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Typical Visa to visit France (Schengen)


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Old Yesterday, 13:13
howard h
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Many non-EU/EEA visitors will have to apply for a visa in order to visit Schengen countries/EU.
Here's the form to visit France;
http://www.vfs-france.co.in/PDF/Visa...sed_040214.pdf
Obviously outside of the EU citizens of the UK COULD (underlined) as a worst-case senario (could it be worse ??) have to fill in one of them @ 60 euros a pop.

I would be reassured if those planning UK's Brexit could clarify that they would pull out all the stops to ensure that doesn't happen; I'd be happy with a simple form similar to the APT form we fill in as we book an airline. That's free, of course. Last year it was suggested a simpler form for us at around a tenner would suffice, and would cover multiple trips.

But back to the original form, what happens if you are not staying in one particular location? Through youth hostelling I know Americans and Australians in the EU are constantly on the go, moving from one country to another, and the form asks for names of hotel(s) but if you are YH'ing then that's not practical.

Do you just put down the name of the first? Can any messageboarders who live outside the EU and have done this inform me of how they got on? Thanks!!

Political angle - if we did end up being charged 60e, no doubt we would charge tourists ourselves, and I think that would severely impact visitor numbers. Thoughts?

ADDS on further inspection it seems if you are retired you need to provide proof of pension. What if you are an unpaid carer, or have retired (say around 60) and living off your savings until you reach pension age? Would you be denied entry?
http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/spain-visa/
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Old Yesterday, 13:19
James_Orton
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If Europe charge for a visa, we should not. Keeping the costs down to visit the UK can only help the UK. It would give people visiting more money to spend and/or increase numbers as visiting the EU would be more expensive.
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Old Yesterday, 13:21
Dotheboyshall
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It'll probably revert to pre EEC rules where a visa was only required in order to work.
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Old Yesterday, 13:24
howard h
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If Europe charge for a visa, we should not. Keeping the costs down to visit the UK can only help the UK. It would give people visiting more money to spend and/or increase numbers as visiting the EU would be more expensive.
My worry is that when I finish caring (ie mum and dad die) I will be living off my savings until my first pension arrives. Therefore I won't have income - as such - and will only have my bank statements to prove I can support myself.

I'm now genuinely worried I could struggle to get a visa until I'm state pension age.

Probably a ridiculous thought and UK citizens won't have to worry at all - but the worry's there until we get a plan. Where's the Spanish Embassy - might have to pop down and have a chat!!
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Old Yesterday, 13:25
howard h
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It'll probably revert to pre EEC rules where a visa was only required in order to work.
I do hope you are right. The first thing I'll need is a decent holiday!!
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Old Yesterday, 13:29
Annsyre
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Many non-EU/EEA visitors will have to apply for a visa in order to visit Schengen countries/EU.
Here's the form to visit France;
http://www.vfs-france.co.in/PDF/Visa...sed_040214.pdf
Obviously outside of the EU citizens of the UK COULD (underlined) as a worst-case senario (could it be worse ??) have to fill in one of them @ 60 euros a pop.

I would be reassured if those planning UK's Brexit could clarify that they would pull out all the stops to ensure that doesn't happen; I'd be happy with a simple form similar to the APT form we fill in as we book an airline. That's free, of course. Last year it was suggested a simpler form for us at around a tenner would suffice, and would cover multiple trips.

But back to the original form, what happens if you are not staying in one particular location? Through youth hostelling I know Americans and Australians in the EU are constantly on the go, moving from one country to another, and the form asks for names of hotel(s) but if you are YH'ing then that's not practical.

Do you just put down the name of the first? Can any messageboarders who live outside the EU and have done this inform me of how they got on? Thanks!!

Political angle - if we did end up being charged 60e, no doubt we would charge tourists ourselves, and I think that would severely impact visitor numbers. Thoughts?

ADDS on further inspection it seems if you are retired you need to provide proof of pension. What if you are an unpaid carer, or have retired (say around 60) and living off your savings until you reach pension age? Would you be denied entry?
http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/spain-visa/
I have two retired friends who live on pensions and savings and live in France and travel to and from the UK all the time. Why would that change after we leave the EU? France needs the income that such ex-pats provide for France.
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Old Yesterday, 13:32
howard h
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I have two retired firends who live on pensions and savings and live in France and travel to and from the UK all the time. Why would that change after we leave the EU? France needs the income that such ex-pats provide for France.
BIB that's the key. What if you are simply living off your savings until pension age? That's what I intend to do, which could be as much as 6 years. Chances are I won't be going back to work after the caring stint's finished.
If the tourist visa for us is no greater than the API we provide now, not a worry at all, but if the questions are as they are now, I might have a problem.
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Old Yesterday, 13:36
Annsyre
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BIB that's the key. What if you are simply living off your savings until pension age? That's what I intend to do, which could be as much as 6 years. Chances are I won't be going back to work after the caring stint's finished.
If the tourist visa for us is no greater than the API we provide now, not a worry at all, but if the questions are as they are now, I might have a problem.
What's the difference. If you are not working and living your own savings what difference does it make?
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Old Yesterday, 13:38
BrokenArrow
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I do hope you are right. The first thing I'll need is a decent holiday!!
Why go to France then?
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Old Yesterday, 13:38
howard h
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What's the difference. If you are not working and living your own savings what difference does it make?
It asks you to provide details of your pension. That's the difference, until I'm 66 I can't. I can provide proof of savings, bokings etc, but that isn't asked for. Limboland!!

