Dear readers,
I would also like to share our story. I have been married to my Thai wife for many years and have been living permanently in Thailand for about six years.
This summer we would like to visit family in Belgium. My wife must therefore have a Schengen visa in order to travel. I am registered at the Belgian embassy in Bangkok. My wife was allowed to submit her file there (and not via VFS). All papers were issued on Thursday, February 22.
Today, Saturday March 2, she received her passport (EMS shipment) with an approved visa for 4 weeks.
What was asked:
– Completed electronically completed application (https://visaonweb.diplomatie.be/en/Account/Login) that you must print once and provide with a photo
– Passport of the applicant (my wife)
– Copy of the identity page of my wife's passport
– Copy of the identity page of my passport (or copy of my ID card)
– Original copy of our marriage (issued in English at the amphur where we live)
– Proof that we are still married (issued in English at the amphur where we live)
– A bank statement showing how much pension I receive monthly (for the last 3 months)
– An invitation letter from my son stating that we will be staying with him
– Insurance for coverage of at least €30000
– An addressed cover for returning the passport
– 40 Baht to be paid
– Visa itself is FREE
At the time of the application, we had not yet booked any airline tickets or hotels (we will travel to France for another week after our visit to Belgium). This was also not asked.
We were received politely and correctly at the embassy (after appointment). After showing the email confirming our appointment, we were allowed to hand in the paperwork at a counter inside. Everything was handled in Thai (ideal for my wife) – her fingerprints were taken – and the application file was registered in their computer. Fifteen minutes later we were back outside.
The visa processing took barely a week.
With this I want to show that not everything is doom and gloom. If your file is in order, you can rest easy. We were surprised that everything was approved in such a short period of time. Thanks to our embassy.
A happy man,
René
Dear Rene,
Great to hear that the process went smoothly. What I just don't understand is why you have been treated partly under the special rules of "family of a Union citizen" (direct access to the embassy instead of the external service provider TLS Contact, no need to pay visa fees) and partly as a regular visa application with the purpose “family visit” (and therefore proving accommodation in Belgium, demonstrating financial requirements, etc.).
After all, for a regular application from a Belgian and the married Thai partner, all regular requirements would apply and you would simply have to go to TLS Contact and pay the visa fee. If you are a Belgian who falls under European Directive 2004/38, i.e. a Belgian who has already lived in another EU country for at least 3 months, the visa would not only be available free of charge and by appointment at the embassy. also, only a very small number of documents should be requested (which concerns proving the family bond and that you are traveling to Belgium together, and therefore not proving accommodation, finances, etc.).
The only logical explanation I can think of with the description given is that you fell under Directive 2004/38 (and therefore the "special" free, accelerated and simplified procedure), and had not considered this when you submitted the application. was prepared and therefore you provided the documents for a regular application and these were simply confiscated by the embassy. Officials also sometimes want to ask for too many documents for the free EU/EEA family member visa, so no surprise in that respect. Submitting documents that are not actually required, but which you already had and pleasing the official, is then a small effort. If the application has been processed further as an EU/EEA family member, most documents will have been ignored by the decision official.
If it were determined that this was a regular application, the question remains why fees were not still requested. I then have to speculate that people did this out of leniency or their own convenience (hassle to ask for payment afterwards) and simply left it at that or simply forgot about it.
Anyway, glad the visa has arrived. Don't forget to have a (copy) of the documents that were part ready in case you want to see them again for inspection upon entering the Belgian border. We wish you a pleasant stay.
Yours faithfully,
Rob V
Sources:
https://thailand.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/travel-belgium/visa-belgium/visa-type-required-documents
https://dofi.ibz.be/nl/themes/ressortissants-dun-pays-tiers/regroupement-familial/de-gezinshereniger-onderdaan-van-een-eu
https://www.agii.be/thema/vreemdelingenrecht-internationaal-privaatrecht/verblijfsrecht-uitwijzing-reizen/kort-verblijf
Unfortunately, René's provided email address was invalid, so for additional comments about his situation, I hope he will explain them in a response here on the blog. Of course, the experiences of other readers can also be useful for the rest of the (Belgian) readers.
Dear Rob,
I simply followed the procedure that the embassy emailed me (see email below).
I actually had no knowledge of that accelerated procedure, directly via the embassy. It was my wife who drew my attention to this (she had heard this somewhere in a support group on the internet).
Does this accelerated procedure perhaps have something to do with the fact that my wife is already known in their system? She has lived and worked in Belgium for many years.
Here is the email from our embassy:
Dear,
If you are legally married and you are registered at this embassy, your spouse can submit her visa application directly at the embassy, after making an appointment.
Appointments are only possible on Tuesdays and Thursdays and must be made via [email protected].
