Not enough time to apply for Visa to France

[noob111]

Hi Guys,

I brought my fiancee a surprise holiday to Paris in mid August. We just tried to apply for her Visa to France and to our huge shock the earliest appointment is for the 6th of August! Then you need to wait 2 - 3 weeks for the Visa. Any ideas on how we can fix this?

Her passport details:
- People's Republic of China passport
- Australian permanent residence



Thank you so much

 

[mella2007]

Sorry but no way of getting around it with my experience with various consulates. Did you check consulates in other states to see their wait times??? It is always advisable to not book trips especially if you don't have the correct visa.

 

[ksthommo]

Welcome Noob111.
Pay a visit to the Consulate to plead your case if you live near one.

 

[RooFlyer]

They don't have a 'pay more for quicker turn-around' option?

 

[opusman]

You could try another country in the EU (well, in the Schengen area) as I believe once you have a valid visa for one country it is valid for all - and maybe another country may have faster processing time?

 

[BadgerBoi]

You could try another country in the EU (well, in the Schengen area) as I believe once you have a valid visa for one country it is valid for all - and maybe another country may have faster processing time?

Perhaps the OP could tell us which city he is in - some cities might have better alternatives than others.

As an Aussie passport holder it's easy to forget that overseas travel can be really difficult for some other nationals. I must remember that next time I complain that I can only get 90 days out of 180 in Schengen before I have to leave...

 

[noob111]

Hi Guys,

We live in Sydney. Based on your advice I am going to the french consulate tomorrow to plead my case and also to ask about the fast track option in person. I don't like my chances any ideas on what I should say to them? As for the Schengen visa can I just buy a return train ticket or I need plane tickets?

Thanks again

 

[RooFlyer]

Hi Guys,

We live in Sydney. Based on your advice I am going to the french consulate tomorrow to plead my case and also to ask about the fast track option in person. I don't like my chances any ideas on what I should say to them? As for the Schengen visa can I just buy a return train ticket or I need plane tickets?

Thanks again

With respect, I suggest you and your fiancée should go. Good luck!

 

[BadgerBoi]

This page at the French consulate site includes an email address for "urgent visa". Maybe give that a try now and see if they respond? It might save your fiancee a trip.

You would probably need your plane ticket, and the site says that the applicant should have an itinerary issued by a travel agent to support your application.

Are you only staying in France? If you were to be spending most of your time in another country you could apply elsewhere even though your point of entry and exit is France. For example if you were to enter France and catch a train the next day to Amsterdam, spend three weeks Amsterdam then return for three days to Paris before returning home, you could apply for the Schengen visa at the Netherlands consulate. Something like hotel reservations, train tickets or train passes for example would support your application. The French love their paperwork and bureaucracy, but other countries are a bit more relaxed. And of course, within Schengen there are no border controls, and people change their minds all the time about itineraries. I am not advocating that you make any false declarations in your application, of course, I'm just offering alternate scenarios to staying in Paris for your entire trip.

Does anyone know, do all Schengen countries require a personal visit in this case for a visa application?

Please let us know how you go.

 

[mella2007]

There are various countries within Europe and the scheghan (excuse spelling!) region that require visas for Chinese passport holders. Entering France via one of these will still require her to be in accordance with their visa entry rules (as per the French consulate website) Do have a good read and see if somewhere may be exempt. You may have to change destination for worse case if that's possible.

 

[BadgerBoi]

yes, and the scenario in my earlier post would keep the OP's fiancée in accordance with the visa.

 

[ermen]

HAHA. Somehow I am not holding out too much hope that zee French will be responsive or expedite the application at all (but do give it a shot anyway as I say in jest - actually my previous tenant at my IP worked at the Syd french embassy and she was a really nice lady)

I hear that one should always bank on Germanic efficiency... done at Australian post and 5 to 15 days apparently (and up to 30 days in special cases)
German Missions in Australia - Tourist Visa and Business Visa

But not sure what the entry / exit rules are. You could presumably say you want to land into Frankfurt and take the train to Paris (around 5 hrs from memory)

Good luck!

 

[Must...Fly!]

There are express trains from Frankfurt HBF to Paris, about 3hrs 30mins. (not quite express in the true sense of the word but much faster than the usual 5-6 hours).

 

[KitKat]

Good luck, just tell them the truth - you would really like to bring your fiancee to Paris.... there is some urgency to get her visa, and see what options are there.

All the best tomorrow. Your situation brings a warm glow (and some tears of happiness) in me as I can remember going to Paris to meet +1 for our first ever trip to Paris.

 

[mtbsafari]

It is my understanding that you should apply for a visa from the country in which you will spend the most time. In other words it doesn't matter which country you arrive in.

I think it is also a requirement that you are seen 'in person'. This could mean a visit to the Embassy in Canberra. Some countries allow applications to be made by post, but still requires a visit to the consulate in your nearest capital city.

Might help if you could give details of your itinerary. Are you travelling Finnair through Helsinki. The Finns are usually pretty fast in visa turnaround. I guess it depends on the workload at each consulate or embassy.

 

[noob111]

Thanks for everything everyone. You guys are great!

I ended up not sleeping n camped the french website for a couple of day for a cancellation :mrgreen:

 

[BadgerBoi]

Thanks for everything everyone. You guys are great!

I ended up not sleeping n camped the french website for a couple of day for a cancellation :mrgreen:

I hope your fiancée appreciates you