Schengen Multi-Entry

[bb21]

Hi, I have a rather strange question about multi-entry visa and wonder if anyone has any idea about it.

I'm non-EU and have a trip to Spain booked for 7/7 this year. As this is my first time into Europe I underestimated the waiting times at the Spanish Embassy and now have to go via a different country. My plan is to go to a second country for a weekend before Spain in late June then come back to the UK, then go to Spain in July for 12 days and come back to the UK again. Finally I will go to that second country again for 12 days in August I think to satisfy the condition on "Main Destination".

I have now obtained appointment with the Swedish embassy on 19/6, the Portuguese on 9/6 and plan to get hold of a French appointment for sometime soon online. I have already been told by the Finns that they need no appointment but will only issue single-entries.

My question is do any of these countries prefer to issue single-entries, and if any of them have a good record of issuing multi-entry ones? I will be able to provide all the necessary documentation on my bookings and have the appropriate insurance in place no problem. But on the other hand I have heard that some countries just won't issue multi-entries on your first application. I have heard that the French are quite good at multi-entries and have a faster processing time.

My residence in UK runs out in 2011, so does my passport and I plan to apply for ILR late 2010 as I will have been in the UK for 11 years by then.