The following supporting documents must be attached to the visa application:
1.The original passport
2. Copy of the identity page of your passport
3. Completed and signed application form. Please note that the handwritten visa application will not be accepted, the applicant MUST fill in a form on our VISA ON WEB platform: Login (diplomatie.be) visa C – short stay
4. 1 recent color photograph (3.5 x 4.5cm) with white background
5. Original of a guarantee letter (according to article 3bis of law of 15/12/1980), legalized by the municipality where he/she is residing (+ 1 copy). This document is valid for 6 months until the date of submitting visa application.
FR: https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/themas/faq/engagement-de-prise-en-charge
NL: https://dofi.ibz.be/nl/themas/faq/kort-verblijf/voldoende-bestaansmiddelen/
OR financial documents of the applicant such as credit cards, bank statements, last 3 months pay slip, proof of recent income of the guarantor
6. Copy of the ID card or passport of your Belgian spouse
7. Copy of travel insurance valid in Schengen area, coverage minimum 30.000 Euro or equivalent amount in Baht.
8. Copy of marriage certificate
9. Invitation of the person in Belgium stating the purpose of stay, address, telephone number, email address and the period of stay of the guest(s).
10. 1 self-addressed envelope with expedition fee 40 baht (in case you would like to send back passport by EMS post)
Best regards,
René
Thanks for the explanation René. As I read it, this procedure is only for Belgians who are registered at the embassy. They then receive treatment somewhere between the “regular visa procedure” (visit the external service provider, pay full fees, submit all documents) and the “EU family member procedure” (accelerated, free, with a minimum of documents).
If the embassy had considered a Belgian registered at the embassy as falling under Directive 2004/38, they would have had to ask for far fewer documents, but for the rest they would indeed have to be requested directly through the embassy (by appointment), accelerated, free visa and so on.
If you had been treated as a regular applicant, they would also have asked for proof of the Thai foreigner's socio-economic ties (in connection with the requirement to demonstrate a plausible timely return to Thailand). Also, the visa would not have been free and you would have had to go to the VAC of TLS Contact (formerly VFS Global). That is still the route for Belgians living in Belgium who want to bring their Thai partner over for a short stay.
If a Thai-Belgian married couple lives in Thailand, this will apparently be sufficient proof (registration at the Belgian embassy) that they will return to Thailand on time. In short, a route that is somewhere between the regular (all the mess) and the EU procedure (free, fast, little paperwork).
I am still inquiring about this at the embassy.
“I am still checking this with the embassy.”
If the procedure as it currently exists actually falls between two existing regulations and is actually a favoritism from our embassy, it would be better not to stir the pot, Rob.
The embassy will soon scrap this method and we will all have to complain to VFS Global for months to go on holiday with our spouse.
Dear Maarten, if I want to inform readers of this blog properly and completely, I will have to verify important details with them from the embassy. I can then include this “interim route” in the next update of the Schengen Dossier. I hope to update the file in April with the latest figures, standard amounts and this procedure.
The text from René's email cannot be found on the website of the embassy, external service provider, Immigration Department, etc. But the embassy has no interest in making this a semi-public secret, I may assume... If Belgians living in Thailand with their married partner do not want to rely on "hearsay", then I hope that my file will be of service to them are. They don't have to bother the embassy that anyone who thinks they fall under this procedure will ask the embassy separately.
And for those who have to go to the external service provider, the deadlines there are not months. The maximum period to visit by appointment is TWO WEEKS. And then the decision official (in the back office of the Belgian embassy) has 15 calendar days to make a decision. In special cases, when additional research and additional documents are required, this can increase to 45 calendar days. Normally, there should be a maximum of one month between wanting to make an appointment and receiving the passport back.
If this, as you call it, the intermediate route, is not described anywhere, why is this method known in René's wife's 'talk groups'?
Something isn't right somewhere. On the internet, Thai ladies know all too well what they must and can do to obtain a Schengen visa, but an official version is not known. Quite strange though.
I'm curious to see how the stem actually fits into the fork!
Good question Roger.
The Thai ladies are sometimes better informed than their own Farang. I sometimes hear things from my wife that are only officially confirmed afterwards.
I also find it strange that the procedure discussed in this topic is not described anywhere. The embassy can't just apply this on its own, can it?
Doesn't the embassy have an interest in keeping that interim solution quiet?
If all Belgians, married to their Thai lady and registered at the embassy (which is usually the case) were to apply for their Schengen visa directly at the embassy, there is a chance that they will be buried under files there.
And the end result will be that they will shrug this off and we will all be able to sit down at VFS Global and pay a lot for their services.
So that silence is not only in the interest of the workload in the embassy but also in OUR interest.
