Siam Legal International

Schengen Visa

Generally speaking, a Schengen visa is a type of travel document used by known signatories of the Schengen Agreement. Through this, participating members can freely travel throughout the Schengen zone without strict control. This means that geographical borders are no longer existent and that all travels are considered as local trips.

Currently, there are twenty-five (25) Schengen members. These are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Visa Eligibility

Obviously, the above-mentioned countries are eligible for a Schengen visa. Third-world nationals are likewise eligible. Areas or regions that are not recognized by Schengen territories are the only ones that are not permitted to use this particular document.

Visa Requirements

Third-world nationals who wish to go to any Schengen states should submit the following documents:

Valid travel document
A short stay visa, if required
They should also present the purpose of their journey or travel
Evidences of sufficient financial resources
Third-world nationals should not come from a country that is included in the Schengen’s list
Applicant should not be a public threat.

Process

The steps in obtaining a Schengen visa are as follow:

Identify the area of destination – Knowing the main destination is important since this will determine the embassy that will process the application. If the main area cannot be determined, then distinguish the country that is the first point of entry

Go to the concerned embassy – Once the main destination or first point of entry has been identified, one should go to the embassy where they will lodge their application. In cases where the Schengen state has no diplomatic mission, one should go to the embassy that represents other Schengen territories in terms of visa-related concerns. For example, in the Philippines, applicants of Lithuanian visa should go to the Austrian embassy to facilitate their applications.

Inquire for the requirements – Depending on the travel’s purpose, embassies may ask for specific documents aside from the ones stated above.

Gather all the documents – Obtain all the necessary documents once identified. Do not procrastinate.

Pay the fees– Pay the application fees and keep the receipt as evidence

Set an appointment – Certain embassies have provided hotlines to facilitate the scheduling of appointments and for a faster visa processing.

Prepare for possible interview and submit the documents –Submit all the required documents to the embassy. Applicants are also advised to prepare for an interview.

Wait for the approval

Immigration Lawyers

The need for immigration lawyers stems from the complexity of immigration laws. Certain provisions or regulations could be confusing. Competent immigration attorneys can translate those policies to Schengen visa candidates and make the whole process easier for them.

Siam Legal is one of the renowned law firms in Thailand which boasts of its experience and expertise in handling immigration-related matters. Its main office is located in Bangkok. Likewise, the law firm has its branches in other major cities in Thailand such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, HuaHin and Samui. Aside from that, Siam Legal has also established its presence in Los Angeles and London. With its roster of competent and efficient lawyers, Siam Legal guarantees that it can assist clients with their immigration needs.