Belgium is a country situated in western Europe. The province was an ordeal of European paintings and has been remarkably creative in this field ever since. Belgians are known for their remarkable spread of amazing food, which also includes some of the world’s tastiest chocolates.
As per statistics of visa applications in 2016, the Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta received visa applications from 952 applicants, but only 936 visas were issued.
From the image, you can make out that Belgium has a high visa rejection rate of an unfortunate 15%. But don’t worry, this elaborative guide will help you with every step that you need to follow to avail a Belgium Schengen visa.
Read this article and keep yourself informed about the right procedure to get yourself a Belgium Schengen visa.
The basic steps to getting a Belgium Schengen visa
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Confirm whether or not you need a visa for your Belgium trip
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Can you apply at the Atlantan consulate for your Belgium Schengen visa? ( Get Schengen visa appointment for $ 10 )
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Ensure that you possess all the documents and keep it ready
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You will need to attend the interview to start the processing of your visa
Want temporary flight, hotel or insurance for your Belgium Schengen visa appointment?
How do I know if I need a visa for my Belgium trip?
View the Schengen visa eligibility to find out whether you need a visa for your Belgium trip because only your nationality can confirm whether or not you need a Belgium Schengen visa.
Can I apply for my Belgium Schengen visa at the Atlanta consulate?
The Consulate General of Belgium in Atlanta accepts visa applications from people who reside in:
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Alabama
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Florida
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North-Carolina
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South-Carolina
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Arkansas
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Georgia
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Mississippi
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Louisiana
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Kentucky (Except the regions of Campbell and Kenton)
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Tennessee
Do I need to apply for a Belgium Schengen visa if I have a US Permanent Residence card?
Yes, you will have to apply for a Belgium Schengen visa even if you have a US Permanent Residence card. Only legal citizens of the US don’t need a visa to enter Belgium.
What if I have a B1/B2 visa, will I still need to apply for a Belgium Schengen visa?
Yes, in that case too, you will need to apply for a Belgium Schengen visa. But, you can apply for it only from your own nationality.
Do I need to approach the Belgian embassy for my Schengen visa?
You need to apply for a Schengen visa at the Belgian Consulate if your travel plans focus only or mostly on Belgium. But, if you plan on traveling to Italy or other Schengen countries, then you will need to apply from that specific country’s consulate.
The image given below should help you get more clarity on the matter.
What is the Belgium Schengen visa appointment procedure at the Atlantan consulate?
The very first step demands you to schedule an online appointment. The Atlantan consulate does not encourage any walk-in visa applicants.
Confirm your visa appointment only after you have a definite departure date to Belgium. And remember, don’t apply for your Belgium Schengen visa less than a week or more than three months before your Belgium departure date from the US. Plan well and apply at least a month in advance so that there is enough time for your visa to get approved.
Visit the official website of the Belgium consulate in the US, to choose Atlanta from the given options.
Once you are on the Belgium embassy in the US, make sure that you click on the third given option “Embassy and Consulates of Belgium in the United States”.
This is the official website of Belgium consulate in the United States, you are now requested to click on “Visa for Belgium”, from the choices given on your left-hand side. This will direct you to the page below.
Read the information given on this page carefully. After this, click on “Visitors”.
Once you are on the visitor’s page, we advise you to read through each line to get yourself well-versed with the requirements of short-stay Schengen visas for Belgium. After you are done reading the page scroll further below and click on the link that is provided beside Atlanta.
Once you click on the link next to Atlanta, a page similar to the image above will appear before you. All you need to do is fill in the details. Ensure that the information that you fill on this page is the same as in your passport. Hit “next” after this and follow the instructions given to complete the appointment booking process. An email confirmation will be sent to you with your appointment date and time once they are confirmed by the consulate. On the date of the interview, carry all your documents along with your visa application form to start the processing of your visa.
Download your Schengen visa application form
What are the required documents for my Belgium Schengen visa application form?
You will be required to carry the following:
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Original passport
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Passport sized photographs (colored)
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US Permanent Residence card
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Travel Itinerary
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Hotel bookings
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Travel Health Insurance
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Proof of Financial Sustenance
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Language preference form (French, Dutch or German)
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Supporting documents (only if sponsored trip)
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University letter (if a student)
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A self-addressed prepaid envelope (if you want to receive your passport via post)
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A copy of your filled Schengen visa application form
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Passport: Carry your original passport and see to it that has at least two blank pages. The validity of your passport should be at least three months from the date of your return to the US.
You need to carry 3 recent colored passport size photographs.
The US Permanent Resident card proves your valid stay in the US.
Proof of your financial sustenance can be provided to the Atlantan consulate with bank and credit card statements. You can also give your travel cards.
Carry your employment letter in case you are employed.
If you are self-employed, then your company’s bank statements, your business license and IT return documents will suffice.
The purpose of your travel to Belgium should be clearly stated in your cover letter. Also, don’t forget to mention the details of the originals and copies of the documents that you are submitting to the Atlantan Consulate of Belgium.
To increase the chances of the approval of your Belgium Schengen visa application, you must provide your Travel itinerary as well as your Hotel bookings.
Your Travel Health Insurance helps you provide proof that you can look after yourself in case of medical emergencies during your stay in any Schengen country.
If you are in the US as a Foreign student, you need to provide them with a letter from your present university.
If you are Retired, then all you need is to carry the last six months of your pension statements.
Should I wait for my Belgium Schengen visa approval to make my flight and hotel bookings?
We advise you to instead go ahead with our affordable temporary flight and hotel bookings, as you will need to provide them during your Belgium Schengen visa appointment. If you make prior bookings, you might need to pay heavy cancellation fees if in case your visa gets rejected.
Why should I pick your site to get my flight and hotel bookings?
We have processed more than 100000 flight and hotel bookings in just a few years. We offer a custom made cover letter especially for your travel as well.
What are the Belgium Schengen visa fees?
There are also alternate visa costs if at all you want to make temporary hotel and flight bookings for your visa approval.
View the image below for all the details on Schengen visa costs.
Can I apply for my Belgium Schengen visa via mail or post?
No, you cannot. You will need to apply for your Belgium Schengen visa in person at the Atlantan consulate of Belgium after getting an appointment with them online.
What is required from a minor who is traveling to Belgium?
A letter of consent from both the parents along with his/her original birth certificate and copies of their valid passports.
What are the documents that I need to provide if my Belgium trip is solely sponsored by a relative?
The person sponsoring your Belgium trip should be a legal resident or Belgium. In addition to that, a financial support form, an original statement of all your family members, a copy of an identity proof, recent tax declaration and three financial statements will be required from your relative. He/she can avail the financial support form from their local residence office.
You will need to provide these above-mentioned documents during your Belgium Schengen visa appointment.
How long will it take for my Belgium Schengen visa to get processed?
It will take fifteen days approximately.
What is the validity of my Belgium Schengen visa?
Well, the validity for your Belgium Schengen visa will be in accordance with the number of days provided in your travel itinerary.
The Atlanta Consulate of Belgium
Address
230 Peachtree Street, NW – Suite 2250
Atlanta, GA 30303
United States
Telephone
+1 404 659 21 50
Fax
+1 404 659 84 74
Atlanta@diplobel.fed.be
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