Urgent Schengen visa by 12 Feb

[SimpleThings]

We have family holiday booked to France on 12 Feb in order to attend a friends birthday. My partner (unmarried) has South African citizenship and British ILR. Myself and our kids are all British. Earliest appointment on TLC contact is 12 Feb, but we need to travel on that date.

Any ideas on getting her a visa in a quicker fashion, or perhaps she will get entry clearance on border as she's travelling with our children and me (well maybe not me as we're not married).

I look forward to any advice as its stressing us out.

(ps. Did apply a while ago with Netherlands and was rejected cause of my misunderstanding of main destination based on another holiday we had planned but now have cancelled )

[Choc-Ice]

We have family holiday booked to France on 12 Feb in order to attend a friends birthday. My partner (unmarried) has South African citizenship and British ILR. Myself and our kids are all British. Earliest appointment on TLC contact is 12 Feb, but we need to travel on that date.

Any ideas on getting her a visa in a quicker fashion, or perhaps she will get entry clearance on border as she's travelling with our children and me (well maybe not me as we're not married).

I look forward to any advice as its stressing us out.

(ps. Did apply a while ago with Netherlands and was rejected cause of my misunderstanding of main destination based on another holiday we had planned but now have cancelled )

Probably got MORE chances of winning the lotto than getting the passport and visa back on that date..TOO close sorry! Good luck..

[SimpleThings]

1. Can a quicker appointment date be achieved by going through 3rd party agency? Weblink information removed by moderators

2. Would it be possible to obtain entry clearance if we simply arrived at border with documentation?

3. Would the fact that she is travelling with British children and partner (unmarried) allow her entry into France?

4. Would the fact that she has UK Indefinite Leave to Remain and residency assist her with entry at border?

5. Any other ideas to assist her entry into France? ( I.e. Other Schengen countries that offer fast track service where I would need to book 2nd holiday to make this other country her main destination)

[noajthan]

1. Can a quicker appointment date be achieved by going through 3rd party agency? Weblink information removed by moderators

2. Would it be possible to obtain entry clearance if we simply arrived at border with documentation?

3. Would the fact that she is travelling with British children and partner (unmarried) allow her entry into France?

4. Would the fact that she has UK Indefinite Leave to Remain and residency assist her with entry at border?

5. Any other ideas to assist her entry into France? ( I.e. Other Schengen countries that offer fast track service where I would need to book 2nd holiday to make this other country her main destination)

1) No comment.

2) Look here then decide:
https://eumovement.wordpress.com/2010/0 ... to-travel/

it would be simpler if married.
Be prepared for delays and refusal.

Unlike immediate family members the EEA Regulations allow for an “extensive examination of the personal circumstances” of extended family members.

fyi - this is UK's position - you will have to dig into the French position:

The person should be given “every reasonable opportunity” to prove by other means that he is the family member of an EEA national; a person should not automatically be refused admission as a result of not being able to produce adequate evidence

3) With children, no.
With partner, possibly. See 2)

4) Into France, no
Into UK, yes

5) No experience. Look on map.

[Choc-Ice]

1. Can a quicker appointment date be achieved by going through 3rd party agency? Weblink information removed by moderators

2. Would it be possible to obtain entry clearance if we simply arrived at border with documentation?

3. Would the fact that she is travelling with British children and partner (unmarried) allow her entry into France?

4. Would the fact that she has UK Indefinite Leave to Remain and residency assist her with entry at border?

5. Any other ideas to assist her entry into France? ( I.e. Other Schengen countries that offer fast track service where I would need to book 2nd holiday to make this other country her main destination)

Honestly all you need is just enough time for processing..I currently have a 3 months Visa for France i got in November,my Son is British and I am not married to my partner. (ALL in ALL it took 1 month along with 2 applications costing more than the flight to and from France for 3 people lol)

VFS refused to accept my application for family member of EU citizen (Even though Spanish embassy gave me one in 2014)..Applied as a visitor on the first application which was refused because of 'justification of intention of stay' ..I then had to make the horrible trip down to London again and this time attached a letter detailing the relevant EU legislation on how they should facilitate my entry and not make my life difficult..Got it back within a week.. NEVER AGAIN FRANCE AND VFS!

[SimpleThings]

Ok so, we got rejected for Netherlands visa previously on the basis that Netherlands was not our Main Destination (two trips a month apart - 2nd trip in Netherlands longer than the first which is in France). The manager at VFS told us it would be main destination as we were spending longer in Netherlands. So, +- £100 wasted with first Schengen visa application to Netherlands. VFS Fail! Can I get my money back due to their incompetence? i.e why would they allow me to submit application after knowing my travel plans. I am now confused what main destination means, i thought it was where you were spending majority of your days.

