According to statistics of 2016, Spain ranks as the fourth most visited country. Out of which, Chicago singlehandedly had issued around 1700 Spain Schengen visas.
Spain has the second highest visa rejection rate after France with an 8% rate. This makes it quite essential that you know the right way to apply for your Spain Schengen visa.
If your travel plan to Spain is for a short period of say, three months. Well, in that case this detailed guide will help you through the entire visa application process and getting yourself a Spain Schengen visa.
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.
What are the basic steps in getting a Spain Schengen visa?
Follow these five simple steps of:
- Find out if you require a Spain visa to visit Spain
- Is Chicago the embassy where you can get your Spain Schengen visa?
- Schedule an online appointment at the Chicago Consulate. ( Get Schengen visa appointment for $ 10 )
- Arrange all the required documents for your visa application
- Attend your visa interview and get your visa processed
Let me help you understand them in a more elaborative manner.
Am I really in need of a Spain Shengen visa?
Your nationality determines whether or not you need a short-stay visa to visit Spain. If you are a legal US citizen, then you don’t require a Spain Schengen visa to visit Spain. But otherwise, you need one.
Can I apply for my Spain Schengen visa from Chicago Consulate?
The Consulate General in Chicago accepts visa applications from applicants living in these following states: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,Kentucky, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Do US Permanent Resident card holders require a Spain Schengen visa?
Unfortunately, yes. You will need a Spain Schengen visa to visit the country if you possess a valid US Permanent Resident card. You also should to ensure that your permit card holds a validation of at least 90 days post your departure date from Spain.
Do B1/B2 visa holders require a Spain Schengen visa?
Yes, a B1/B2 visa holders need to apply for a Spain Schengen visa, only from their country of origin.
Do I have to apply at the Spanish Consulate for my Spain Schengen visa?
Yes, definitely. If your travel destination focuses primarily on Spain then you need to apply at The Spanish Consulate. But, if it is Germany or France which holds greater part of your travel plan then you have to apply from either of the country’s consulate.
Read the below post for a clearer understanding.
How do I book an appointment at the Spanish Consulate?
The Consulate General of Spain in Chicago don’t welcome any walk-ins for visa appointment. You need to book an online appointment at the official website to get yourself a Spain Schengen visa interview.
You cannot apply for your visa 90 days or a week prior to your planned travel date to Germany. Plan out well, so that you have at least one month in between your visa application date and date of departure from Chicago.
Book your visa appointment by visiting the official website of the Spanish consulate in the US. Visit the website at the link below.
Official Spanish Consulate Website
On the image shown above, make sure to click on North America. After that, you be redirected to a page with the zoomed in map of North America. With the ‘+‘ sign given on the bottom-right, you can zoom in further.
Find your required consulates. Each ‘C‘ on the map represent the different Spanish consulates. You’ll find Chicago on the top right side of the map.
Click on ‘Chicago‘. With the given four options, choose the first one that says Consulate en Chicago.
This will redirect you to the official web page of The Spanish consulate in Chicago.
The page should look like the image shown to you below.
Translate your page into English. On the left-hand side, click on Consular service in Chicago, that will take you to the below page.
Once you are on the above page, click on visa on your left-hand side. This will redirect you to a different page of visa queries.
At the end of the visa page, click on the make visa appointment. You will now be redirected to the login page like the below image.
Go to the “click here” option on the page. You will be redirected to this visa form.
Click on “Next“ after you are done filling the form with all your details.
You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your visa appointment date and time. Along with scheduling your visa appointment, you will also be required to fill in the Schengen visa application form. Click on the below link to find the application form for Schengen visa.
Schengen visa application form
Make sure you keep a copy of your filled visa application form with your signature too.
]What are the important documents required for my Spain Schengen visa?
- Passport
- US valid Permanent Resident Card
- Copy of your printed visa form
- Hotel accommodation
- Recent passport size photographs
- Cover letter
- Travel Health Insurance
- Travel Itinerary
- Financial sustenance proof
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Visit the link below to know everything that is required from you for your visa application.
Requirements for entry into Spain
You need to carry your original passport while going for your visa interview.Your passport should have a validity of at least 90 days post your return from Spain. Ensure that there are at least 2 blank pages in your passport.
You should provide with your US Permanent Residence card.
Carry your recent passport size photographs.
A cover letter that includes your brief explanation of your trip to Spain, flight itinerary and hotel accommodation. Also, mention the documents that you are submitting to the Consulate.
The consulate demands the flight itinerary to know about your travel dates.
Hotel bookings is the proof of the fact you have bookings in Spain confirmed.
What is 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.
Having a travel insurance will insure you with all kinds of accidents.
You need to provide proof of your sustenance in Spain. Proof of sustenance can be in the form of credit cards, bank balance statements, and travel cards.
Employed people should bring your employment contract, leave permissions, and IT return documents.
Self-employed people need to bring their company registration documents.
Should I wait for my visa approval to book my flight and hotel?
Having flight itinerary and hotel booking increase the chances of your visa approval. However, it is not necessary to make bookings that you need to cancel if your visa gets rejected.
Instead opt for our affordable temporary bookings.
Want temporary flight, hotel or insurance for your Schengen visa appointment?
Why should I book my flight and hotel from your site?
We have processed 100000+ bookings.
We also help plan your travel itinerary as well and write your cover letter at an affordable price.
What is the visa fee?
The duration of your stay and the type of the visa you’re applying for determines your visa fee.
This is an all-inclusive fee of your travel insurance and temporary bookings.
Can I apply via mail?
No, you cannot. Only online booking of your visa is allowed.
What are the business hours of The Spanish Consulate in Chicago?
Monady to Tuesday: 9 a.m to 2 p.m.
They are closed on the weekends.
Will photocopies of my passport do?
No, only original copies are demanded.
How do I book my appointments if I am traveling with my family?
You need to apply for all the visa appointments individually.
What if my trip is sponsored by a relative in Spain?
Your relative has to sign an official affidavit of support. He/She can access this document from his local residence office.
What if I am a minor?
You need a consent letter from both of your parents along with two copies of their passport.
How will I know if my visa is ready?
You can check online. Your unique reference number that is in the ticket and below the barcode, which was given to you during your visa appointment. This number is required to know the application status.
How long for my Spain Schengen visa to process?
It will take up to 15 days.
What is the validity of my Spain Schengen visa?
It will be according to the number of days provided by you on your travel itinerary. Add few more days on your travel itinerary to enjoy your Spain trip.
Spanish Consulate in Chicago
Address
180 N Michigan Ave #1500, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
Telephone
+1 312-782-4588
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