Title: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . Post by: Dan on January 22, 2005, 05:00:00 AM Thanks for replying to my request below about the Schengen visas.
Now, if you would, let's try to simplify that process to something like a step-by-step process that is both easy to follow, and offers reasonable chance of success. Here is my interpretation of all that you wrote below - please correct anything: * Start with some 'givens': [BTW - there is a very good description of the Schengen Agreement on one of Germany's websites, here -- http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/willkommen/einreisebestimmungen/schengen_html] * So the first ?? question is: Which of the 15 countries offer the easiest path to getting a Schengen visa? Since a person can freely travel to any of the 15 countries, it really isn't important which one of the countries issues the visa. Germany issued more than 2 Million Schengen visas in both 2002 and 2003, but issued slightly fewer in 2003. I wonder how many the other Schengen countries issued - and more importantly, I wonder if we can identify the success rate of applications - particularly applications from Ukraine - and from Russia, etc. * Next, it seems there is really only one major consideration made by the issuing authority. That is - "The applicant must prove that he/she has adequate funds for the intended stay and may not claim any public funds in this connection." As I understand your message Bruno, for Belgium, an applicant must show they have 50 Euro per day for the term of their intended trip. [Bruno, I know that there are MANY different potential scenarios. Let's just take this one set of hypotheticals and run it all the way through to completion - everything else is just a variation on a theme. For instance, I know the lady can demonstrate a lesser amount if she is sponsored by someone for her trip. Let's not deal with that scenario right now.] Second ?? - Is that rate of 50 Euro per day consistent across all 15 Schengen countries - or does Belgium require more (or less) than others? Third ?? - How does the lady demonstrate that she has this money? Does she bring the cash with her to the interview? Or maybe bring a bank account statement? * The Schengen Agreement requires demonstration of valid medical/repatriation insurance in the amount not less than 30,000 Euros. OK - so here is how I see it so far: * Lady submits application to Embassy in Kyiv (one of the 15 Schengen countries). (a) Funds available for the trip If successful, lady will be granted a Schengen visa that is valid for travel to any of the Schengen agreement countries and is valid for a term of 90 days within a 6-month window. That is everything - correct? Bruno, what is your direct experience with successes and failures for the women you have worked with? Is there any trend you can identify - such as lenient countries - or those who are more stringent? I think it would be VERY helpful to many people, if this Schengen visa process can be resolved down to a simplified procedure that has an expected rate of success. Thanks, in advance, for working with me to try to clarify this process Bruno. - Dan Title: Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . Post by: steverino on January 24, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . , posted by Dan on Jan 22, 2005
I live in Chicago and I now have a copy of my Russian girlfriend's international passport. I am interested in being able to see her in Amsterdam as it is relatively easy for me to get there. A Schengen visa would be perfect. I appreciate the discussion here as it has some mystery surrounding it. There is a dutch embassy here in Chicago. Do you think I can apply for her here or is that silly. I will be seeing her in less than 2 weeks and I could bring all paperwork that she needs to sign. On the other hand she is very competent and can apply for herself as well. She lives in Perm, Russia. By the way, at the top of this message board the tiltle of this forum makes reference to Mail Order Bride...somehow that does not appear to be either accurate or positive. Anyone agree? Title: Regarding "MOB"... Post by: tfcrew on January 24, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . , posted by steverino on Jan 24, 2005
..You are correct. There is really no such arrangement. Like saying "that is a UFO" when refering to what can be clearly IDENTIFIED as a space ship. However, I understand that mail correspondence was quite popular in 19th cent mining towns and they sent the ladies stage coach or railroad tickets to come visit. Title: Regarding "MOB"... Post by: tfcrew on January 24, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . , posted by steverino on Jan 24, 2005
..You are correct. There is really no such arrangement. Like saying "that is a UFO" when refering to what can be clearly IDENTIFIED as a space ship. However, I understand that mail correspondence was quite popular in 19th cent mining towns and they sent the ladies stage coach or railroad tickets to come visit. Title: Mail Order Bride . . . Post by: Bruno Thoumsin on January 24, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . , posted by steverino on Jan 24, 2005
