Applying for a Schengen Visa from the United States

US citizens can visit EU/Schengen countries without needing a visa. However, if you live in the US and you are a passport holder of a country that hasn’t established visa-free agreement with the EU, you’ll need to apply for a Schengen visa if you plan to visit any country in the Schengen Area.

Our team of Schengen visa experts has crafted this guide to assist you in applying for a Schengen visa from the US. Filled with valuable tips and expert advice, this brief yet comprehensive guide will help you prepare thoroughly for your Schengen visa application in the US.

How to Apply for a Visa to the Schengen Area from the U.S.?

To apply for a Schengen Visa from the US, you have to follow these steps:

1. Check if You Need a Schengen Visa
2. Confirm Your Eligibility to Apply from the US
3. Understand the Type of Visa You Need
4. Determine Where to Lodge Your Visa Application in the US
5. Complete and Download the Application Form
6. Schedule Your Visa Appointment
7. Prepare the Required Documents
8. Attend your Appointment
9. Wait For the Visa to Process
10. Collect Your Passport

Check if You Need a Schengen Visa

Whether or not travelers from the US require a visa to enter the EU/Schengen area varies depending on nationality.

You will have to apply for a Schengen visa when traveling from the US to any member of the EU/Schengen zone if you are:

• A US legal resident, but you hold a passport from a country that has not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the EU.
• A US passport holder, but you were denied entry into the Schengen area without a visa.

You can also use our Schengen visa wizard, crafted by our team of visa experts, to determine if you require a visa to travel from the US to the Schengen zone. This tool also assists you in locating the appropriate embassy, consulate, or visa application center in the US where you can submit your Schengen visa application.

Schengen Visa Wizard

I am a citizen of:

I am travelling to:

I am travelling from:

Have you ever been denied entry into the Schengen Area?

Do you hold a valid residence permit of ?

Confirm Your Eligibility to Apply from the US

You must be a legally registered resident of the United States to be eligible to apply for a Schengen visa from the US.

You’ll need to have a valid residence permit, like a Green Card (Permanent Resident Card), a US alien registration card, or a valid US resident visa (types A, E, F with an endorsed I-20, G, H, I, J with a J1 document, L, O, R).

Additionally, this permit should remain valid for at least three months after your intended return from the Schengen Area.

As a Non-US Resident, Where Should I Submit My Application?

If you are a non-US resident, you cannot apply for a Schengen visa in the US—you have to apply from your home country.

Understand the Type of Visa You Need

If your plan involves a short trip to EU/EEA/Schengen, lasting up to 90 days, whether it’s for tourism, visiting friends and family, or business purposes, you should apply for a short-stay visa, commonly referred to as a C-type or Schengen Visa.

Short-Stay Visa (C) Types

• Transit visa. If you’re passing through a Schengen airport on your way to another destination, you’ll need an onward flight ticket along with a visa for your final destination (if applicable). Check if you need an Airport Transit Visa!
• Tourism visa. This visa is for people who plan to travel to the EU/Schengen solely for tourism, sightseeing, etc.
• Visa for visiting family or friends.If you visit family or friends in the EU/Schengen, you will need an invitation letter from them.
• Medical treatment visa. If you will receive medical treatment in an EU/Schengen medical facility.
• Business visa.If you will be traveling for business-related activities, such as attending meetings, conferences, etc.
• Cultural, religious, or sports events visa.This visa is for travelers who will be attending a cultural event, such as an art show or festival, a religious event, or sports-related activities.
• Official visit visa. For individuals traveling as representatives of their country for official visits.
• Short-term study visa. If you’ve been accepted into a short-term study program lasting up to three months.

As you complete the application form, you must specify the purpose of your visit.

If you’re traveling from the US to the Schengen zone for reasons other than short visits or if you intend to stay for more than 90 days, you’ll require a long-stay visa, which is also referred to as a D-type visa or National visa.

Long-Stay Visa (D) Types

These types of visas are issued to non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who wish to travel to a Schengen or EU country for work or for any purpose that requires a stay of longer than 90 days.