Onto applying via French route..

i've learnt that by using a 3rd party agency in my case, Company name removed by moderator, who are registered with the French consulate / TCS Contact (official agency of the French consulate) you get a much quicker appointment.

TCS Contact (agent for France) could only give us an appointment a good few days after my travel date, whilst Company name removed by moderator were able to arrange one next day. They assist with paperwork and submit it on your behalf 9am the next day to TCS Contact, where you also get appointment that same next day to provide your fingerprints to TCS Contact 10am - 1pm. Then it apparently is 3-5 working days till you get a decision / your passport returned.

We would have been given an appointment next day but were unable to as TCS Contact never cancelled my previous appointment (even though they confirmed this cancellation in an email), so Company named removed by moderator were unable to book next day. Anyways we have one the following business day, which is better than TCS Contact were able / willing to provide directly.

The customer service at TCS Contact is appalling. They've lied to us saying we were unable to work through agent to obtain quicker appointment, they never cancelled my previous appointment which delayed everything by one working day, and they have simply not given a toss about our situation.

When i contacted the French consulate directly they told me their are three routes to applying for Schengen visa with them (directly with TCS Contact / request TCS contact to make appointment for you at French consulate / 3rd party registered agent). I only have good things to say about French consulate, they spent about 5 minutes on the phone, were so polite and helpful.

To anyone looking for a French Schengen visa, I would strongly suggest you contact Company name removed by moderator - they charge a service fee of £45 but peace of mind / next day appointment. Some of the other 15 registered French 3rd party agents charge a lot more.

I will update again after attending appointment and receiving visa.

[SimpleThings]

the document from French consulate below..

CONSULAT GENERAL DE FRANCE
A LONDRES
P.O. BOX 57, 6A CROMWELL PLACE, LONDON, SW7 2EW 
http:\\ www.consulfrance­londres.org
VISAS OUTSOURCING
The French authorities have outsourced the information of visa applicants and the collection of visas application to the company TLScontact. This service is available regardless of the nationality, the type of passport, the duration and the purpose of the stay of the visa applicant.
For all general enquiries, i.e. Do you need a visa? What type of visa? etc. please go to the
­ France Diplomatie’s website http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming­to­france/
­ Or to TLScontact’s https://www.tlscontact.com/gb2fr
If you cannot find the information you are after, you may either send an email to TLScontact after 
registering on their website or you may call them on 0845 7300 118 (Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30), 
have your passport number / reference on hand if applicable. To apply, you have 3 options: ­
1) Apply via TLScontact – Benefits are appointments at short notice (NOT!!), customer friendly service (NOT A CHANCE!!), assistance in putting together your application, on­line tracking facilities; ­
2) Apply via an accredited visa agency – they will represent you at the TLScontact centre – see 
TLScontact’s website for the list of approved agencies; (RECOMMEND Company name removed by moderator -NEXT DAY APPOINTMENT)
3) - Apply directly at the French Consulate – you will still need to contact TLS and request a Direct Appointment. (NO SERVICE FEE BUT APPOINTMENT WILL BE LATER)

[noajthan]

Members are gently reminded of board T&Cs click, eg point 7;
particularly when reporting or commenting on named 3rd parties.

[SimpleThings]

apologies for mentioning a company name. i was unaware of this rule.

collecting visa tomorrow morning - 6 months multiple entries

[noajthan]

apologies for mentioning a company name. i was unaware of this rule.

collecting visa tomorrow morning - 6 months multiple entries

fyi

You may discuss freely your personal experiences with various services, but you may NOT name them when you are posting negative commentary. If you wish to post positive commentary, which is your own, direct and personal experience(s), naming of reputable & reliable services will generally be permitted, so long as it does not become advertising or promotion

Bon voyage

[Rhuffa]

Hi! Can you tell me what 3rd party agency you contact for helping you out with your visa appointment in TSL Contact for france?

[CR001]

Hi! Can you tell me what 3rd party agency you contact for helping you out with your visa appointment in TSL Contact for france?

1. Kindly refrain from digging up topics that are more than a year old.

2. If you have actually read this whole topic, you will have notice the detail you are seeking has been removed and members reminded about not being permitted to post company names on the forum.

3. Please start your own topic if you have questions and what your circumstances are.