“Blooded with requests.” Just a quick calculation:
– About 3.000 (slightly more) Belgians are registered at the embassy
– About 6.000 visa applications are received per year
– About 10% of the requests are “visit friends/family”
If all applications came from Belgians married to a Thai and were all registered at the embassy, that would be 6000*0,1 = 600 applications. In theory, all those requests could be covered, making it a maximum of 3 requests per working day.
Of course, the reality is far from that. There will be a maximum of 1 per working day, probably a lot less. After all: not all of those Belgians have a married partner, not all of them are registered at the embassy, not all of them want to travel to Belgium, those who do go on holiday and more than once can enter a multiple entry of several years. possess validity and so on.
In practice it will be a single request per week. Taking into account the climate, holiday periods and the like, sometimes there will be a “busy” week and sometimes a week with no one going through this procedure. But buried under files?? I consider the staff at the embassy to be capable and sufficiently staffed to handle this.
Be happy that someone mentions this procedure and take advantage of it, I would say. And since I have a correct and complete file, I will include it there as well.
Source of the figures: see my “visa under the microscope” pieces here on the blog and for the number of registered Belgians see Google for a link to a page of the Belgian government.
A nice calculation based on… air.
At most a few files per week? But if you want an appointment at the relevant service, you have to wait 3 weeks. In fact, I have personally experienced it. Strange indeed.
Based on embassy figures, I don't call that air. They also do other work at the embassy, so it is quite possible that they receive several visa applications per week, such as René's, a single EU/EEA visa application, and then still spend a lot of time with Belgians who come to the embassy for all kinds of other matters.
But maybe you are talking about an appointment at the VAC?
The vast majority of people go/must go to the external service provider (TLS Contact). And they also work for other embassies and have agreements with each embassy about capacity. It is possible that the Belgian embassy will have to revise its agreements with TLS or that TLS simply has too few staff (this was the case with the VAC in 2022 because many staff had been made redundant during Covid, and when this was over, full capacity was not immediately available again). staff).
In any case, a 3-week waiting period is contrary to European rules (laid down in the joint Visa Code). This should only happen occasionally in the event of force majeure, but the rule is “wait a maximum of 2 weeks for an appointment”. So speak to the embassy or the VAC about this if this is not an incidental occurrence.
Dear Rob,
I wouldn't jump to too many conclusions on this one.
This semi-public secret is of course a bonus, but how long will it last if it becomes public?
Soon we will all be allowed to go to an external paper pusher, with the result that we will have to wait for weeks and that the visa will no longer be free!
Haha Maarten, I was just about to respond the same way.
People sometimes say: sleeping dogs...
I hope that our embassy does not scrap those regulations. I could also use the same method mentioned in this topic in the future.
A special citizen-friendly treatment.
I would recommend Dutch people with a Thai husband/wife to follow a similar path by:
– plan a trip to and stay in Belgium;
– and then make an appointment for the visa application at the Belgian embassy via email. The condition that one is registered there (or at another) embassy will of course not apply.
In addition, interest groups of Dutch people (those who keep this blog up and running, for example) could urge the Dutch consul or ambassador to introduce a similar procedure at the NL embassy. Such a procedure is not prohibited at all.
But who knows, maybe someone from the NL embassy will read this and independently come to the conclusion that the Belgians do have a good procedure.
Another question for René: did his wife receive a C visa for 90 days that can be used several times within a validity period of the visa sticker of five years?
Dear,
Unfortunately, I fear your proposal will not work. The procedure is only valid for married Belgians who are registered at the Belgian embassy.
My wife has received a short-stay visa, valid for 4 weeks, to be used in July 2024.
Apparently, this short accelerated procedure must not be so unknown among visa applicants if my wife just found out about it through some chat friends. We had to wait 3 weeks before we could get an appointment, so the embassy service is apparently busy.
It is indeed a friendly and pleasant solution.
Greetings, René.
I may have been a bit quick with my response...sorry...
You are right, as a spouse married to an EU citizen she can indeed apply for a Schengen visa directly at the embassy if the main purpose of the trip is in Belgium.
Success.
What remains is that it says
“If you are legally married and you are registered at this embassy, your spouse can submit her visa application directly at the embassy, after making an appointment.”
Dutch people are not and it does not matter whether they go to Belgium or not. That route via the embassy remains closed to them and therefore also to non-registered Belgians and unmarried Belgians.
D
Ronnie,
Your response is incorrect.
Anyone can apply for any EU/EEA family application in a country other than your own.
In this specific example of Prawo, any Thai spouse married to a Dutch citizen can perfectly apply for a free Schengen visa through the Belgian embassy when they arrive in Belgium and the main purpose of their trip is Belgium.