Each EU/Schengen member country handles the issuance and rules of its national visas separately. For precise details on visa purposes and regulations, visit their official websites.

Determine Where to Lodge Your Visa Application

Where you should lodge your Schengen visa application in the US depends on which Schengen country—or countries—you will travel to.

If Visiting One Schengen Country

If you only plan to visit one Schengen country during your trip, where to apply is pretty straightforward: you should apply for the visa of that country you plan to visit. For example, if you’re only going to Germany, then apply for a German Schengen visa.

It gets slightly trickier when you visit multiple countries.

If Visiting More Than One Schengen Country

If you will travel to multiple countries within the Schengen Area, to determine where you should lodge your application, consider the following factors:

• Main destination. You should apply for a visa from the country in which you will be spending the most time. For instance, if you plan to spend a week in France and two days in Italy, apply for a French visa.
• Entry point. If you are spending an equal amount of time in various Schengen countries, you should apply for a visa from the country you will be entering the Schengen zone first.

Finding the Right Submission Location

Schengen Visa Application Centres in the US: Where to Apply for Each Schengen Country

Please review the following to decide whether you should apply for your Schengen visa at the embassy/consulate of the Schengen country in the US or through Visa Application Centers (VACs). These VACs are authorized by the EU missions in the United States.

Here’s where to lodge your Schengen visa application in the U.S. based on each Schengen Member State:

Austria

When applying for an Austrian visa from the US, you have to submit your application at a VFS application center or the Austrian Consulate in Los Angeles.

Belgium

To apply for a visa to Belgium in the US, you have to lodge your application at one of the following:

Croatia

You have to lodge the application for a Croatia visa at the Croatian Embassy to the US or in one of the General Consulates:

Cyprus

To apply for a Cyprus visa from the US, you have to lodge your application at either the Cyprus Embassy in Washington, DC or the Consulate General of the Republic of Cyprus in New York.
Find the address of the Cyprus Embassy or Consulate here.

Czech Republic

To apply for a Czech Republic visa, you have to lodge your application in one of the following locations, depending on which US State you live in:

Denmark

When applying from the USA, you have to lodge your application for a Denmark visa at one of the VFS Centres in:

Estonia

When applying from the USA, you have to lodge your application for an Estonia visa at one of the VFS Centres in:

Finland

When applying from the USA, you have to lodge your application for a Finland visa at one of the VFS Global centres in:

France

When applying from the US, you have to lodge your France visa application at one of the following VFS Global centers:

Germany

To get detailed guidance on applying for a Germany Schengen visa from the US, refer to the following resource:

Greece

Here’s where to apply for a Greek visa in the USA:

Hungary

When applying from the USA, you can lodge your application for a Hungary visa at the Hungarian embassy in Washington DC, or one of the Consulates General in New York, Chicago, or LA.

Iceland

You can lodge your application for an Iceland visa at one of the following VFS Global centers in the US:

Italy

You can lodge your application for an Italy visa at the Italian embassy in Washington or one of the Consulates.

Latvia

In the US, you can lodge your application for a Latvia visa in a VFS Global center:

You can also lodge your application at the following locations:

• Embassy of Latvia in Washington, D.C
• Consulate General of Poland in Los Angeles
• Consulate General of Lithuania in Chicago
• Consulate General of Poland in Houston

Note: Citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus can only apply for a visa in person at the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C.

Lithuania

In the US, you can lodge your application for a Lithuanian visa in one of the following VFS centers:

Luxembourg

You have to lodge your application for a Luxembourg visa at the Luxembourg Embassy in Washington or the Consulates in San Francisco or New York, depending on where you live:

Malta

In the US, you must lodge the application for a Malta visa either at the Malta Embassy in Washington DC or in the Malta Consulate in New York.

