Europe Tourist Visa for Thai

[ATMwalking]

If a Thai gets a tourist visa for some European country, can they start traveling around to other parts of Europe? Does a UK tourist visa work for the rest of Europe and the reverse? Not sure how it works with the whole EU thing now.

Assuming the above is true...what is the easiest country for getting a visa when there are no residents involved? This assumes they would be traveling with a Farang with a normal first world go-anywhere passport.

[Nicke]

You can apply for a schengen visa which covers most of Europe but excluding UK.

When I took Ead to Sweden I had to guarantee for her, I am not sure how it works in the case you mention as you are not a european citizen. In any case, I do think she need a travel insurance and maybe show she have enough money to afford her travel/holiday.

Also having an invitation letter from e.g. a company or organization makes things easier, if you have a purpose for the visit.

[LivinLOS]

Schengen is good for all of Schengen.. But the UK is not a signatory and some (Iceland) are not full signatories..

However border controls are slack and I have taken girls without visa's from UK through NI into Ireland.. Mainland Europe there are no border controls so its a non issue.

[Nicke]

I had a quick look at Swedish embassy website;

You should apply at the embassy of your main/first destination in Europe.

Here is the info I copied from Swedish Consulate - New York:

Visiting Sweden as a Tourist

When applying for a tourist visa for Sweden, you must submit all of the following documents:

• Application for Schengen Visa (form #119031), completed, signed and dated.
• Appendix D: Family Appendix for Applicants (form #201031).
• National passport or other travel document – valid until at least three months after the end of the trip.
• 2 passport photos, in color, taken from the front with the face depicted at a straight angle. Digital photos and photocopies of passport pictures will NOT be accepted.
• Notarized copy of US Alien Registration Card or other valid resident visa (type A, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, O, or R).
• A current bank statement.
• Proof of health insurance coverage outside the US (minimum 30,000 Euro).
• Letter from your employer stating that you are employed and have vacation. If you are self-employed, include a copy of your business license and tax return. If you are a student, include a letter from the school verifying enrollment.
• A copy of your flight itinerary.
• A copy of your hotel reservation.
• If the applicant is a minor, notarized written consent from both parents is required.
• Application fee and return postage in the form of one money order or certified bank check, payable to Consulate General of Sweden, Consulate of Sweden, or Embassy of Sweden, depending on where you file the application. Applicants applying in person at the Consulate General of Sweden in New York may also pay by Visa or MasterCard.

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by Nicke

You can apply for a schengen visa which covers most of Europe but excluding UK.

When I took Ead to Sweden I had to guarantee for her, I am not sure how it works in the case you mention as you are not a european citizen. In any case, I do think she need a travel insurance and maybe show she have enough money to afford her travel/holiday.

Also having an invitation letter from e.g. a company or organization makes things easier, if you have a purpose for the visit.

Good info. Thanks. So wouldn't have a main destination. In that case any of the schengen could receive the application. Is spain an easy country? Figure they would have less of a backlog then somewhere like Sweden.

Too bad doesn't cover the UK. Guess they don't want the tourist money.

[LivinLOS]

The UK has always maintained the Island mentality when it comes to Europe..

It wasnt too tough to get into Holland.. I imagine belgium and the less common migration countries would have a lower volume of applicants and a higher % of successes.

[ATMwalking]

Related question then. If you got a schengen would that then make getting the UK visa easier?

Was thinking of doing a extended stop-over in the UK and zipping around the EU before popping over the Atlantic.

[LivinLOS]

They say that it should make no difference.. Each is a sovereign state etc..

However I was told that if wifey (who had permanent right of residency in Schengen Europe) applied in Amsterdam (where we had been living in Holland but not 100% legally) it would have been a formality and near 100% of getting it. We actually applied one time in BKK when we had a ticket to Holland booked for a few days later, tried a visa app while spending some days shopping in BKK.. They gave us the VISA that afternoon anyway.

So I think if you had a Schengen, then applied while in Europe with the desire to go 'sightseeing' in London while on your European vacation, you would get in.

Note with Schengen visa's you have the 'right of transit' not as I understand the right to stay.. We just told anybody that stopped us we were leaving the country next day or two as Kims was a Viennese right of abode. So apply in the country you get the Schengen one for.

[Nanook]

Originally Posted by Nicke

You can apply for a schengen visa which covers most of Europe but excluding UK.

When I took Ead to Sweden I had to guarantee for her, I am not sure how it works in the case you mention as you are not a european citizen. In any case, I do think she need a travel insurance and maybe show she have enough money to afford her travel/holiday.

Also having an invitation letter from e.g. a company or organization makes things easier, if you have a purpose for the visit.

Like Nicke mentioned there are rules and you do need to prove certain things.

For a holiday visa for Holland (which belongs to the Schengen countries), you need to have a confirmed retuirn ticket BKK-AMS-BKK, then a travel/health insurance policy valid for the duration of your stay and which covers a minimum of € 30K. Next to that the applicant must prove she has the money to cover her stay. This amount is minimum € 34 per day. If she doesn't have the money, then she should have a legalized letter that she is guaranteed. This guarantee letter should be arranged by the person who guarantees her.

The holiday visa is then valid for max. 90 days and you can travel to all Schengen countries.

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by Nanook

For a holiday visa for Holland (which belongs to the Schengen countries), you need to have a confirmed retuirn ticket BKK-AMS-BKK

Why do you need to purchase the ticket in advance? If you don't get the visa then it is a ***** to get a refund. Plus you aren't exactly sure when the visa would be approved anyway.

It is so much nicer having a real passport and just being able to go anywhere.

[Nicke]

You pre-book your flight and get a printed itinerary, you show that to embassy, If you get the visa you pay, if not, you just cancel that booking. I did same for Ead.

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

Why do you need to purchase the ticket in advance? If you don't get the visa then it is a ***** to get a refund. Plus you aren't exactly sure when the visa would be approved anyway.

It is so much nicer having a real passport and just being able to go anywhere.

[Nanook]

Originally Posted by Nicke

You pre-book your flight and get a printed itinerary, you show that to embassy, If you get the visa you pay, if not, you just cancel that booking. I did same for Ead.

Hmmm... Nicke, you are faster than me... But yes, indeed you pre-book and show the booking details at the embassy.

Here is the link of the Dutch embassy in Bangkok in English: Ambassade Bangkok - Visa application

There you can find more detailed info. I hope it helps you.