Spain received more than 1.6 million visa application in 2016. This made it one of the most visiting countries in Europe. Spain is a beautiful country and is visited by people from all across the world.
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The Spanish consulates in the USA process thousands of visa applications every year. Out of these, close to 1500 were made from Washington DC in 2016.
The visa rejection rate is 8% which is quite high. This happens because most applicants don’t understand the visa application process well. Here’s a guide that will explain the Spain Schengen visa application process from the consulate in Washington DC.
This guide explains the procedure involved in getting a short-term (> 90 days) Spain Schengen visa process at the Spanish consulate in Washington DC.
5 Steps to get your Spain Schengen Visa request processed
There are 5 steps that you need to follow to get your Spain Schengen visa processed:
- Ascertain whether you need a visa to enter Spain
- Confirm whether Washington DC is the consulate you need to apply at ( Get Schengen visa appointment for $ 10 )
- Visit the Spanish consulate in Washington DC and with all the relevant documents
- Make a request for your visa
- Collect your visa, once it’s approved or get it mailed to your address
Book Spain Visa Appointment at $10
Below is the explanation of each of these steps.
Do I need a visa to enter Spain?
This depends on your nationality. US citizens don’t need a visa to travel to Spain for a short stay. In case you’re a permanent resident in the US, you’ll need to check whether or not you need to apply for a short-stay visa. This is a list mentioning the names of countries from which people have to apply for Spain Schengen visa. Click on the link and scroll down to see the list.
How do I know if Washington DC is the embassy I need to apply from?
The Spanish consulate in Washington DC has jurisdiction over the following states:
- District of Columbia
- Washington
- Virginia
- Maryland
- North Carolina and
- West Virginia
If you’re a resident of any of these states, you can apply at the Spanish consulate in Washington DC.
I’m a Green Cardholder. Do I need to apply for a Spain Schengen Visa?
Having a Green Card is proof of the fact that you’re a permanent resident in the US. Mostly, you’ll need to apply for a visa if you belong to any of the third-world countries. Check the list given above to confirm.
I hold a B1/B2 visa. Can I apply at the consulate in Washington DC?
No, you can’t. You’ll have to apply from the country of your citizenship.
I’ll be visiting Italy and France as well. Should I apply to the Spanish consulate or the consulate of the other countries?
You need to apply at the Spanish consulate if Spain is the country where your stay will be the longest. If you’re staying in all three countries for an equal duration, Spain should be the first country you visit.
How can I schedule my appointment at the Spanish consulate in Washington DC?
You have to schedule your appointment by visiting the consulate personally.
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To make a booking, you’ll need to visit the official website of the Spanish consulate in Washington DC, first.
Below is a link that will help you find it.
Click on ‘North America‘ on the world map. You will get redirected to a web page that focuses just on North America with each of the consulates highlighted with a letter.
Use the ‘+‘ and ‘–‘ signs to find ‘Washington’. You’ll find it towards the right highlighted with the letter ‘E’. Click on it to get a dialogue box with a list of options. Click on the last one ‘Consulate en WASHINGTON‘.
You will reach the official website of the Spanish consulate in Washington DC. Choose ‘English’ from the top.
Click on ‘Consulate‘.
On the left, you will find ‘Visa information and Requirements‘. Click on this.
As clear from the image above, you’ll have to visit the consulate in person to get your visa done. You can’t appear earlier than 90 days from the date of your departure. The consulate doesn’t give appointments.
What are the documents that I’ll need to bring for my Spain Schengen visa interview?
There are many documents that you need to bring with you. They are:
- Duly-signed and filled-in Schengen visa application form
- 1 passport-sized photo
- Official travel document or Passport
- Residence Visa or Green Card
- Travel Itinerary
- Hotel Reservations
- Travel Insurance
- A Cover Letter
- Letter of employment or latest Income Tax return documents
- Proof of sustenance
Along with this, you’ll also need to bring along the visa fee.
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Here’s what you need to know about the documents.
Schengen Visa Application Form: Download the form and fill it. Ensure that the details you’re entering are accurate. Take a print-out of this and make a photocopy as well.
Passport: You need to bring your original passport or official travel document. The date of issue of these documents shouldn’t be earlier than 10 years. Also, the validity should be at least three months from the date of your return from Spain.
Photograph: This should be a recent one and you need to paste it on to your Schengen visa application form.
Proof of Flight Reservations: Bring a printout of your round-trip flight reservation.
What is the flight itinerary? Is it accepted by the Schengen consulate?
Of course, in fact all the embassies mention the same. We have added links to the official visa pages which you can verify.
France Consulate
Your travel itinerary : you MUST BOOK your airline ticket but do not purchase until the visa has been approved.
We recommend that you do not purchase travel tickets until your visa has been approved. On the other hand, you may provide us with a reservation, a planned itinerary or an online printout of a roundtrip ticket.