From wikipedia... The Plain Truth about the Mail Order Bride Industry A short history of the mail order bride catalog industry : The mail order bride catalogs of today bear little resemblance to their precursors of old. The practice of searching for a bride by post started among early settlers in the New World who, troubled by the lack of eligible women in their new settlement, would write back to their homeland in the hope of securing a wife. Early Japanese and other Asian immigrants sought the help of relatives or matchmakers back home in their search for Asian brides. The choice of Asian bride was sometimes based on photos and a few letters exchanged between the bride and the man, thus giving birth to the term “picture brides.” Origin of the term “mail order brides” : It is easy to see why the mail order bride catalog business gets a bad rap. The phrase “mail order brides” is a gross misrepresentation of the actual process that goes into searching for brides by mail. A mail order bride is not something that is ordered through a catalog and airmailed to the paying customer. The misleading mail order bride misnomer originated from mail order bride agencies’ practice of printing and distributing by mail catalogs of foreign women seeking a suitable husband from the west. Based on published photos and profiles, the men would then choose which mail order brides they wished to correspond with. The mail order bride agency furnishes the interested men with the information necessary to initiate correspondence. In some cases, a mail order bride catalog went a step further by arranging the actual meeting between the man and the prospective mail order bride. The mail order bride agency as matchmaker : In effect, the mail order bride catalog assumes the role of matchmaker in the bride search process. For a certain fee, a mail order bride agency supplies their male clients with the names and addresses of preferred women selected from the mail order bride catalog for the purpose of correspondence. The fee covers the cost of collecting information on the mail order brides, printing and mailing and catalog. In no way is payment made for the mail order bride. Furthermore, the mail order bride agency does not coerce women into becoming mail order brides. The mail order brides themselves volunteer their names and addresses to mail order bride catalogs, in the hope of finding a good husband. The mail order bride catalog shakes off its shadowy image : What’s in a name? To the mail order bride industry, a mountain of distorted perceptions and half-truths. Since the inception of the first mail order bride catalog, the stain of the “mail order brides” phrase has been difficult to wash off. In an attempt to correct misconceptions about mail order bride agencies, the mail order bride industry describes itself more appropriately as: international introduction services, international dating agencies, or international matchmaking agencies. These terms are a more valid description of how mail order bride agencies function today. The mail order bride catalog has also taken the initiative of policing its ranks by exposing scammers and frauds. Additionally, mail order brides and their prospective husbands themselves benefit from the increased efficiency and sophistication of Internet-based mail order bride catalogs. Communication has become more immediate and information more freely available, thereby reducing the odds of becoming victimized by those few who are using the mail order bride catalog industry to make a quick buck.
Title: Schengen Visas . . . full detail for Netherlands Post by: Bruno Thoumsin on January 24, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . , posted by steverino on Jan 24, 2005
She need to apply herself... For the info from the foreign office about the visa, see below. For the netherland application form, download it on my site : http://www.love-from-russia.be/holland.pdf ... he is now online and i keep it to Sunday... In russia : * Embassy Moscow Website: www.netherlands-embassy.ru * Consulate-General St. Petersburg Website: www.nlcg.spb.ru Not only American have easy to get in schengen... a list of country who don't need a visa... only passport : ** Info from Netherlands foreign office : Applying for a visa
1) be valid throughout the Schengen territory 2) have a minimum coverag of EUR 30.000 3) cover the entire period of the person’s stay.
What can I do if my visa application is refused?
an airport transit visa: €35; a transit visa valid up to five days: €35; a visa valid for up to one month: €35; a single-entry visa valid for up to three months: €35 a multiple-entry visa valid for up to three months: €35; a multiple-entry visa valid for up to one year: €35; a multiple-entry visa valid for up to five years: €35 an authorisation for temporary stay: €50.
