A day in Bangkok: to the embassy for a visa
Tomorrow is the day. The alarm is set at 05.00:06.00. We take the Tuk-Tuk to the picturesque station in Hua Hin and then take the train to Bangkok at XNUMX.
Thursday evening will first be dominated by a meeting with fellow bloggers John, Cor, Dick, Harold and supporters. This while enjoying a snack and many drinks (I suspect). Unfortunately, we can't really go too far, because the next morning we have to report to the Dutch embassy at 11.50:XNUMX am.
Country by the sea
Now that my girlfriend and I have been a couple for over two years, it's time to introduce her to our little country by the sea. Can she enjoy the dikes, windmills, wooden clogs, tulips and salty herring. My family and friends also want to meet her now. After all, they have been reading about the ups and downs of our relationship on Thailandblog for two years. Time to apply for a Schengen visa.
The hallway to the embassy
Although the trip to the embassy should be a cheerful trip, I do notice some tension in her. There is a lot of buzz about the visa procedure among the Thai experts by experience. She has already had to hear many stories, ranging from 'a piece of cake' to 'the passage to the torture chamber'. I reassured her that she has nothing to fear. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I am not allowed to attend the intake interview. She speaks great English, but sometimes she snaps and then she can usually fall back on me. That support is not there now.
Guarantee
Of course I prepared everything well and took care of all the necessary documents. However, I am an independent entrepreneur and then other supporting documents are requested with regard to the guarantee. When I was still in the Netherlands, I called the IND for this. After many questions, I got the right person on the phone who could advise me. That is also an important part of my objection to the procedure. There are a total of four websites where information can be read about the visa procedure (IND, National Government, Embassy and BuZa) One is a bit more concise than the other. Sometimes the information is even contradictory. One mentions handing in one passport photo, the other talks about two passport photos. This fragmentation only makes it more confusing for anyone looking for information.
English?
I can go on like this for a while. The pages about the appointment and the visa application for the Netherlands on the website of VFS Global are in ภาษาไทย and in English. Why not in Dutch? They are static pages that can be easily translated. A visa procedure is so complex that in almost all cases there will be guidance from a Dutch sponsor, so an explanation in Dutch is a logical idea, isn't it? An English visa application form is available on the website of the Dutch embassy in Bangkok. There is also a Dutch version, why not an option? A visa procedure has a considerable emotional charge for the applicant, so wouldn't it be better to offer all forms/procedures in three languages if necessary: Dutch, English and Thai? This is to reduce the chance of errors.
I have sent an email to the embassy regarding the above and more questions and I will share the answers with the readers.
Rejection?
Ahead of Friday, I can't imagine what would happen if the visa application was rejected. The disappointment would be very great, both for her and for me of course. The impact of such a thing is greater than it may seem. Hence the emotional reactions of readers when the embassy in Bangkok is mentioned. After all, we are all human beings, with all the feelings that come with it.
You will read the sequel on Thailandblog, which will take a few days because after the Bangkok trip journey we continue to SiSaKet to visit her family.
I would say "don't worry" only have positive experiences. Got permission from the first time, on the same afternoon as our visit to the embassy. We were able to collect the visa the next day and only then showed the insurance and confirmations of the flights. For me, nothing but praise for the embassy, because after two single entries, the third time we received a multi-entry valid for one year.
My girlfriend always arranges everything in Thailand while I send the documents (scanned for the signature) by email to her from here.
Last year everything went smoothly and now again, but I will only be reassured if she actually comes out through the door tomorrow. As long as that is not the case, I will remain a bit worried and restless.
Good luck tomorrow and everything will be fine.
gr. geriit crack
The handling of the application itself went well for us. My girlfriend is self-employed, so don't worry about not having a job (could be a reason for rejection: danger of establishing a business...). The preliminary process could be better, this should be possible from A to Z in the three languages. For example, the appointment calendar is only in English and my girlfriend did not understand all the words. The visa form should also be in Thai, but they don't have that online. According to the embassy, they do have a translation at the counter, but that is of little use. At my request, 3 months ago this form would also be online, unfortunately not yet seen. The embassy could not tell me why the site is not fully 3 languages. Also emailed VSF Global 2x about this, never had any response. Perhaps if more people ask for full 3-language support, we will be able to experience this one day…
I recently called the embassy and I got a lady on the phone. Spoke to me in English, whereupon I asked her if she also spoke Dutch. No she said only english and thai. I asked her to clarify whether I spoke to the Dutch embassy. Yes, she said to me in English, but my English is not very good and I just dropped out. Nice if you have problems of whatever you come to the English mill. I will now go back to Thailand itself to arrange my wife's MVV visa. Bit messy…..
Strange actually because I applied for a residence permit for my wife's niece about 12 years ago (her 3 years had passed) but I was actually shocked.
Because when I was helped, the female employee of the embassy spoke to me nicely in pretty good Dutch. That's nice, you expect English, you set it up, you say, and then you hear your own language!!
