Italy is visited by millions of people from all around the world. As much as 1500 visa applications are made from Miami alone. When applying for Italy Schengen visa, it’s important that you do it in the right way.
Update : It is now mandatory to get COVID Insurance when you travel Abroad. Click the below link to get your COVID Insurance at cost price.
Yours has to be one in a million to be approved. Italy has a rejection rate of about 6%, which is quite high. Read on to find out how I got my visa approved so that the process becomes easier for you.
If your stay in Italy will be up to 90 days, then this guide is perfect for you. Here, I explain in detail as to how you need to apply for an Italy Schengen visa from the consulate in Miami. It involves four step:
- Find out if Miami is the correct embassy for you to apply for your visa
- If yes, you’ll need to make an appointment at the Italian Consulate in Miami, online ( Get Schengen visa appointment for $ 10 )
- Have all your documents collected at one place
- Attend the interview physically with all your documents and get your visa application processed
Book Italy Visa Appointment for $10
The step-by-step procedure has been explained below:
Do I really need a Schengen Visa to Enter Italy?
Visit the Italian Consulate in Miami’s official website to know whether you need to apply for a visa.
Select ‘EN’ as the preferred language from top left and click on ‘Visa’.
Further, you can use the tool provided here, to clarify if or not you need a visa. It asks you 4 questions and determines if or not you will be needing a schengen/Italy visa. Fill out the answers, and click on ‘Go to Answers’.
There are three variations of one answer here. If you’re a US citizen, holding a valid US passport, then you DO NOT need to apply for a visa at all.
You are allowed to travel freely within the Italian territory, and other Schengen countries, hassle-free. You will be subject to immigration, but you require no formal application.
If you are a US permanent citizen, with a non-US origin, then the rules change. It’s likely that you reside in the US with any of the various residence cards, such as the green card. Everyone in this category will need to apply for a Schengen visa or a National visa to Italy.
As you enter the ‘Visa’ page, click on the ‘Make An Appointment’ tab to get directed to the relevant page on which you can make your booking.
Once you have determined that, you can go on to register yourself as a new user, and finally book an appointment.
Click on new user registration tab and start filling out the details. This is a crucial step and the details must match the ones in your passport. Once that is done, you’ve successfully signed up.
You can then check your mail, and click on the activation link provided in the automated email sent to you. Upon activation of your account, you will be taken to the appointment page to pick a date and time for your appointment.
If you don’t find the preferred time and date, then simply keep rechecking every 24 hours or so, since cancellations are a norm. If you cancel on an already booked appointment, make sure to update it on the system so others can avail that slot.
I am a Green Card Holder. Do I Need a Visa to Enter Italy?
Yes, you need a visa to enter the Schengen area. You will have to carry your permanent residence card as a proof for your interview at the Italian Consulate in Miami.
I Hold a B1/B2 Visa. Can I Apply at the Italian Consulate in Miami?
If you hold a B1 or B2 visa, then you will have to apply for a visa to Italy from your country of origin. And this guide isn’t applicable to you. You can, however, apply for a transit visa through the Schengen Area.
Italy isn’t the Only Country of my Visit. Can I still apply at the Italian Consulate in Miami?
This is dependent upon your duration and extent of the visit. If your vacation spans many Schengen countries such as Hungary or Greece, or any of the other 23 countries, then it’s best to go for a Schengen visa. The visa, however, has to be approved from the country where you stay the longest.
If you are planning on splitting your trip equally, then the Schengen visa has to be issued by the consulate of the country you will make your entry in first; in this case, Italy.
How Do I Know If I Need to Apply from the Italian Consulate in Miami?
The county or state where you reside permanently should under the jurisdiction of the Italian Embassy in Miami. If not, you cannot apply at the Consulate in Miami.
The districts where the embassy has control over include; Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, and St. Eustatius, among many others. Find the entire list here, and make sure your area of permanent residency is listed here.
Documents required for Italy Schengen Visa
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First off, all your documents need to be submitted at the same time as your printed and filled application. Any delays in submissions may cause your application to be canceled.
Also, keep in mind that the consulate will keep a few of the below-listed documents for the duration of your application. Do carry a prepaid and addressed envelope, from the US postal service, and leave it with the consulate so that you can get your passport back post your application.
