Multiple entry Schengen Visa, and hotel booking

[trinity896]

Hello,

I'd like some informations about how to maximise the chances of getting a 6 months multiple entry visa through the French embassy in London.

I am french, and the application will be for my indian boyfriend who is working in UK on a Tier-1 Visa.

Our trip itinerary will be :

- 25/26/27 of June : Weekend in Paris
- 30 July to 10th August : Holidays in Italy
- Mid October : Weekend in Malaga, Spain

He has an apointment at the French Embassy next week and I'm actually confused about wheter it is better for him to aply for all the trips at the same time, or just for the weekend in Paris.

Indeed, I am afraid that if we explain about the 3 trips, the Embassy says that we should book an apointment to the Italian Embassy, as we are staying longer in Italy than in France. Also, we haven't yet booked our hotels for Italy and Malaga, is it compulsory to do so even if we got the planes tickets and the hotel booked for the 1st trip in Paris ?

So I wonder if maybe it would be safer to just apply for a 6 months multiple entry visa with only the parisian trip on the file. As he has already had 2 Schengen visa for France before, got a travel insurance til end of December 2010, and more than £1,000 on the account, he should get normally get it no ?

Finally, last question : in Paris we could stay at a friend's place but I don't want them to do the "Certificate of Board and Lodging", as it is long, annoying and expensive. So I'm thinking about booking an hotel and cancel it after obtaining my visa. The only problem is that it is specified on the website that "To ensure that visa nationals comply with the legislation in regards to the reality of stay in France, controls will be made prior and after the visa has been granted. ". Do you think the Consulate really checks with the hotel, has anybody ever have problems ?

Thanks for your advices !

Aurélie

[mollybird]

Hi

I have just been approved for a mulitple schengan visa. Initially the plan was to go to Malta as a surprise by my husband but because I was in South Africa with my daughter I had to wait until I get back to apply for visa. To get a visa for Malta proved to cause complications. I only had 4 weeks to get my visa and the earliest appointment I might have got was 3 weeks and then it takes several days.

We then decided to cancel Malta and apply through an agency for a French schengen visa but specifying that we wanted multiple entry.

Within 4 days I was telephonically informed that my visa was approved and should be with me in few days. We then cancel booking for France (was very cheap) and booked Malta for 2 weeks instead. Came back on Friday.
Also received 6 months so only expire in November and will therefore go to France and Spain during the summer holidays.

If you want the agency details PM me else it shouldnt be a problem if you have an appointment already.
Good luck