Advice required-Schengen for Italy

[S4T123]

Hi guys-firstly just introduce myself, user name S4T123. I'm new to this forum and in need of some advice!
This is the problem:
6 of us booked to go Milan, Italy on July 18th '07. Me, my wife, daughter, father, mother and sister.
All have Uk passports except my wife and mother who hold Indian passports.
Earliest visa appointment available with Italian consulate in London is 24th July '07. Can get an appointment with German consulate on 10th July- Is this route worth going down and what will be required?
Also, thought of Austrian route, haven't had a chance to ring them yet but would i be right in saying that i do not need to produce travel confirmations as me and my dad are both Uk citizens and my wife and mum both Uk residents with indefinite stay granted?
Please help-pulling my hair out!

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Hi guys-firstly just introduce myself, user name S4T123. I'm new to this forum and in need of some advice!
This is the problem:
6 of us booked to go Milan, Italy on July 18th '07. Me, my wife, daughter, father, mother and sister.
All have Uk passports except my wife and mother who hold Indian passports.
Earliest visa appointment available with Italian consulate in London is 24th July '07. Can get an appointment with German consulate on 10th July- Is this route worth going down and what will be required?
Also, thought of Austrian route, haven't had a chance to ring them yet but would i be right in saying that i do not need to produce travel confirmations as me and my dad are both Uk citizens and my wife and mum both Uk residents with indefinite stay granted?
Please help-pulling my hair out!

So you are UK and your wife is Indian.
Your daughter is UK.
Your Father is UK and his wife (your mother) is Indian.
Your sister is UK.

So you need two Schengen visas, each for a family member of an EU citizen. They should be issued quickly and easily by any of the embassy. You will need to produce the two marriage certificates, and the passports of both spouses (total of four). You do not need to pay anything. See http://eumovement.wordpress.com/2007/04 ... u-citizen/

Germany should be fine as a destination. You can fly to Munich, and then take the train or drive to Italy. The German embassy will also issue follow-on visas within a year by post.

You can also fly with Ryanair to Salzberg Austria (which is even a bit closer to Italy).

Driving through the Alps is lovely at that time of year, especially if you keep to small roads.

[S4T123]

Thanks for the reply, good to hear from someone who's in the know.
Would my wife and mother have to produce travel documentation because i was actually thinking of just getting the visa and then just trying our luck and going straight to italy without even going germany or is this risky?
Also when i booked the appointment on the phone with the German consulate they gave me one date and time although when i was prompted to key in 'how many applicants?' i entered '2' and confirmed it. Now i'm guessing both of them would need to turn up for the interview/appointment and perhaps me and my father also?

[Wanderer]

Germany should be fine as a destination. You can fly to Munich, and then take the train or drive to Italy. The German embassy will also issue follow-on visas within a year by post.

You can also fly with Ryanair to Salzberg Austria (which is even a bit closer to Italy).

Driving through the Alps is lovely at that time of year, especially if you keep to small roads.

My experience with the German Consulate in London is not good. I hear the French Consulate is the easiest, and if u live outside London you can apply by post, saving the 15 quid 0906 phone call to make an appointment earliest 2008.....

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

Thanks for the reply, good to hear from someone who's in the know.
Would my wife and mother have to produce travel documentation because i was actually thinking of just getting the visa and then just trying our luck and going straight to italy without even going germany or is this risky?
Also when i booked the appointment on the phone with the German consulate they gave me one date and time although when i was prompted to key in 'how many applicants?' i entered '2' and confirmed it. Now i'm guessing both of them would need to turn up for the interview/appointment and perhaps me and my father also?

There is a London number to use for making appointments with the German embassy in London if you are family of an EU citizen. Call them up and check. Never call the crazy expensive number again!

Spouses of EU Nationals may obtain an appointment by calling 020 7824 1459 (Monday to Friday 10:30-11:30) or, alternatively, using the automated service.

[S4T123]

So, if my wife and mother were to be issued multiple visit schengen visas from the German or Austrian consulates, would these have to go through a validation process as in actually travelling to the issuing country FIRST before they could use them for italy? For example, do the visas have to be stamped off or anything or could we just go stright to italy with the very same visa and without question?
Also, if questioned could we just not say that plans/circumstances changed?

[Directive/2004/38/EC]

I would urge you to go to Germany or Austria if you can, because it is a nice place and worth visiting. I personally avoid Italy in the mid summer because it is so hot. But in any case...

I do not believe there is a process in place for validating where you are going before you go there.

Remember that your family members have a right of freedom of movement as long as they are traveling with their (in this case) spouses. So you can get a visa and then not use it at all. Or change your mind. They may or may not give you a hard time when you apply again in the future. But your family still has a right of freedom of movement and you should push back if that ever happens.

[S4T123]

Thanks for the advice again-it is definitely reassuring and extremely helpful.
Well, spoke to the austrian consulate, got an appointment and they confirmed to me that the docs we need to bring are as follows:
1)application forms
2)2 passport photos
3)Passport
4)Passport of EU national
5)Marriage certs
6)Photocopis of the above

Hopefully it all works out, the trip to italy is already booked (not a regular traveller-didn't even know a schengen visa existed! Wish i hadn't booked now) and if i can fit in a trip to Austria-providing we get the visa's, i will.