Here are the documents you MUST have to get your visa application approved. Original documents are a must, and you should also carry copies of the same as well:
- Passport (not older than 10 years old)
- Visa-application form (duly completed)
- Photographs (recent photographs only)
- Residence permit card/visa (permanent non-US resident. Must have validity post 3 months after arrival from Schengen Country)
- Driver’s licence/ State ID (residence proof from above-mentioned districts)
- Proof of sustenance
- Cover letter
- Flight Bookings
- Hotel Bookings
- Health Insurance (international coverage with minimum coverage. Find out more here.)
Of all the things mentioned above, you’re likely to struggle with flight itinerary and hotel bookings. This is primarily because not only are they difficult to obtain, but you also don’t want to be stuck in the awkward situation of having to cancel your bookings, due to a possibly failed or delayed visa application.
Passport: You need to bring your original passport and this is compulsory. It should have a validity of at least three months from the day you’re planning your return to the US. It should have two blank pages as well.
US Permanent Residence Card: As you’re a permanent US residence, you will need to prove the same. Bring your Permanent Residence Card along with you.
Two photos that are identical in nature with your front-face views.
Proof of sustenance in the form of credit cards and travel cards.
Employment letter from your employer if you’re working in the US.
Business Registration card if you’re running your own business.
A cover letter stating your reason of visit. Mention your travel itinerary in detail. Include a list of all the documents you’re carrying with you as well.
What if the Application is a minor/ below 18 years of age?
A letter from both the parents is required, in the case of a minor. The letter should address financial stability and also grant permission for the trip. Parents may need to appear in person at the visa office to sign the letter. In case they can’t, they have to appear at the Italian consulate present in their location and have their signatures notarized.
Minors need to have their original birth certificate or a notarized copy of the same. If the document is in any other language, a translated copy in English should be present.
How Can I Show My Flight Tickets and Hotel Bookings As I’ll Only Travel Once My Italy Schengen Visa Gets Approved?
You’ll have to show your flight itinerary and hotel booking to get your visa application processed.
Flight Itinerary: Use our services and get temporary bookings for flights. Once your visa gets confirmed, you can take the same bookings.
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.
Hotel Reservation: Hotels in Italy usually charge a lot when it comes to cancellation. Opt for our services and save your hard-earned money.
You can opt for our services, that allow you to book your flight and hotel itinerary, specifically for your application, and not have to risk a loss or serious cancellation fee. Since your visa application shouldn’t be submitted any earlier than 3 months before your intended entry into Italy, this is a surefire way to keep your bookings safe, ensuring your application isn’t nullified. The bookings are temporary and qualify as valid documents.
Want temporary flight, hotel or insurance for your Schengen visa appointment ?
What are the Charges That I’ll Need to Pay for the Italy Schengen Visa?
The Italy Schengen Visa (1 to 90 days) costs €60:
You can look at the complete table here. The table is updated quarterly, so be sure to check it again on 1st April 2018 for an updated version. These payments can only be made with money order, or cash. No form of credit or debit cards, or personal checks are accepted.
Once your application has been processed, you will either get the visa stamped on your passport or not. Either way, the passport will be returned to you via mail, you can also opt to have it picked up.
Be sure to check the dates on your visa, because you may have only gotten a validity for the specific dates of your travel, and not the full 90 days. This is why it’s important that you opt for flexible dates, preferably 10 days before and after your intended date for travel.
I Want to Apply via Post. Is that Possible?
No, the Italian consulates in the US, regardless of their location, accepts only online application. You also have to be present in person to attend the interview.
When will I Get my Italy Schengen Visa?
The processing time takes 5-15 days and this depends on your nationality to a great extent. The visa office has no role to play in this.
Will my Italy Schengen Visa be granted for 90 days?
Most likely, no. Your visa will be granted for the number of days that you have mentioned in your travel itinerary. That’s why it’s important that you add 4-5 days to your travel itinerary so that you have the option of changing your plan. We offer all-inclusive plans that you can take a look at.
Are you Sure That I’ll Get my Italy Schengen Visa?
It depends on a lot of factors. As long as you have submitted all the relevant documents, attended the interview, and all your documents are legal, chances are high that your visa application will get approved.
Related Italy Visa links
https://travelvisabookings.com/italy-schengen-visa-in-7-days/
https://travelvisabookings.com/italy-visa-requirements-for-us-green-card-holders/