent experiences of applying for a French schengen?

http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Outsour...-collection-of

What's the "processing fee" and rough turn around time?

Is it worth paying a visa company or is it pretty straightforward to get an appointment?

Just fancy taking the wife on a day-trip to Paris in January for some shopping


Nick

Hi Nick,

I applied for a French Schengen visa for my wife and it is easy to do. The service fee was £23.33 and it only took 10 working days before she got her passport stamped.
All the information can be found on https://www.tlscontact.com/gb2fr/login.php

[andyn1066]

Hi,
Went for my appointment at the TLS Contact office in London this week on Tuesday, received passport back yesterday (Friday) for both my wife and step son. Thats only 4 days, but they advised could be up to 15 working days. The TLS Contact office was packed but they seem to process people fairly quickly,

[andyn1066]

Visted the TLS Contact office this week and did not need the surname change document. I had all the Thai documents translated at the Thai Consulate at Hull and there offical samp was enough for them to except the documents. You have to pre-copied all the documents and stated on TLS Contact check list, which were completely different for my wife and step son. The TLS contact office is right opposite Olympia and Kensington station at the bottle of a cul de sac. After waiting outside in a que for half an hour we were let in to this busy office, the documents were checked at one desk on admission, then sit down and wait, before going to a desk for the documents to be checked and stamped, then you que again to pay fee, then wait again for biometrics fingerprints/pictures. The process took about two and half hours. Our appointment was Tuesday this week, and the courier delivered them back Friday, thats only 4 days, but they advise it can take upto 15 working days.

Hope the above information will be useful to someone

[prikphet]

Andy - Is that for a French Visa ? Do they need to see Hotel Bookings, Flights etc ??

[KhunIanB-UK]

Good info, but any idea on their costs?