Netherlands

To apply for a Netherlands visa in the US, lodge an application at one of the following VFS centers:

Norway

If applying for a Norway visa, you must lodge your application in one of the following VFS centers in the States:

Portugal

You have to lodge your application for a Portugal visa in one of the following centers:

• VFS center in New York – if you live in the States of Connecticut, Michigan, and New York. Territories of American Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico.
• VFS center in San Francisco – if you live in AAlaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas.
• VFS center in Washington DC, Miami, or Houston – If you live in States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, District of Columbia and Bahamas.
• Consulate General in Boston – if you live in Massachusetts (except the area covered by the consulate in New Bedford), Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont.
• Consulate General in New Bedford – if you live in the cities of Acushnet, Dartmouth, New Bedford or Fall River or the counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, or Plymouth
• Consulate General in Newark – if you live in Delaware, New Jersey or Pennsylvania
• Consulate General in Providence – if you live in Rhode Island

Slovakia

In the US, you have to lodge an application for a Slovakia visa through one of the BLS visa application centers in Washington D.C, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, or Boston.

Slovenia

When applying from the US, you have to lodge your application for a Slovenia visa through one of the VFS global centers in:

Spain

To apply for a Spain visa in the US, lodge your application at one of the following VFS Global centers:

Sweden

If you are applying for a Sweden visa, you must lodge your application at one of the VFS centers in:

Switzerland

If you are applying for a Switzerland visa from the US, lodge your application at one of the following VFS centers:

Who Makes the Visa Decisions?

Although nearly all Schengen visa applications in the U.S. are outsourced to visa centers, such as VFS Global or BLS International, these centers do not make decisions on visa applications—they will only accept your application and documents and send them to the right Schengen embassy/consulate for a decision.

Complete and Download the Visa Application Form

One of the first steps when applying for a Schengen visa from the U.S. is to download and complete the visa application form. Although this form is the same for all Schengen countries (harmonized), many embassies or consulate offices prefer that applicants complete it through a specific online application or through a visa center.

Here’s where to complete or download the Schengen visa application form in the US, depending on the Schengen country:

Schedule Your Visa Appointment

Once you have completed the application form, you have to schedule an appointment with the relevant visa application center or Schengen embassy/consulate in the US.

Here’s a guide on how to schedule your Schengen visa appointment in the U.S. for each Schengen Member State:

Austria

You have to schedule your Austria visa appointment with a VFS Centre in:

• Houston, Miami, or Washington, DC – if you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Bahamas
• Los Angeles or San Francisco if you live in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, U.S. Pacific Islands
• Chicago or New York City if you live in Bermudas, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin

Schedule an appointment with the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles if you live in Northern California.

Belgium

To schedule your Belgium visa appointment in the US, you have the following options:

• Embassy of Belgium in Washington, D.C. – if you live in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, or the Bahamas.
• Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta – if you live in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky (except the counties of Campbell and Kenton), Louisiana, Mississippi, or Tennessee.
• Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles – if you live in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, United States Territory of Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam.
• Consulate General of Belgium in New York – if you live in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North and South Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, or the counties of Campbell and Kenton (Kentucky).

Croatia

To schedule your Croatia visa appointment in the US, follow these instructions:

• Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Washington DC – Email: [email protected] or Phone: +1 202-588-5899. Jurisdictions: Alabama, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, American Samoa, Guam, Howland, Jarvis and Baker Islands, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa, Palmyra, Wake Island, Micronesia (Federal States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau), Panama, or Mexico.
• Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in New York – Email: [email protected] or Phone: (212) 599-3066. Jurisdictions: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands.
• Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in Los Angeles, CA – Email: [email protected] or Phone: (310) 477-1009. Jurisdictions: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming.
• Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in Chicago – Email: [email protected] or Phone: (312) 482-9902. Jurisdictions: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, or Wisconsin.

If you’re applying for a Croatian visa at the VFS Centre in New York, you have to book your appointment online via this link.

Cyprus

To schedule an appointment for a Cyprus visa in the US, contact the consular services department of the Cyprus embassy:

• Phone Number: (202) 462-0632
• Web: www.cyprusembassy.net

Czech Republic

To schedule an appointment with a Czech Embassy or Consulate General in the US, you have to send an email with the Subject line “SCHENGEN VISA appointment request: [SURNAME(S) OF APPLICANT(S)]” to one of the following email addresses:

• Czech Embassy in Washington, DC: Send an email at [email protected] . (If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda).
• Czech Consulate General in Los Angeles: Send an email at [email protected] . (If you live in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming).
• Czech Consulate General in New York: Send an email at [email protected] . (If you live in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont).
• Czech Consulate General to Chicago: Send an email at [email protected] . (If you live in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin).