Title: Re: Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . Post by: Haroshij on January 24, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . , posted by steverino on Jan 24, 2005
I'm quite sure that you can not apply for her. She will need to apply for a visa in the nearest Dutch consulate. However, I know many people living in North-Western Russia like Leningrad oblast apply for visa to Finland, and that visa opens the gate for them to all the Schengen countries. Our relatives in Russia always do that. Haroshij Title: Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . Post by: Bruno Thoumsin on January 22, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . , posted by Dan on Jan 22, 2005
Let go... i go explain to easy case from my experience with first wife... sorry, it is from russia but with Ukraine, it is the same... the difference between Ukraine and Russia come for the marriage. And in short time, all will be more easy with Ukraine, they have now sign the convention of La Haye. But before all, shengen, it is the 15 country cited + Andora, Vatican, Gibraltar, Lichtenstein, Monaco, San Marino... and in 2006, 10 new country are in shengen, some from ex-ussr : Cyprus (Greek part), the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia The first time my ex-wife have come in Belgium, it was with a tourist visa... in these case she need give at the ambassy : The proces time is between 1 and 3 month ( the first time, it is more long ) After, the ambassy have contact my ex when all was ready... and she go a second time to ambassy with the flight ticket... and receive the visa... For my ex, the only problem was the prove of fund... but you know certainly russia... for some rouble, a bank have make a document who attest she have 1500$ on a account. For the second meeting... we have use the system of invitation... more easy of more fast - i have send her a prove of my nationality, a copy of my income ( tax document ), a form fill in city administration. Now, two situation... you have time, and you pay the normal fee... around one week for the visa if she have already visit shengen other one month... if you have enough money, you pay double fee and she have the visa the same day ( only possible if she have already visit shengen ) Why i have not use the second method for the first meeting... the form that you fill in city administration is a form where you say that you are responsible financially for the lady the next two year... Very dangerous for a first meeting... you are responsible for all... make it only if you trust her... and because i am enough suspicious with woman... a tourist visa can be good for the first time. Now, the price of visa is fix, but the amount by day, the income you need are different by country, ... and each year, they are revised... The are based on the level of life of each country... it is the pauvrety level + 20%... usualy, south of Belgium, the price are more low... and north more high... And almost forget, the amount by day is more low when the woman stay by you and not at hotel... 38 euro in place of 50 euro day... In each case... these is no interview... more administrative work... and it is no problem for receive a visa for woman from FSU... About the choice of country, choice your own country... the arrival place need to be in the country selected : where the hotel reservation are make of where the man live in case of invitation But you have a lot of shengen visa ( tourist and invitation )... detail of price ( the last one for 2004 : The procedure is very easy, the succes is almost 100% ( europa don't accept criminal )... the only problem is that we have so much choice... Title: Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . Post by: LP on January 22, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . , posted by Dan on Jan 22, 2005
...Danny, I'm not up to speed on the Schengen but doesn't it include Italy? The reason I ask is because several women I know have gone to Italy without problems. Most had never been out of the FSU before. A Russian girl I flew into Kiev to meet last July just married an Italian guy after visiting him twice and I'm planning on meeting another in Rome later this year. Title: Yes, Italy is Among The Countries Post by: Dan on January 22, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Bruno - Schengen Visas . . . , posted by LP on Jan 22, 2005
And it was in the list contained in my message. You're worrying me LP. Guys that fly people around (like you do) can't miss the small details --smile--. BR - Dan Title: Oops.... Post by: LP on January 22, 2005, 05:00:00 AM ... in response to Yes, Italy is Among The Countries, posted by Dan on Jan 22, 2005
Sorry, I see that now. My eyes aren't what they used to be. It's not a problem at work because I keep them closed most of the time ;) I'll check with the ladies I mentioned about the details used to obtain their visas... |