Schengen visa - change of port of entry plans

[gregshukla]

Hi guys!

This is a bit of an urgent request, so any help will be hugely appreciated!

I had planned to travel from London to Brussels (on 15th) by train. However with the EuroStar tunnel fire incident, I am now booking a ticket London --> Milan --> Brussels.

When I applied for my Schengen at the Belgian embassy, I had shown my EuroStar ticket. Can I now enter Belgium vis Italy instead?

Also, I am leaving Schengen zone via Italy as well (as was original plan). So basically both my entry and exit stamps would be from Italian port. So there is no proof I ever entered Belgium. Would this be a problem for future visa applications?

Please guide me!

Thanks,
Greg.

[Christophe]

Entering the Schengen area via Italy won't be a problem. If you were to be questioned about why you have a visa issued by Belgium (I think it's unlikely), say that your main destination is Belgium (which is true, and you will have your travel itinerary with you should you be asked for it).

In fact, as I understand it, Belgium would have been the right country to apply to for your visa even if the Milan entry had been your original plan, since you should apply to the country that is your main destination. You are asked to apply to the country of first entry only if you have no "main destination".

When leaving the Schengen area you can show them your itinerary again, should the need arise (but I don't think it will).

As to next time you might apply for a Schengen visa, make sure you keep a copy of your new itinerary and boarding passes (showing that you're heading for Belgium); also keep things such as the hotel bill and any restaurant receipts etc that you receive in Belgium. Presumably you will be paying for the hotel by credit card, which would seem to me to be pretty good evidence that you were in Belgium and not in Italy.