Denmark

In the US, you have to book an appointment for a Denmark visa online through VFS Global.

Estonia

To submit an Estonian visa application in the US, you must schedule an appointment online through the VFS Global Center.

Finland

To submit your Finland visa application in the US, you have to schedule an appointment online through a VFS Global center.

France

Book your appointment for a France Visa in the US online, through the VFS website.

Germany

To access detailed instructions on booking your Germany visa appointment in the US, simply click the link below:

Scheduling Your Germany Visa Appointment in the US

Greece

Here’s how to schedule your appointment for a Greek visa in the USA:

• Book an appointment online with the Greek Consular Office in Washington DC if you live in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia or West Virginia.
• Book an appointment online with the Greek Consulate General in San Francisco if you live in Alaska, California (zip codes 93000+), Idaho, Montana, North Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming.
• Schedule appointment with the Greek Consulate General in Boston by calling +1 617 523 0100 or sending an email to: [email protected] if you live in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont.
• Book your appointment online with the Greek Consulate General in Los Angeles if you live in Arizona, California (zip codes: 90001-93199), Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico or South Nevada.
• Book your appointment online with the Greek Consulate General in New York if you live in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Connecticut.
• Book your appointment online with the Greek Consulate General in Chicago if you live in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, N. Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, S. Dakota, or Wisconsin.
• Book your appointment with the Greek Consulate General in Tampa by calling 0018138650200 or sending an email to [email protected] if you live in Florida, Alabama, or Mississippi.
• Book your appointment online with the Greek Consulate in Atlanta if you live in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, or South Carolina.
• Book your appointment with the Greek Consulate in Houston by calling +1 713 840 7522-ext.1 or sending an email to [email protected] if you live in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma as well as Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands.

Hungary

Here’s how to schedule your appointment for a Hungary visa in the USA:

Iceland

You can schedule your appointment for an Iceland visa online through the VFS Global centers in Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, and Washington.

Italy

If you are submitting your visa application in the US, you have to schedule your Italy visa appointment online.

Latvia

If you will apply for a Latvia visa at one of the VFS Global centers in the US, you can schedule your appointment online.

If you will apply at the Latvian Embassy or other Schengen Consular offices, schedule your appointment as follows:

• • To apply at the Embassy of Latvia in Washington, D.C schedule your appointment via email: [email protected] .
  • To apply at the Consulate General of Poland in Los Angeles schedule your appointment here
  • To apply at the Consulate General of Lithuania in Chicago call the consulate: 312-397-0382 or visit the official website.
  • To apply at the Consulate General of Poland in Houston, schedule your appointment here.

  Lithuania

  You can book your visa appointment online at one of the VFS centers in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, or Washington.

  Luxembourg

  To schedule your appointment for a Luxembourg visa in the US, you have to contact the Embassy or one of the Consulates.

  • Contact the Embassy of Luxembourg, Washington DC if you live in Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
  • Contact the Consulate General in San Francisco if you live in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
  • Contact the Consulate General in New York if you live in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

  Malta

  • To schedule an appointment with the Malta Embassy in Washington DC, email [email protected] ​.
  • To schedule an appointment with the Malta Consulate in New York, email [email protected] .

  Netherlands

  In the US, you have to book your appointment for a Netherlands visa online through a VFS Global application center. There are application centers in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

  Norway

  You have to book your appointment online with one of the VFS application centers in Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, or Washington DC.

  Portugal

  If applying through a VFS center (in Houston, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC), you have to book your appointment online. Check your Consular Jurisdiction as stated on the VFS website before scheduling an appointment.

