I already blog about our experience in Applying for Schengen Visa via VFS Norway two years ago but I noticed that there are a few changes na, that is why I’m sharing with you our experience this year 2019.
What is a Schengen Visa?
Schengen Visa is a short-term visa granted to applicants for up to 90 days. It allows him/her to visit 26 Schengen Countries for a family visit, tourism, business, or any reason with an intention to return to his home country afterward. The Schengen Member States Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
22 countries are part of EU (European Union)
4 countries are part of the EFTA (European Free Trade Association)
Where Should You Apply for a Schengen Visa?
1. Apply for the visa in the embassy where you will be staying most of your traveling days.
2. In case, the number of days is the same. Apply for the visa in the embassy that you will enter first.
Read: Visa-Free Travel for Filipinos
I checked the Tourist Visa Requirements and I saw the proof of accommodation and itinerary but our main purpose is to visit my mom in Norway so we chose Visit Mother/Father and Visit Other Relatives/Friends Checklist.
How to Apply For Schengen Visa Via VFS Global Norway
Visitor's visa
A visitor's visa allows you to stay in Norway or other countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days over a period of 180 days.
Step 1: Print out the checklist and gather the necessary documents. You can check here the different requirements depending on the type of visa that you need.
Based on the checklist, these are the documents that we submitted.
Visit Mother/Father Checklist (Housewife)
1. Cover letter from the Application Portal of Norway
2. One (1) passport-sized photo with a white background and not older than 6 months.
3. Original passport
4. Photocopy of original passport - bio page and used pages (with visas and stamps)
5. Letter of invitation from your mother/father (for Sweden: Invitation Form 241011)
6. Photocopy of PSA birth certificate
7. Photocopy of the passport biodata page of your mother/father.
8. Proof of sufficient funds of the applicant (or parents/legal guardian if the applicant is under the age of 18) - original bank certificates/transcripts and photocopy of credit card statements for the last 6 months.
9. Proof of sponsorship or (for Norway) UDI Guarantee Form for Visit plus a photocopy
10. Proof of family ties - photocopies of your PSA Marriage Certificate and/or Birth Certificates of your children (if applicable)
11. Photocopy of roundtrip airline ticket reservation
12. Photocopy of travel medical insurance
Visit Other Relatives/Friends Checklist (Employed)
1. Cover letter
2. One (1) passport-sized photo with a white background and not older than 6 months.
3. Original passport
4. Photocopy of original passport - bio page and used pages (with visas and stamps)
5. Letter of invitation from your relative/friend (for Sweden: Invitation Form 241011)
6. Photocopy of the passport biodata page of your relative/friend
7. For visiting relatives - photocopies of PSA birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. to prove the relationship.
8. Proof of sufficient funds of the applicant (or parents/legal guardian if the applicant is under the age of 18) - original bank certificates/transcripts and photocopy of credit card statements for the last 6 months. 9. Proof of sponsorship or (for Norway) UDI Guarantee Form for Visit plus a photocopy
10. Proof of family ties - photocopies of your PSA Marriage Certificate and/or Birth Certificates of your children (if applicable)
11. If currently employed - original Certificate of Employment or photocopy of work contract stating position, length of service, salary, and duration of approved leave of absence.
12. Photocopy of roundtrip airline ticket reservation
13. Photocopy of travel medical insurance
Visit Other Relatives/Friends Checklist (Student)
1. Cover letter
2. One (1) passport-sized photo with a white background and not older than 6 months.
3. Original passport
4. Photocopy of original passport - bio page and used pages (with visas and stamps)
5. Letter of invitation from your relative/friend (for Sweden: Invitation Form 241011)
6. Photocopy of the passport biodata page of your relative/friend
7. For visiting relatives - photocopies of PSA birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. to prove the relationship.
8. Proof of sufficient funds of the applicant (or parents/legal guardian if the applicant is under the age of 18) - original bank certificates/transcripts and photocopy of credit card statements for the last 6 months.
9. Proof of sponsorship or (for Norway) UDI Guarantee Form for Visit plus a photocopy
10. If currently a student - original certification of enrolment from school. If you will be going on a holiday during summer or semestral break, submit s certification of reservation or certification of enrolment to prove that you are enrolled for the next school year/semester. If traveling during the school year, a certificate of leave of absence from the school should also be submitted.
