Possible to apply for schengan visa outside of country?

[ozegirl]

Hi,

I'm trying to help a friend's mum who is staying with me from Nigeria. She wants to go to the Netherlands to visit friends staying there, but didn't apply for a schengan visa before coming to the UK.

Her UK visa is valid until February 2012, so she would ideally like to apply for a schengan visa whilst she is holidaying here, rather than going back to Nigeria to apply and then travelling all the way back. She is in her late 60s, so the long journey by herself is a bit much and she wants to avoid doing it again so soon if she can help it!

The person in the Netherlands is happy to sponsor her visit, and has written an invitation letter, completed a sponsor form, and has supplied copies of her bank statement and Dutch passport.

I just spoke to the Dutch Embassy and they said my friend's mum needs to supply a copy of her UK bank statement, but as she is only visiting in the UK she doesn't have one.

I just need some advice on what we can do? Is there's a way she can apply whilst visiting here? I presume there must be a way, as people change travel plans all the time.

Thanks in advance for your advice!!!!

[mulderpf]

I don't think this is possible at all.

In order to apply at the Netherlands Embassy in UK for a visa, you need to be resident in the UK (e.g. either on a long-term visa or a citizen staying here) - they do not know the rules for residents of Nigeria. The same reason why someone with a UK visa cannot apply from Argentina - they simply just don't know all the rules and variety of visas out there.

In addition to this, processing takes a while as Nigerian passports have to be sent to The Hague when applying from the UK (not sure if this arrangement takes place in Nigeria too).

That said, you could always try and apply anyway. If you don't have a bank account, you can supply them with travellers cheques amounting to at least EUR34 per day (they don't take cash, credit cards etc, but will take travellers cheques). That is the maintenance funds sorted.

How did she prove to the UK that she will go back home? She will have to give some similar proof for Schengen as one would normally have to send an employer letter as part of the application.

Also, another issue would be travel insurance. Did she take out travel insurance for coming to the UK? This is a MUST when applying for a Schengen - however, as she isn't resident in the UK, I'm not sure how it will work.

I had to apply via VFS in London - not sure where you are based, but it takes quite some time to get an appointment, so try and make the appointment as soon as possible, even while you are trying to sort out all the arrangements.

Unfortunately, there are so many things to consider when applying for a Schengen visa, that your statement of people's travel arrangements changing isn't completely valid. Even with Leave to Remain in the UK, it is incredibly frustrating not to be able to pop off to Paris for the weekend or do something spontaneous. All my European holidays have to be planned months in advance and exceptional detail to ensure I get the visa. This is just how it is if you are subject to visas...

[mulderpf]

Here is a possible answer. Don't know the details in terms of how long your friend's mom has left in UK.