  If applying through one of the Portuguese General Consulates, you have to contact the relevant consulate:

  • Consulate General in Boston – if you live in Massachusetts (except the area covered by the consulate in New Bedford), Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont.
  • Consulate General in New Bedford – if you live in the cities of Acushnet, Dartmouth, New Bedford or Fall River or the counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, or Plymouth.
  • Consulate General in Newark – if you live in Delaware, New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
  • Consulate General in Providence – if you live in Rhode Island.

  Slovakia

  Book your appointment for a Slovakia visa in the US online through the BLS website.

  Slovenia

  You must book your appointment for a Slovenia visa online at one of the VFS centers in US cities (Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC).

  Spain

  To schedule your Spain visa appointment in the US, you can book your appointment at the BLS centers located in various cities:

  Sweden

  You should book your appointment for a Sweden visa in one of the VFS centers in Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, or Washington DC. You must book the appointment online.

  Switzerland

  Schedule your appointment for a Swiss visa Consulate General of The Republic of Lithuania in Chicago if you live in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, or Wisconsin. For residents of these states there is a representation agreement allowing them to apply through the Lithuanian consulate.

  If you live elsewhere in the US, you have to schedule your appointment with one of the Swiss representation offices in the US through this website after you complete your visa application form.

  Prepare the Required Documents

  To apply for a Schengen visa in the US, you need a standard set of documents. As a US resident, you also need to submit the following:

  • Proof of legal residence in the USA and re-entry document. Original of your valid US Alien Registration Card (Green Card) or a valid US Resident Visa (e.g., type H-1B). The US residence permit or visa should be valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen Area.
  • If you are employed in the US: Submit a declaration from your employer stating the period of your intended absence.
  • If you are self-employed in the US: Submit a tax return document from the previous fiscal year or proof of previous economic activity and income during that period.
  • If you are a student in the US: You may have to submit an I-20 form, along with a letter from your US educational institution.
  • If you are retired: Submit a copy of your pension certificate, a letter from a previous employer, a pension check stub, or confirmation from the responsible authority about your pension amount.
  • Travel insurance from a US or Schengen-based company. The insurance should have a minimum coverage of €30,000 ($33,000) for medical emergencies and include repatriation in the event of death.
    

  US residents applying for a Schengen visa can get travel insurance from either Europ Assistance or vti.travel, a European insurance comparison website, comparing insurance policies of AXA, Allianz, Europ Assistance, and Mutuaide. These insurance providers are acknowledged and accepted by the EU/Schengen missions in the US. Moreover, you can cancel the insurance at no cost by submitting proof of a visa rejection.

  The Schengen embassies and consulates in the US may ask for specific documentation as per the regulations of their institution.

  Please make sure that you have all the documents as required on the checklist—a document checklist is usually provided along with the application form at visa application centers or is posted on the embassy/consulate website.

  How Much Money Do I Need to Apply for a Schengen Visa in the US?

  To apply for a Schengen Visa from the US, you must demonstrate that you have enough funds to support your visit to the Schengen area. The required minimum bank balance varies depending on the specific Schengen country you’re applying to, ranging from €14 to €100 per day.

  Attend your Appointment

  On the day of your appointment, you must show up on time, have your passport, application form, and all the required documents with you, and have enough money to pay the visa fee if you haven’t already paid it online while scheduling the appointment.

  Paying the Application Fee

  Schengen Visa Fee for the US Residents

  The standard fee for a Schengen visa is €90 (appx. $86). If you apply through a visa application center, an additional service fee may apply. Payment methods include cash, credit/debit cards, or payment slips (depending on the visa center or embassy). Confirm the payment options before your appointment.

  Biometric Data

  On your appointment, you will need to submit a biometric visa photo as well as scans of your fingerprints. Your biometric information is taken for security and identification reasons and is stored in the Schengen Visa Information System (VIS).

  If you have applied for a Schengen visa in the last five years, your information is still stored in VIS, and you may be exempted from submitting fingerprint scans again.

  Visa Interview

  Sometimes, when you apply for a Schengen visa in the United States, the consular officers at the embassy or consulate will ask you questions about your planned trip to Europe (why you’re going, what you plan to do when you will return) and personal questions (about your life in the US, your job or studies, your family, etc.).

  Make sure you answer all the questions truthfully and without hesitation.