Fred experienced the same thing, I think the same Mrs only spoke English and Thai, but I can expect that Dutch is spoken at the Dutch embassy, so much money wasted because the request was rejected.
The problem is now I have to go to Thailand every time (lol) do that just as sweet. Go again in May
Dutch is also spoken, but then she has to transfer the conversation to a Dutchman and that is a loss of face.
But with a little pushing and pulling I always managed.
Frank
Fortunately, I have not been to the Dutch embassy in Bangkok for a long time. I have bad memories of it, which I will not elaborate on. It is quite absurd that you cannot use the Dutch language at a Dutch embassy. and that forms are not drawn up in Dutch. There is not much wrong with my English, but we have a beautiful language ourselves. And an embassy should be a piece of the Netherlands on foreign soil. Unfortunately, this is not the worst thing that was wrong with this institute at the time.
Good luck Peter. Hopefully it will be okay! Think that the situation you are in is favorable. Coincidentally, I'm also looking into this area at the moment. Find it difficult, but it can be done. Would like to show my girlfriend the Netherlands, and she is very much looking forward to it herself. Between 2 and 3 months in the Netherlands seems fantastic to me, and maybe we will go back here together afterwards.
The problem is that I am young and do not have a permanent job. One of my parents will therefore have to act as guarantor, but I am not yet sure whether this is possible since you also have to substantiate the relationship between the person who acts as guarantor and the person who comes to the Netherlands from Thailand. My parents don't get any further than: Our son's girlfriend. I'm afraid this is not enough.
Let her guarantee herself financially: 30 euros per day of stay in the Schengen area. The requirement of a full-time job that guarantees at least another year's income (!!) is ridiculous when it comes to a CRR. In this way, my girlfriend (together with papers proving that she is an independent entrepreneur) also obtained the visa smoothly.
It is also a ridiculous requirement for an MVV, they actually have to check that the guest and inviter can take care of themselves, but then it seems to me that not having a benefit and/or (in the first period say 2-3 or 5 years) no benefit for the foreigner to keep out 'mole eaters'. Of course, if you come here, you should not be able to receive or want benefits immediately. After a few years of work or special circumstances (accident makes guest incapacitated for work), it should be possible, after all, you pay taxes, etc., so you also acquire certain rights. But I'm drifting...
Can you guarantee yourself? This is a good solution! Thank you.
She now has a full-time job, but if she comes to the Netherlands for (calculated) 83 days, her employer will also think it is enough. Not that crazy either. Is this something the Embassy needs to know? Or can the current contract be shown?
Thanks for your help.
Yes, she must show an original bank book with enough balance for the duration of the stay (you will probably have to deposit to
to meet this balance). If she also has a statement from her employer regarding vacation, you don't have to fear rejection on the basis of the risk of establishment. But especially look at SBP, this has helped me a lot!
In addition: for more information and tips I would check out the site of the Foreign Partner Foundation. Very useful for preparing for a VKV, MVV, integration and all other aspects of living together with a BP.
Thank you very much. I'm active there now and get great help!
Don't worry!!
Have nothing but positive experience with the embassy. Twice applied for a tourist visa with the necessary papers. Twice my wife was called the same day after her visit, visa was issued. No problem. Everything is also arranged immediately with the subsequent MVV application.
My girlfriend has been in the Netherlands from mid-December to mid-March, we had a very nice time here and would like to repeat.
The 1st time it was no problem at all to get a visa and was helped nicely.
She had a job until December and also a statement of that, but after 3 months of vacation she could not return to her employer.
Now we want to apply for a VKV again for August to November and I also want her to take the integration course in the classroom at school during this period and, after those 3 months, have her take an exam at the embassy in Bangkok. I have probably written an invitation letter in which I mention all this. The exam would then also be seen by the embassy as a reason for return. After all, you are not doing that course that costs EUR 850,00 for nothing and then you also want to take the integration exam. seems logical to me. It is useful to put this in the invitation letter as the reason for return.
I have a lot of days off, but 2x 3 months vacation my boss really does not agree with that, not even in the Netherlands, which seems logical to me, does anyone have experience with this.
I will be in Thailand in June myself, so I can also arrange things there. If anyone has any tips please let me know.
Just be honest, an invitation letter is no longer necessary because they now have the 'guarantor and/or accommodation provision form', but I would include it. Explain your intentions here, briefly and specifically. Add a copy of her previous visa/visa and passage stamps, as well as your entry and exit stamps, read the requirements carefully and you should be fine.
And what was the result Peter? She must have had a telephone message a long time ago is our experience so far.
Op http://www.rijksoverheid.nl you can simply print the application form in Dutch, first submit then schengen visa. Indeed, not with an explanation, which I am now hearing about, such as 30 euros per day and annual report..
But when I see the form it says that at question 33 travel expenses and living expenses, are borne by the host also tick the option of cash and accommodation made available.
It seems to me that if you provide a copy of your bank statement with sufficient salo 30 times 30, it will be equated or is only housing with a travel ticket sufficient again??
Yes Peter how are you doing?