HELP! ABOUT FRENCH SCHENGEN VISA TRAVELING EUROPE

[greglinjiajie]

Hey everyone!

I just got my French Schengen Visa (Court Sejour Circulation).
My original plan was to go to Pairs, thats why i got this visa.

But here's the problem, the Paris trip is cancelled, and now i am planing to go to Amsterdam instead.

Would my visa still work?

So now my first destination is Amsterdam, when I enter Amsterdam, would they let me in since i am holding a French Schengen Visa but I didn't actually go to France first?

Thank you!

[noajthan]

Hey everyone!

I just got my French Schengen Visa (Court Sejour Circulation).
My original plan was to go to Pairs, thats why i got this visa.

But here's the problem, the Paris trip is cancelled, and now i am planing to go to Amsterdam instead.

Would my visa still work?

So now my first destination is Amsterdam, when I enter Amsterdam, would they let me in since i am holding a French Schengen Visa but I didn't actually go to France first?

Thank you!

See similar case:
http://www.immigrationboards.com/europe ... l#p1122378

You could also call Netherlands embassy to check.

[Nina Roche]

Hey everyone!

I just got my French Schengen Visa (Court Sejour Circulation).

Hi Greglinjiajie!
I hope you can help me on this. How did you get granted Circulation visa? It seems from Tlscontact website, there is no option to apply circulation visa?
Thanks!

[cs95tdg]

Hey everyone!

I just got my French Schengen Visa (Court Sejour Circulation).

Hi Greglinjiajie!
I hope you can help me on this. How did you get granted Circulation visa? It seems from Tlscontact website, there is no option to apply circulation visa?
Thanks!

Circulation visas are normally only granted to those who have a proven (relatively frequent) travel history to the schengen area. It's not an option available for selection on the TLS website or schengen application form. I was granted one just over a year ago. What I did was select multiple entry on the form, provide the required evidence/supporting docs for my first trip, and then included a cover letter explaining my travel plan for the period I as requesting the visa to be valid for. Note that I had two previous multiple entry schengen visas issued to me during that same year, so I believe that would have played a part in being granted a circulation visa. The following topic has some further information. http://www.immigrationboards.com/europe ... 77600.html?

[Nina Roche]

Circulation visas are normally only granted to those who have a proven (relatively frequent) travel history to the schengen area. It's not an option available for selection on the TLS website or schengen application form. I was granted one just over a year ago. What I did was select multiple entry on the form, provide the required evidence/supporting docs for my first trip, and then included a cover letter explaining my travel plan for the period I as requesting the visa to be valid for. Note that I had two previous multiple entry schengen visas issued to me during that same year, so I believe that would have played a part in being granted a circulation visa. The following topic has some further information. http://www.immigrationboards.com/europe ... 77600.html?

Thank you a lot for your reply!
If I'm not mistaken, I think the difference between a regular visa and a circulation one (for the same type) for the applicant to do is write a cover letter to specify the requirement and provide relevant evidence. Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I need to apply one. (I had lived in France for several years. Then moved to UK. As my other half's family is in France, we have to go back often to visit. My carte de sejour would expire. So I hope to get a circulation visa to avoid the inconvenience to apply every few months... )

[cs95tdg]

Thank you a lot for your reply!
If I'm not mistaken, I think the difference between a regular visa and a circulation one (for the same type) for the applicant to do is write a cover letter to specify the requirement and provide relevant evidence. Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I need to apply one. (I had lived in France for several years. Then moved to UK. As my other half's family is in France, we have to go back often to visit. My carte de sejour would expire. So I hope to get a circulation visa to avoid the inconvenience to apply every few months... )

Yes, that was the main difference in terms of the application process.

[cs95tdg]

I had lived in France for several years. Then moved to UK. As my other half's family is in France, we have to go back often to visit.

One thing that I did forget to add is that, you may want to enquire as to whether there is a different or more appropriate visa category that you can apply under. Based on the fact that you lived in France for several years, your circumstances may mean you have different options open to you. When I applied it was purely as someone who has no other link to the schengen area other than wanting to visit frequently for holidays and in some instances for business.

[Nina Roche]

Thanks for clarifying and suggestion.
I haven't find anything else yet. But I'll keep looking. Bottom line is circulation visa even for a year is good enough for me.
Thanks cs!

[jerseyb1]

I was in a similar situation: had a French Schengen, with the French trip sheduled the week before flying into Amsterdam. Due to ferry schedule changes I couldn't go to France. I had no issues travelling into Amsterdam with the French Schengen.

You will however have to use the visa to visit France at least once, otherwise they might be difficult on your next application, as they don't like visa shopping. The thing to remember is that when you apply for a Schengen, you should be applying through the embassy of the country where you will be spending the most time on your planned trip. This might not be the country you enter, so therefor it would not be unusual to have a Schengen issued by a different country from the one you enter first.

[Mainakhere]

Thank you a lot for your reply!
If I'm not mistaken, I think the difference between a regular visa and a circulation one (for the same type) for the applicant to do is write a cover letter to specify the requirement and provide relevant evidence. Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I need to apply one. (I had lived in France for several years. Then moved to UK. As my other half's family is in France, we have to go back often to visit. My carte de sejour would expire. So I hope to get a circulation visa to avoid the inconvenience to apply every few months... )

Yes, that was the main difference in terms of the application process.

Now here is what happened with me. Am Indian citizen with UK residency permit. I had 5 schengen visas stamped earlier. My wife and kid had 1 schengen stamped from UK french embassy. When we all 3 applied together again from French embassy UK - we got a 3yr schengen visa with Court Sejour Circulation mentioned. Please note - never applied for any cover letter and neither was expecting one. What I read in some forums after extensive research is that it may also mean you can renew these visas 3 months before expiry or 1yr after. Not sure how true it is... maybe someone can help clarify...

Check out this tls link
https://fr.tlscontact.com/gb/lon/page.p ... ation_visa