11. Photocopy of roundtrip airline ticket reservation
12. Photocopy of travel medical insurance
13. Photocopy of parent’s/legal guardian’s passport or government ID
Note: For roundtrip airline ticket reservations. We just called KLM to reserve a ticket, the booking is good for three days only so by the time that we submitted our application, expired na yung booking but our visa was still approved.
Read: Where to Buy Travel Medical Insurance for Schengen Visa
3 Ways to Get your PSA Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate
Step 2: Fill in your application online
1. Go to UDI Application Portal and enter your User ID and Password. For first-time users, just create your account.
2. Click New Application (visas, residence permits, citizenship, immigrant’s passport, EEA registration).
3. Click Application forms for citizens of all countries (Application for visitor’s visa, residence permits, permanent permit, Norwegian citizenship, immigrant’s passport, or border traffic permit).
4. Choose the right visa application form that you need. I chose Visitor’s Visa for Groups. (Application for visas for groups visiting Norway and other Schengen countries.)
5. Click I accept the Legal Disclaimer and Go to the application form.
6. Fill in the application form.
Note: I fill in the 3 application forms and save them. I did not submit it yet because I’m waiting for my mom’s documents.
Step 3: Submit the form.
Log in to the UDI Application Portal, click the individual/group application form, review the application and submit the form.
Note: You can no longer edit the application once submitted so don’t forget to review it. You must pay the fee to submit the application.
Step 4: Pay fee - via credit card only (Visa or Mastercard)
Visitor's visa for adults and children over 12 years old (single or multiple entries) 60 euro
Visitor's visa for children between 6 and 12 years old (single or multiple entries) 35 euro
Total: EURO155 or PHP9484.82
Step 5: Book your appointment.
I click the link for Schedule an Appointment, then VFS Manila and it leads me to the VFS site where I need to register.
Click new user, fill in the form and submit.
First name
Last Name
Contact Number
Password
Confirm Password
Note: The registration will expire after 30 inactive days from the last appointment date.
How to Schedule an Appointment
1. Click Schedule Appointment
Enter the following details: visiting country, residing country, center, and purpose of travel, and click continue.
2. Click Add Applicant
Enter the following details: passport number, date of birth, passport expiry date, select nationality, first name, last name, gender, contact number, email ID then click submit.
Then click continue and choose the date and time.
Note: In my case, I add 3 applicants but I was having a hard time booking an appointment. The date shows an available slot but I’m getting an error so we called VFS office and the staff said, magbook daw ng paisa-isa. Pagsasabayin na lang daw kami pagpasa ng requirements.
I followed it and I was able to book 9:45AM and 11AM appointments. I received the email and I printed the appointment letter.
Step 6: Hand in application and documents in person
Norway Visa Application Centre, VFS Global
Ground Floor,
Ecoplaza Building Don Chino Roces Avenue,
Makati City, Metro Manila
Website: http://www.vfsglobal.com/norway/philippines/
Helpline: +63 2 790 49 02
Note: Go to VFS Global Norway and submit all your documents. The guard will ask for your passport and appointment letter. He/She will give you a form, fill out the form and give it to counter 6-8 (Norway). Wait for the staff to call your name. The staff will just review your documents, ask a few questions and then pay for the VFS fee.
Aside from the visa fee, VFS will collect a service fee of Php 1,530.00 for each visa application. VFS accepts payment in cash at the Norway counter in VFS during your appointment date.
Total: PHP4590
Processing Time: 15 Days after the submission of documents.
Note: The staff informed us about the 15 days processing time. So delikado si hubby because in less than two weeks may biyahe na siya. My husband has an upcoming business trip to USA so he asked if he can pull out the passport just in case matagalan pa ang decision. We added a letter and plane ticket sa application form niya. The staff said we can borrow the passport naman pero sa Norway Embassy daw kukunin.
Step 7: Biometrics
After payment of Visa Fee, you will have your Biometrics. We had our biometrics 23 months ago pero nagbiometrics pa rin kami. Take photo and give fingerprints. No fingerprints for my 10-year old son. Medyo matagal kami ngayon, more than an hour bago matapos.