  Most Asked Questions During a Schengen Visa Interview

  Top Mistakes to Avoid During a Schengen Visa Interview

  Can Someone Else Apply For a Schengen Visa on My Behalf?

  Yes, someone else can apply for a Schengen visa on your behalf, but only if you’ve granted them authorization to do so and you’re not required to submit your biometric data.

  Wait For the Visa to Process

  In the US, a Schengen visa application usually takes 15 days to process. However, this timeframe could be extended up to 45 days if the consulate requires additional documents, if there’s a high volume of applications, especially before holidays, or if other reasons delay the process.

  This is why it is important to apply well ahead of time!

  Tracking Your Application

  Since most Schengen visas in the US are submitted through a visa application center (VAC), you can typically track the status of your application through the VAC’s website.

  To see your application status, you just need to enter your visa reference number (usually found on the application fee slip) and your last name.

  If you applied through a Schengen embassy or consulate, it may not be possible to track your application.

  Receiving a Visa Decision

  If your visa is granted, the Schengen visa will be affixed to your passport, and you will be able to travel to the Schengen Area within the dates specified on the visa sticker.

  If your visa is rejected, the reason for the rejection will be stated in the decision letter. You can either re-apply for the visa or try to appeal the decision. Whether you can appeal a decision (and how) will also be stated on the visa decision letter.

  Collect Your Passport

  After your Schengen visa application in the US has been processed, you must collect your passport from the embassy, consulate, or visa application center. You can collect your passport in person at the designated pick-up counters, or it may be mailed to you through a courier service (if this is an option).

  In the latter case, you will have to pay for the service at the time of visa application.

  Entering the Schengen Area from the US as a Non-US Citizen

  After your visa is granted, you can enter the Schengen Area within the dates specified on your passport. As a non-US citizen entering the Schengen Zone, you must have the following documents with you.

  • Your valid passport (with at least 3 months validity beyond your intended stay)
  • Schengen visa, affixed to your passport
  • Travel itinerary (including flight reservations and other planned activities)
  • Proof of travel health insurance (with coverage of at least €30,000 across the Schengen Area)
  • Proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in the Schengen Area (e.g., bank statements, credit cards, sponsor letter, etc)
  • Proof of accommodation (hotel reservations, rental agreements, or letter of invitation)
  • Any other relevant documents, such as an invitation letter from a friend, family member, or organization, acceptance letter in a short-term study course, proof of the business you plan to conduct in the Schengen Area, proof you will attend a cultural event, etc.

  FAQ

  I'm a U.S. green card holder, not a U.S. citizen. Do I need a Schengen visa for short-term travel to Europe?

  If you’re a US green card holder planning a short trip to Europe, you might require a Schengen visa depending on your nationality. Use our visa checker tool to determine whether you need a Schengen visa to travel from the US to the EU.

  As a US tourist, am I eligible to apply for a Schengen Visa from the US?

  If you’re visiting the U.S. as a tourist and don’t hold a U.S. residence permit, you’re unable to apply for a Schengen visa from within the U.S. You must apply from your home country instead.

  Do I require a transit or Schengen visa for my journey from the USA to Pakistan, with connecting flights in Amsterdam and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport? I hold Pakistani citizenship and possess a valid US visa.

  If you hold a Pakistani passport and you’re traveling through two airports within the Schengen Area, according to Schengen visa code, you need a valid short-stay visa, not just an airport transit visa.

  Can an Indian passport holder apply for a Schengen visa from the US?

  Yes, Indian citizens and passport holders who are legally registered residents of the United States are eligible to apply for a Schengen visa while residing in the US.

  Non-residents, such as Indian travelers and tourists who plan on staying in the US for three months or less, should be discouraged from applying for a Schengen visa from within the US. Instead, they should apply for a Schengen visa in India.

  Other Information:

  Data Protection

  Your personal data submitted during the Schengen visa application process in the US is safeguarded and managed in compliance with Articles 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, also known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  If you have any concerns about the security of your data, you can contact the Data Protection Commissioner of the Schengen country where you’re applying for a visa.