French Schengen Visa Application - Couple of Questions

[Ducky11]

Hi All,

I am an Indian national living & working in London with a work permit valid till 13th Feb 2014. I’ve had 4-5 Schengen visas during the past 4 years, all multiple entry & valid for 6 months, besides my last one which was Danish single entry only for a week. I have a couple of questions which I was hoping you would be able to help me out with –

I have a booking to go to Paris for a couple of days towards the end of December (24th). What is the earliest date I can apply for my Schengen? There are still >3 months before I depart. Would it be OK if I applied now?

Secondly, I live with my French girlfriend, but it is not an official civil partnership. We have been living together for about 2 years & have utility bills to prove that. It would really be beneficial for me if they granted me a 1-year multiple entry visa (valid till December 2013, 2 months before my UK leave to remain expires) as I will be travelling to France multiple times in the year. I have not made any travel bookings besides the one for December but it will definitely happen. Do you think it would tip the scales in my favour if I asked my girlfriend to draft a letter stating that we live together & requesting that I get a longer visa since we are together & I will be travelling to Paris multiple times in the subsequent months? I can provide a tenancy agreement & utility bills with both our names to prove that we are living together & have annual travel insurance.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers,
Ducky

[Ducky11]

Any help would be appreciated!

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

Secondly, I live with my French girlfriend, but it is not an official civil partnership. We have been living together for about 2 years & have utility bills to prove that.

I'm not sure if I can answer your original question, but there is another angle.

You could apply for residence documentation from the UK authorities as durable partner. If you held a residence card of an EU family member you would not need a visa if you travel with your family member.

Warning: think the implications through and fully understand them before actually making an application. Such an application may not suit you if for example, you are aiming for ILR in the UK and have accumulated a lot of time. It is however, something you may wish to explore.

[Ducky11]

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately this is not an option for me as I am aiming to get ILR in 1.5 years & would not want to jeopardize that in any way.

[Jambo]

Secondly, I live with my French girlfriend, but it is not an official civil partnership. We have been living together for about 2 years & have utility bills to prove that.

I'm not sure if I can answer your original question, but there is another angle.

You could apply for residence documentation from the UK authorities as durable partner. If you held a residence card of an EU family member you would not need a visa if you travel with your family member.

Warning: think the implications through and fully understand them before actually making an application. Such an application may not suit you if for example, you are aiming for ILR in the UK and have accumulated a lot of time. It is however, something you may wish to explore.

Nothing stops you from holding a Residence Card under the EEA regulations in parallel to a work permit. Applying for RC doesn't invalidate your WP. however it takes about 6 months to get one so you might be better off applying for Schengen visas for your trips.

[Ducky11]

Thanks for your post Jambo.

Either way, for now I want to stick to the Schengen & would really appreciate it if anybody could provide some guidance regarding my original questions.

Cheers
Ducky

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

The answers to your questions will be in this document.

http://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/polici ... 620_en.pdf

[Ducky11]

Thanks, the only thing I could get out of that is that I shouldn't apply more than 3 months before I scheduled date of departure to France.

That answers my 1st question, but not the 2nd.

Anyone? Please...

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

Thanks, the only thing I could get out of that is that I shouldn't apply more than 3 months before I scheduled date of departure to France.

That answers my 1st question, but not the 2nd.

Anyone? Please...

Actually, the second question was answered, but you dismissed it (though you might not have realised it). If you want to be recognised as an other family member as a durable partner, you could do. See directive 2004/38/EC.

Othewise, you're a normal applicant...