If I were American and living off savings, I could send off the form and 60 euros, and not be allowed a visa as it stands. Could I visit an embassy and prove my finances?

For SPAIN
If retired:

Pension statement of the latest 6 months
http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/spain-visa/
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Old Yesterday, 13:43
howard h
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Why go to France then?
True. Spain's top of the list of course. I avoid France if at all possible, don't want to spend 14 days behind a blockage or stuck in an airport because they're on strike again.
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Old Yesterday, 13:53
MARTYM8
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Citizens of Vanuatu, Costa Rica, the Seychelles and St Kitts and Nevis don't require visas to visit France. Why on earth would they impose them on UK citizens and vice versa for tourism.
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Old Yesterday, 13:53
Doctor_Wibble
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True. Spain's top of the list of course. I avoid France if at all possible, don't want to spend 14 days behind a blockage or stuck in an airport because they're on strike again.
Possibly I've misunderstood, but I'm reasonably sure Spain is particularly very not immune to air traffic control strikes, or maybe that's just so last century...?
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Old Yesterday, 13:54
Annsyre
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It asks you to provide details of your pension. That's the difference, until I'm 66 I can't. I can provide proof of savings, bokings etc, but that isn't asked for. Limboland!!

If I were American and living off savings, I could send off the form and 60 euros, and not be allowed a visa as it stands. Could I visit an embassy and prove my finances?

For SPAIN

http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/spain-visa/
You just say you do not have one. If you are uenemployed then say so if you are not of retirement age then you cannot be retired can you?
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Old Yesterday, 13:55
howard h
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You just say you do not have one.
Then they wouldn't let me in.....
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Old Yesterday, 13:57
howard h
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Possibly I've misunderstood, but I'm reasonably sure Spain is particularly very not immune to air traffic control strikes, or maybe that's just so last century...?
Fair point, but been much better than France recently. The last big problem for Spain was the Ash Cloud - nothing to do with strikes and it affected everyone -, but have to admit if the French ATC's go on strike that affects UK movements towards Spain. Usually they route around France if they can, but even so that causes delays. There's the option of the ferry though!!
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Old Yesterday, 14:00
Doctor_Wibble
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The last big problem for Spain was the Ash Cloud
Bloody smokers
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Old Yesterday, 14:08
Annsyre
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Then they wouldn't let me in.....
You cannot be retired unless you are of retirement age can you? You are not of retirement age and you do not have a retirement pension. You also have no employment outside of your home and wont have any employment when you go on your travels.
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Old Yesterday, 14:15
howard h
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You cannot be retired unless you are of retirement age can you? You are not of retirement age and you do not have a retirement pension. You also have no employment outside of your home and wont have any employment when you go on your travels.
Very true, but that doesn't help! Although I disagree, I think you can be retired well before retirement age - if you so wish, and can support yourself. Anyone confirm?

Anyway, as it stands now I don't suppose there's a problem with leaving the gap blank and sending an explanatory note with a bank statement. Wonder how those (poor sods) who have made their millions before 40 and haven't worked since get on?? Bet they find their way into the EU.... "How did you get her, Mr Megapopstar?" "Oh, I used one of my smaller yachts, it's in the harbour at St. Tropez".
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Old Yesterday, 14:24
Aurora13
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The issue for cruise companies is not the visa but passport control. Currently a passport is checked on boarding ship in Southampton or other European port and never checked again. If border staff need to check every passport at every port it is going to be an administrator nightmare. Anywhere between 1k and 5k passengers unloading at same time! New York with its extensive resource can take 3 hours plus to unload a ship with 2k passengers.
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Old Yesterday, 14:41
moox
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I have two retired friends who live on pensions and savings and live in France and travel to and from the UK all the time. Why would that change after we leave the EU? France needs the income that such ex-pats provide for France.
I'm pretty sure they're called emigrants (or immigrants from the French perspective), not "ex pats".
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Old Yesterday, 14:49
Jayceef1
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The issue for cruise companies is not the visa but passport control. Currently a passport is checked on boarding ship in Southampton or other European port and never checked again. If border staff need to check every passport at every port it is going to be an administrator nightmare. Anywhere between 1k and 5k passengers unloading at same time! New York with its extensive resource can take 3 hours plus to unload a ship with 2k passengers.
But surely there could be many nationalities outside the EU that board at Southampton. IF passports are currently not checked again after boarding why should that change if we leave the EU?
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Old Yesterday, 14:53
James_Orton
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I'm pretty sure they're called emigrants (or immigrants from the French perspective), not "ex pats".
Expat is usually a term for people living in a country within their own means, with a view to return home one day.
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Old Yesterday, 15:00
moox
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Expat is usually a term for people living in a country within their own means, with a view to return home one day.
No, it's a term that British people use when they emigrate because they don't want to be called the term that they really are. Because they think they're somehow better than other immigrants.

You certainly don't see the mail or express using the term in reference to those immigrants that it doesn't like.
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Old Yesterday, 15:04
James_Orton
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No, it's a term that British people use when they emigrate because they don't want to be called the term that they really are. Because they think they're somehow better than other immigrants.

You certainly don't see the mail or express using the term in reference to those immigrants that it doesn't like.
I'm just using the dictionary definition. Just because a paper uses the wrong terms doesn't make the term wrong in Expat.
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