Travel reservation to and from schengen area, not a ticket. Note: Make travel reservation which you can cancel
Flight (roundtrip)/travel reservations and full itinerary (if several Schengen States will be visited or if the trip covers several Schengen States and non-Schengen countries) with the name of passenger and one copy
Round trip ticket/reservation, originating in this jurisdiction to Europe (and ultimately to Italy) and back, including internal entry and exit points of travel i.e. EURORAIL tickets, car rental, internal flights. The names on reservations have to reflect the names on passports.
We can provide you with flight itineraries which is accepted by not only for Schengen visa but for all visas. We have customers using the same flight itinerary for Malaysia visa, Singapore visa, India visa, UK visa etc.
In fact the European union visa requirements for visa states the same.
As per the official document,
Round trip reservation or itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Schengen state.Schengen authorities accept the itinerary when applying for the visa but request the original air ticket when visa is collected.
That is why we have 100% visa acceptance rate although some of our customer have been requested to provide “additional documents”,none of their visa has been rejected for providing fake documents.
With 80% of our customers being return customers or companies which process visas for their employees/clients, our approach is the best approach if you want to ensure the safety of your visa.
This is our orders screen for this month. Most of the orders have been placed by repeat customers.
The best part about our service is along with getting a flight reservation without payment, you can also get confirmed hotel bookings, personal cover letter, leave/no objection letter for your visa consulates.
[/su_spoiler]Hotel Reservations: You’ll also need to bring a proof of your hotel stay.
Cover Letter: Make it a detailed one. Include your travel itinerary and give a list of the documents you’re submitting.
Proof of sustenance: You’ll also need to bring your latest bank statements. Online printed statements will not be accepted.
Travel/Health Insurance: This is compulsory like all the other documents. It should be valid in all Schengen countries.
Letter of Employment: If you’re employed in the US, you’ll need to bring your employment contract. It should have your job title, length of employment, and current salary drawn mentioned. Self-employed individuals need to bring latest IT returns documents.
Visa Fee: This should be paid in cash. Ensure to tender the exact amount. Or you can even pay with a Money Order.
Why should I book my flight and hotel accommodation prior to my visa approval?
Because without these documents, your visa application will not be processed, forget about approval. You’ll have to bring these documents on the day of your interview.
It doesn’t guarantee visa approval. If the consulate rejects my visa, I’ll lose money. What should I do?
Yes, this is a matter of concern. The prudent move will be to opt for temporary flight tickets and hotel bookings. These are available for a nominal cost and these are accepted by the consulates of all Schengen countries.
Want temporary flight, hotel or insurance for your Schengen visa appointment?
Why should I take temporary hotel and flight reservations from you?
For your Spain Schengen visa, you need to avail services from an agency that offers expertise in this field. Travel Visa Bookings has been in this field for more than 5 years and we have processed more than 100000 requests till date. We also offer Schengen travel insurance services. What you get from us is a complete package and all these improve the chances of your Spain Schengen visa approval.
What is the Spain Schengen visa fee?
The visa fee depends on the type of visa you apply for.
The visa fee depends on the type of your visa. As you’re applying for a short-term visa, here’s what you need to pay:
Can I book the appointment earlier in Spain consulate?
No, that isn’t possible. You can schedule your appointment via phone or email. You will have to visit the consulate in person and attend the interview on the very same day. It’s always first come first serve basis at the Spanish consulate in Washington DC.
How long does the Spain Schengen visa process take?
Generally, the visa process doesn’t take more than 15 days. In a few cases, it can get extended to 30-60 days.
When should I apply for my Schengen visa?
The Spanish consulate in Washington DC doesn’t allow visa application 90 days from the date of departure from the US. However, that doesn’t mean that you’ll apply for your Spain Schengen visa a month from the date of your travel.
Your visa approval can take time because of many reasons. Plan your trip ahead to be on a safe side. Apply for your visa 70-90 days from the date of your travel.
What are the visa office hours?
The Spanish visa office in Washington DC stays closed on Fridays. You can visit the office for a Spain Schengen visa from Monday – Thursday from 9 AM – 1 PM.
Do I have to collect my Spain Schengen visa from the office?
Yes, you can collect your visa from the office itself. If you want the consulate to mail your visa, submit a US Postal Service Express Mail envelope with a prepaid tag. Keep the tracking number handy to track the mail. This can take up to 4 weeks.
How long will my Spain Schengen visa be valid?
Your visa will be valid for the days you mention in your travel itinerary. Take our advice and add 5-10 to the itinerary you submit at the consulate. This will ensure that you’re not in a rush to leave Spain.
Spanish Consulate in Washington DC Information
Address:
2375 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20037
USA
Phone:
(+1) 202 728 23 40
(+1) 202 452 01 00
Fax:
(+1) 202 833 56 70
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