Dear editors,
Who has experience with having a Cambodian girlfriend come to the Netherlands for 3 months? I am a Dutchman, AOWer, 67 years old, unmarried and have a rented apartment. We've known each other for seven years. I myself spend the last few years 8 months a year in Cambodia/Thailand. She would like to visit the Netherlands one day.
Last year I tried through the German embassy in Phnom Penh (there is no Dutch embassy in Cambodia), but the request was rejected because they were afraid she would not return to her home country. She has papers showing that she owns land and houses. Her whole family lives there and she can meet the requirement of €34 per day.
She doesn't have a permanent job, but just messes around. If I were a German with some money, it wouldn't have been a problem. But only have state pension. As a result, I could not guarantee her (you must have a minimum net income of € 1556 per month). If I could show a Letter of Invitation/Warranty, it would be fine….. So you have to get it from your municipality in the Netherlands. But is still half a year in Cambodia.
Is there a difference between Letter of Invitation and Letter of Guarantee? This year I want to try it through the Dutch embassy in Bangkok.
Does anyone have any good tips for me?
Regards,
Maurice
Dear Maurice,
It sounds like you prepared well last time. If the Netherlands is your main destination, you can indeed go to the Dutch embassy in Bangkok. Or rather: your dear. The foreigner is the applicant and she must be prepared from A to Z.
The most important thing is to show that the trip is affordable, that the purpose of the trip is plausible and above all that the chance that she will return in time is greater than the chance of illegal residence in the Netherlands.
That 34 euros a day will probably be fine, but make sure that it is not a sudden deposit. The decision-making officer must be convinced that it is her money and that she is free to spend it. A large deposit can indicate a loan and then people will doubt whether they really have enough money to spend themselves.
You can explain the destination together in an accompanying letter. That's optional, but the official who receives the request on his or her desk must, in a matter of minutes, draw up a profile, assess risks, assess the supporting documents and determine whether or not a visa can be issued. Briefly presenting a picture can help the civil servant make the right choice.
Return remains the stumbling block, the evidence you mention are certainly things that people look at. If you can't think of any other evidence that shows social, economic or other ties, obligations and interests then you have to make do with what you have. Do point out in the cover letter that you will see to it that she returns on time and that you both fully understand that this is in everyone's best interest. Something to that effect in your words.
As for the invitation, in the Netherlands we use the guarantor/accommodation form for this and not also an invitation (but I do recommend an accompanying letter). Formally, only legalization is required for granting. This can be arranged at your municipality in the Netherlands, but if you no longer live there, you can also do so at the embassy. Since you are not a guarantor, you only have to fill in the accommodation part of the form, for which no legalization is required. In practice, some do, and such a beautiful official stamp can certainly do no harm.
You can read more about the forms and procedure in the Schengen visa file: https://www.thailandblog.nl/wp-content/uploads/Schengenvisum-dossier-sept-2017.pdf
And should anyone ask: confess that the application via the Germans unfortunately came back with a rejection. Be honest, the decision maker can see in the joint database that she has already submitted an application to our neighbors before, so there is no point beating around this. All you can do is prove the Germans wrong as much as possible with your evidence and motivation.
Good luck and have fun,
Rob V