Getting a visa has been a crucial aspect of my travel experiences for quite a while. It represents the steps we take towards realizing our dreams. This post is centered around my visa application process and serves as a helpful guide on obtaining your Schengen visa in Los Angeles, along with the requirements. Let’s go!
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Travel Tips
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- Organize your trips easily with a Travel Planner.
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Schengen Tourist Visa
A Schengen tourist visa grants permission to visit any country within the Schengen Area for leisure or to visit friends or family residing in one of the Schengen countries.
Schengen visas can be single-entry or multiple-entry:
Members of the Schengen Area
Where to Apply in Los Angeles, California
3. Travel Insurance
4. Accommodation
Schengen Travel Insurance
Registration Bloopers
I misspelt my name while booking my appointment and promptly emailed VFS. They responded promptly, reassuring me that as long as the correct information is on the application form, the misspelling during booking is not an issue.
On the day of the appointment
Remember to have the following items with you:
Schengen Visa Summary Timeline
Our flight to Paris, France was scheduled for October 12. I registered for my Schengen Visa application on July 19 and gathered all the required documents. To accommodate our plans to visit Italy after Paris, I applied for multiple entries. The appointment to submit my documents was set for August 23. Remember, visa applications should be submitted within 90 days of the departure date. Our flight back to California was on October 26.
I obtained my visa by mail and was all set to embark on my dream trip to Europe. I trust this post has assisted you in navigating the Schengen Visa process. Remember, nothing is beyond reach when you have faith in your dreams.
A Schengen tourist visa grants permission to visit any country within the Schengen Area for leisure or to visit friends or family residing in one of the Schengen countries.
- Philippine Passport holders require a Schengen visa to enter Europe or any Schengen country.
- Even for Green Card holders from the US must apply for a Schengen Visa.
- American citizens can travel to and within the Schengen Zone countries without needing a visa.
- A single-entry visa allows one entry into the Schengen area, denoted by "01" on the visa sticker.
- A multiple-entry visa permits two or multiple entries during its validity period.
Members of the Schengen Area
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- the Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- France Visa Application Center - Los Angeles
- Address: 8530 Wilshire Blvd #450, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
- Website: VFS Global
Other Locations in the US
- To apply for a Schengen visa in the United States, visit the VFS Global application center located in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, or Washington D.C.
Schengen Visa Requirements
1. Completed and signed application form
- Proof of residency in France
- Valid visas and receipts
- Recent ID photograph
- For non-US citizens: documentation of legal status (e.g., green card, visa, I94, or endorsed I20/DS2019)
- Travel document valid for at least three months post-return, issued within the last 10 years, with two blank visa pages, along with passport photocopies.
2. Purpose of Visit/Stay
- Detailed program description (letter of presentation, organized trip reservation)
- Return ticket reservation or travel itinerary
- Travel health insurance certificate (covering medical repatriation, emergency, and hospital treatment costs up to EUR 30,000, valid in the Schengen area).
- "Attestation d'accueil" (if staying with a private individual), or hotel reservation, real estate ownership certificate, or lease agreement
5. Financial Means
- Bank statements from the last three months (printed copies from online accounts accepted), recent pay stubs, last year's income tax return, proof of past economic activity, or pension details
6. Professional Status
- Employer letter, business ownership proof/license (if self-employed), retirement certificate (if retired), or student enrollment certificate
Schengen Travel Insurance
I bought my Schengen Travel Insurance through Europ Assistance. The coverage includes the following details for medical incidents within the Schengen Area:
- Medical expenses up to EUR 30,000, with emergency dental expenses covered up to EUR100.
- Medical Repatriation.
- Transport of mortal remains up to EUR 500.
I misspelt my name while booking my appointment and promptly emailed VFS. They responded promptly, reassuring me that as long as the correct information is on the application form, the misspelling during booking is not an issue.
- Please remember: Visa applications must be submitted within 90 days of the departure date.
Processing Fee
- After scheduling your appointment online, pay the VFS Service Fee of 28.45 USD.
- On the day of the appointment, the application fee is EUR 60, which is approximately equivalent to 67 USD.
On the day of the appointment
Remember to have the following items with you:
- Always wear a smile and dress to impress.
- A valid passport issued within the last 10 years, with a minimum of 3 months of validity beyond the planned departure date, at least 2 blank visa pages, and no physical damage.
- A completed and signed visa application.
- One recent photograph that meets the specified requirements.
- Confirmation page of your appointment.
- Required supporting documents listed in the checklist on the France-Visas website.
Processing Time
The standard processing time for a Schengen Visa is typically about 15 days, but I received mine earlier than expected. In some cases, the process can extend up to 45 days if additional documents are required.
The standard processing time for a Schengen Visa is typically about 15 days, but I received mine earlier than expected. In some cases, the process can extend up to 45 days if additional documents are required.
Schengen Visa Summary Timeline
Our flight to Paris, France was scheduled for October 12. I registered for my Schengen Visa application on July 19 and gathered all the required documents. To accommodate our plans to visit Italy after Paris, I applied for multiple entries. The appointment to submit my documents was set for August 23. Remember, visa applications should be submitted within 90 days of the departure date. Our flight back to California was on October 26.
I obtained my visa by mail and was all set to embark on my dream trip to Europe. I trust this post has assisted you in navigating the Schengen Visa process. Remember, nothing is beyond reach when you have faith in your dreams.
Have fun and be safe ^__^
Check out our Europe Adventure for 2 weeks
Where am I going next?
For my next adventure, we're heading to the Land of the Rising Sun – Japan! I’ve been dreaming about this trip for a long time. Not only is it the birthplace of ramen and sushi, but it is also a mecca for anime lovers.
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