Rob V. has mentioned this many times here. I don't see why this wouldn't be possible now.
I only respond to the text as written by the embassy.
Apparently they think differently about that.
Once again
I respond to Rene
And that will pass
“2- A special procedure through the embassy, accelerated, free visa and with slightly fewer documents for Belgians registered at the Bangkok embassy and married to their partner. This is the procedure that René has described in this submission.”
(see Rob V response)
As far as I know, no other nationalities other than Belgians can be registered at the embassy and the route for the special procedure is therefore closed for Dutch people, among others.
Dear Ronny, Dutch people (and other Europeans other than Belgians) with a Thai spouse who want to travel to Belgium can indeed go to the embassy. They fall under EU Directive 2004/38 and therefore receive special treatment. The embassy also writes this on their website:
-
Exceptions: the following applicants can submit their applications directly to the Embassy (after making an appointment):
– Holder of official passport (service/diplomatic passport)
– Family holders of EU citizens who fall under Directive visa 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States
– Return visas
– Others (such as humanitarian purpose….)
—
Source: https://thailand.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/travel-belgium/visa-belgium/where-when-and-how-can-you-submit-your-visa-application
Belgians living in Belgium who, together with their partner, have Belgium as their destination (and who therefore do not fall under Directive 2004/38) cannot go to the embassy and must go to the VAC of the external service provider. But such a couple could choose France, the Netherlands or the like as their main destination and then the red carpet will be rolled out there (application at the embassy, minimum documents, free visa, etc.)
I only respond to the text as written by the embassy.
Apparently they think differently about that in that text.
I just wanted to point that out
By the way, Belgians who are not registered or who are not married must simply go to the VAC, pay for the visa and also provide more documents than in the situation of René.
For example, in the generous procedure that applies to René, the embassy does not ask for documents that make the Thai foreigner's return plausible. It will probably be assumed that those who live together in Thailand can assume this. For those who live in Belgium as a Belgian and whose Thai partner (married or not) is coming over for a short stay, this is certainly a requirement and is often where an application gets stuck.
That makes 3 different paths:
1- Regular applications must be submitted via the VAC with a full load of documents. This applies to Belgians who live in Belgium and/or are not married.
2- A special procedure through the embassy, accelerated, free visa and with slightly fewer documents for Belgians registered at the Bangkok embassy and married to their partner. This is the procedure that René described in this entry.
3- The procedure for EU family members with an application via the embassy, free, fast and with a minimum of documents. Proof of travel insurance, accommodation, guarantee, etc. is not necessary. Demonstrating family ties and that the EU national and Thai family member travel to Belgium together is sufficient. This DOES apply to Dutch, Germans and the like who want to go to Belgium with their married partner. This does NOT apply to Belgians living in Belgium who want to go to Belgium with their married partner.
– A special procedure via the embassy, accelerated, free visa and with slightly fewer documents for Belgians registered at the Bangkok embassy and married to their partner. This is the procedure that René described in this entry.
That is what they write and what I also respond to.
Thai wives married to a Dutch citizen can indeed apply for a Schengen visa directly at the Belgian embassy. And that procedure is quick, easy, free and is almost always approved.
I don't understand how you continue to insist that this is not the case.
Rob V. has tried to explain this ad nauseam. As a file manager, he knows what he is saying, I assume.
Once again because apparently it's hard to get through again...
This is about the special procedure that Rene applies and I am responding to that.
And as Rob V. himself also confirms, you cannot apply this if you are not married or registered with the Belgian embassy. Only registered and married Belgians can use this special procedure.
Thai wives married to a Dutch national are therefore not eligible for that special procedure at all.
“A special procedure via the embassy, accelerated, free visa and with slightly fewer documents for Belgians registered at the Bangkok embassy and married to their partner. This is the procedure that René has described in this submission.”
(see Rob V's previous response.)
and the embassy itself also says this about that special procedure
“If you are legally married and you are registered at this embassy, your spouse can submit her visa application directly at the embassy, after making an appointment.”
So this is not about normal visa applications at all, I haven't said a word about that, but about a special procedure that Rene has applied.
As far as Rene's special procedure is concerned, you could easily conclude from my response.
“Dutch are not that and it doesn't matter whether they go to Belgium or not. That route via the embassy will then remain closed to them and also to non-registered Belgians and unmarried Belgians.”
Or do you think that what I mean here is “non-registered Belgians and unmarried Belgians.” Can't you make a regular visa application at the Belgian embassy?
No, that response refers to the special procedure that only applies to registered and married Belgians.
I hope it has now dawned on you what it is about. Because I have already tried to explain that ad nauseam.
Reading comprehension still appears to be an obstacle that cannot be overcome. And apparently you are persistently persistent in failing to do so.