For most of us in the Caribbean, when we think of traveling, the first destination that comes to our mind is the United States and then possibly Canada. However, for the budding traveler who has been bitten by the wanderlust bug, 9 times out of 10, Europe is the desired destination of choice. Naturally this seems daunting, especially for third-worlders with experience trying to obtain a US visa. Here in Jamaica, most people have seen or joined the lines in-front of the US Consulate, with some having their dreams realized or shattered with a “YOU ARE NOT WORTHY to visit our glorious country at this moment.” This experience has made the thought of acquiring a VISA to any other location seem like an overwhelming challenge.
What are the steps I need to take?
First, you need to determine:- The duration of your trip
- The number of countries you plan to visit
- The country you plan to arrive and potentially spend most of your time in. It is always best to apply to the embassy of that country, however if the consulate of that country is not available in your region, you should be able to utilize another European Consulate with no issue.
What documents do I take with me to the embassy?
Your Passport: (must be valid for over 3 months) and a recently taken passport size photo. Proof of Travel Insurance: is also needed to cover the cost of repatriation and emergency medical expenses whilst in Europe. You can purchase insurance here: https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com. The cost should be around $50usd and offers good coverage for a low price. Flight Itinerary: You could go ahead and book your flight if you are confident in your chances with getting the VISA, or there are sites such as Visareservation that will provide you with a reservation for a fee of $50usd. You can also book flights with sites such as www.cheaptickets.com / www.cheapoair.com that comes with flight insurance which cost around $50usd, which allows you to cancel the flight and receive a refund should you need to do so. Why is a flight itinerary required by the embassy?:- Make sure that you won’t be overstaying and will be returning to your country
- To determine your length of stay and also the amount of days your visa will be allotted
- Determine if you are applying to the appropriate consulate or embassy of your country of landing.
Where does the Schengen Visa allow me to travel?
The Schengen grants you access to 26 countries, these lovely destinations are:
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
What is the length of stay that would potentially be granted?
The maximum length that is afforded for a Schengen holder is 3 months, however the length of stay normally awarded for the visa is attributed to the length of your scheduled trip. Let’s say you are planning to visit Europe for 2 weeks (14 days), you would be potentially granted 18 – 20 days to account for any eventualities. Once that time is up, the VISA will be expired and you will be required to re-apply for another when planning your next trip. Please indicate to the embassy if you plan to visit other countries in addition to your country of entry.How long does it take for the Schengen Visa to be granted once approved?
It normally takes 72 hours for the Visa to be processed however, it officially states a period of 14 – 21 days. In most cases, there are less applicants for European Visas than there are for US Visas. The main take away should be whilst a major determining factor of the US Embassy issuing a Visa is on the applicant not returning to his/her country of origin, the European Embassy’s focus is whether you can afford to travel and cover all personal expenses during your time in Europe.You will have to show that you can afford accommodations, food and travel whilst there. Once able to prove this, you should be issued your brand-new Schengen Visa and be well on your way to an European adventure! More information can be found here: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/how-to-apply-schengen-visa/
Michelle
10 May 2019Thanks for this Yanic, well done!
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019Thank you soooo much Mich!!
Ria
10 May 2019Good read! I didnt know about this type of visa. Certainly will be telling my friends
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019Awesome! theres so much more than just the USA, CAN or ENG visa 😉
Bob
10 May 2019Great tip with the booking.com itinerary for accommodation!
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019hahaa glad you found it helpful!
SydonnieC
10 May 2019Love it! very informative. Thank you 🙂
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019Thanks sooo much for stopping by!
Oshine
10 May 2019Thanks for the info. Answer all the questions.
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019See you on the next blog post 🙂
Gee
10 May 2019Good read!
Carema
10 May 2019This is great. You’ve helped more than you realize. ?
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019This made my day!
chrissy
10 May 2019Informative! thank you!!
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019You are welcome hun see you on the next post!
Renée
11 May 2019Good read! Blessings ??
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019Brilliant Ren Ren!
Moi
11 May 2019Yanic, you just reduced my planning efforts to almost nothing! Very informative!
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019Woooot! stay tuned for more!!!
Gabby
11 May 2019Thanks for this. Very helpful!
theislanderspassport
11 May 2019Im just glad it was of use to you 🙂
Dwayne
11 May 2019This is awesome Bro, very helpful and useful information for us Jamaicans. Most of us still think it’s impossible for a Jamaican to visit Europe for a vacation. Now they know what steps to take in order to make their dreams a reality.
Keisha
14 May 2019I am so elated this blog is finally here! Now I will use a your tips so I can resume seeing more of the world first hand and not just through your camera lens. Thank you for allowing us to experience the world along with you.
Sherry
19 May 2019Awesome stuff!
Nichole
25 May 2019Loving it. Keep up the good work.