How to apply Schengen Tourist VISA for Europe (Through Switzerland consulate)

[@destinationupclose]

How to plan your first Europe trip and Things to consider !! kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4q0gZuCf8t8bbM

[@shank3380]

Thank you for a very detailed explaination, from Uganda

[@destinationupclose]

Glad you liked it.

[@stubbymr]

good job!

[@destinationupclose]

Thank You

[@soho1080]

Sorry, a bit confused. Why do you need to send documents by courier and then again take it on your appointment date? Can you pls help w/ this?

[@destinationupclose]

If you have applied VISA in last 5 years, you can send the documents through courier, no need to take an appointment. Otherwise you have to take go consulate with the documents.

[@soho1080]

@@destinationupclose got it. Ty.

[@navdeepkaur6351]

Do we need to buy the tickets to return the country back?

[@sachinvinayakan2845]

Thanks for the video. very helpful. One question . Does the "copy of proof of residency in USA" document need to be notarized by a Notary public or self notarized ?

[@destinationupclose]

It needs to be notarized by a Notary. You can do it in UPS store.

[@poojakshirsagar9517]

Do you have to get a the H1B/I797 copy notarized?

[@destinationupclose]

Yes, it needs to be notarised.

[@9mihirmody]

thanks for the video its super helpful, i stay far from san francisco, I am going to stay 4 days in italy and 5 days in switzerland, can i apply through Italy consulate? Also if I apply through Switzerland Consulate in San Francisco than will I get a common appointment for my wife and kid or they will give three different appointments on three different days? Please respond when you get chance.

[@destinationupclose]

Getting an appointment slot for Italy is bit difficult. If you are entering Italy as first country, you can apply VISA there. For Switzerland consulate, there is no group slot, you have to take 3 slots for each member.

[@9mihirmody]

thank you so much@@destinationupclose

[@navdeepkaur6351]

What if we want to cancel the hotel bookings, Can you tell me how did you booked and cancel after the Visa approval and if we want to stay there for the week, should we get the bookings for the more days in the hotels than a week to get more days visa? and for the insurance should we get the insurance for seven days or more if we booked hotels for more days to get the more days Visa?

[@vasanthinimmagadda]

If I may ask, where did you park near consulate ?

[@destinationupclose]

Opposite the road there are hourly parking stops. Try in Front street. If you can’t find parking, there is day parking available right opposite to the consulate(bit costly)

[@vasanthinimmagadda]

@@destinationupclose how many days they (atlanta consulate) typically takes to provide status update once you submit the application based on your experience?

[@destinationupclose]

@vasanthinimmagadda For SanFrancisco consulate it takes 7/10 working day. I think Atlanta will have similar duration.

[@khanheena51]

can you provide the link for your travel insurance

[@destinationupclose]

subscribe.axa-schengen.com/en/step1?product=16

[@TheIntrovertWanderer]

@@destinationupclose I'm a bit hesitant on this website. It does not have any contact details or whatsoever. Is this recommended by Schengen embassies? Thanks

[@destinationupclose]

For schengen visa they just need travel insurance with the amount specified. You can take it from anywhere. You can google it for top providers. I used the above company.

[@9mihirmody]

In the visa application form, do we have to mention all the countries which we are visiting or just primary country where we will be staying longest. Also the hotel details do we need to mention all hotel names while filling application or just the hotels which is our main member destination? What would be national identifier for H1b visa holder from India, I feel it should be NA but wanted to confirm?

[@destinationupclose]

You need to mention all countries, including hotel address of each place you will be staying. National Identifier can be NA. Or you can give Passport details (I think I gave Passport details there for safer side as I had the same thought)

[@navdeepkaur6351]

Hi, so we have to book the flights for all the countries that we are going to visit or just only for the one main destination county (Switzerland)?

[@destinationupclose]

You have to book flights/hotels your whole itinerary for applying VISA. If You are not sure you can book with cancellable options. E.g for Hotel booking hotel.com you can cancel upto 48hrs before your stay. Same goes for flight.

[@destinationupclose]

Alternatively, some travel agencies can book only itinerary for you, not an actual flight ticket. They will charge 100/200$. Once ur visa approved u can book actual tickets. You can check for this option, I have not tried.

[@SundeepI]

how did you book flights that are refundable? Any travel agent that you know who can help?

[@destinationupclose]

All flight has a refundable/flex option you can book. Alternatively you can book only itinerary through travel agents. They charge around 100/150$. You can google.

[@TheIntrovertWanderer]

What did you mean by slots will be available after 2 months? Did you mean they will open slots for the next 2 months? Say, if I want to book now, I can only see appointments for today Feb until April? Also, can we not upload documents online? Thanks

[@destinationupclose]

Appointment slots open before 3 months. But the appointment slots in general are booked out for the next 2 months. So you will mostly get a date after 2 months. You can keep on checking, sometimes people cancel and you can book those. You cannot upload the docs to the portal. You have to carry physical copies to the consulate, if applying first time.

[@TheIntrovertWanderer]

@@destinationupclose thank you for the reply. Yes, I got a response from Switzerland consulate in California yesterday to say that they are already fully booked until 18 April.

[@TheShivani1226]

Hi, do they check for H1b visa expiry date?

[@destinationupclose]

Yes, They will take the latest I797

[@preetinair1617]

Home address we have to write US address or Indian address?

[@destinationupclose]

If staying in USA, it will be USA address

[@preetinair1617]

@@destinationupclose thanks my wife US visa is expired but she has I-797 approval notice can she still apply

[@destinationupclose]

@@preetinair1617 Yes she can apply. For applying VISA I-797 approval notice along with previous US VISA is enough. But keep in mind You still need stamped US VISA to renter USA when you are visting Europe.

[@preetinair1617]

@@destinationupclose thanks ya we r going to India after that

[@gauravvyas13]

Does US Citizen Kids needs a Swiss Schengen Visa if travelling with H1B parent having Schengen Visa?

[@destinationupclose]

US citizens don’t need a schengen VISA. US passport should have a validity of at least 90days.

[@sumairahafeez1837]

Brother i am UAE resident, can we direct apply schengen visa through Czech Republic embassy?

[@destinationupclose]

Yes. The process and document requirement will be similar. www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/information_for_aliens/short_stay_visa/visa_for_a_stay_up_to_90_days_for_the.mobi

[@rahulsrivastava3991]

Do I need to book flights too before this process ?

[@destinationupclose]

You need to give your flight bookings. Alternatively you can book a flight itinerary only through a travel agency, and then actual flight later.