Step 8: Pick-up your passport from the Visa Application Centre
Bring your official receipt and a valid ID. Claim your passport between 2PM to 4PM only. If a representative will pick up the passport on your behalf, please hand in the following:
Official receipt
A signed authorization letter with complete details
Original valid ID with a photocopy
Note: We all went to VFS Norway to pick up our passports but because of the expensive parking fee, kami na lang ng anak ko bumaba. Hehehe! So my husband gave me an authorization letter and valid ID.
We arrived before 1PM and claiming of the passport started at 2PM so we waited outside the VFS office. At 1:30PM, the guard allowed us to enter just to register and they get our official receipt to secure our slot. At 2PM, they let us in na and true enough, kami naman ng anak ko nauna tawagin. I gave the authorization letter and a valid ID. You have to open the package and check your visa if everything is okay. Then fill out the form and that’s it.
Our Experience in Applying for Schengen Visa Via VFS Global Norway
The first month of the year and I was busy preparing for our Schengen Visa Application. I thought it would be less stressful because this would be my second time applying but I was wrong. When I checked the requirements, that is the only time I realized that I don’t have a PSA copy of our birth certificate and marriage certificate. Ang dami kong stress sa pag-complete ng requirements.
1. I went to SM Business Center to request a PSA copy and nakatatlong balik ko just to claim my documents, ang one-week timeframe naging two weeks. So it is better to order online if you need it asap.
Read: 3 Ways to Get Your PSA Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and CENOMAR
2. I asked my husband to get a Certificate of Employment and since we need the original copy, we waited for the papers from Singapore.
3. My husband requested for Bank Certificate and was advised to claim it the following day. We claimed it after two days and guess what? Doon pa lang niya ginawa. Nakakaloka ang bank staff, sabi niya i-claim na lang the following day, after two days na nga kami bago bumalik tapos hindi naman pala niya ginawa. It took her more than an hour just to finish our bank certificate. I don’t understand bakit ang tagal nila iprocess, one piece of paper lang naman yun. Nastress ako kasi I requested bank certificate na rin though sa ibang bank and within 15 minutes, nakuha ko na. Hindi na ko pinabalik pa. Now I know na iba-iba rin pala ang process per bank.
4. I went to my son’s school and paid the tuition (downpayment) for the school year 2019-2020 so I can get a Certificate of Enrollment. I was so surprised when the school staff said, balikan mo na lang tomorrow. What? Last time, nakuha ko naman agad pero ngayon pinabalik din ko.
5. I asked my mom to send me the documents that we need for our Schengen Visa application such as a Letter of Invitation, a Copy of her passport, and UDI Guarantee, and this time, she sent the documents one week earlier but I was disappointed kasi wala rin nangyari because the documents arrived late, almost 3 weeks compared sa 2 weeks nung 2017.
Read: How to Track Parcel in PHLPost
That’s why I am hesitant in applying for a visa.
1. It is hard to prepare and complete the requirements.
2. It is so expensive because you need to pay for all the requirements that you need, pay the visa fee and even the VFS fee.
3. There is no assurance that your visa will be granted so iyak na lang pag denied, sa dami ng gastos.
It took me 3 weeks to complete the requirements. Anyway, that is the only tedious part because after you complete your requirements, everything is easy na.
January 28, 2019 (Monday)
1. I received my mom's documents.
2. I submit our application form online.
3. Pay the Visa Fee
4. Book an Appointment
5. Buy travel insurance online
6. Prepare and arrange all the documents
January 29, 2019 (Tuesday) - we went to VFS to submit our documents, pay VFS fee and do biometrics.
February 1, 2019 (Friday) - we received an email and text regarding our visa application
February 4, 2019 (Monday) - we claimed our passport.
“The Royal Norwegian Embassy has the pleasure of informing you that your application for a Schengen visa has been approved. Please pick up your passport at Norway Visa Application Centre, VFS Global between 2pm and 4pm from the next working day if submitted in VFS Global Manila and two (2) working days later if submitted in VFS Global Cebu”It was our second time applying for Schengen Visa and they still gave us a single entry visa. Though we only ask for single-entry, of course, I’m hoping multiple-entry na lang ibigay so we don’t have to spend a visa fee every time we are going to visit my mom. But anyway, we’re still happy because the visa is approved. My son and I got 60 days and my husband got 24 days, finollow lang talaga nila yung travel insurance and plane ticket.
Read: Understanding your Visa: How to Read the Visa Sticker
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