Since the early 1900s, Switzerland has welcomed more than millions of tourists on their land. The country has so much to offer, from its enticing Aletsch Glacier to the heavenly snow-covered Alps. According to the 2016 official statistics, Switzerland is seen as one of the most visited Schengen countries.
The Atlanta Consulate of Switzerland received 1,271 visa applications but the number of Switzerland Schengen visas issued was only 1,267.
As you can see from the given statistics, Switzerland’s visa rejection rate is rather high while compared to the Czech Republic and Lithuania. Therefore, this makes it extremely important for you to understand the right procedure to apply for your Switzerland Schengen visa.
Consulates are known to be busy all around the year because of processing several visa applications, you need to confirm your departure date to Switzerland and apply at the embassy at the right time. This all-inclusive guide will help you through the entire visa application process and attaining a Switzerland Schengen visa for your trip.
What are the underlying steps for a Switzerland Schengen visa?
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You need to determine if at all you need a visa to visit Switzerland
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Can you avail your Switzerland Schengen visa from The Atlanta Consulate?
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You will need to book an appointment at The Atlanta Consulate ( Get Schengen visa appointment for $ 10 )
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Ensure to keep all the documents ready for your visa application
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Attend the visa interview in person to get your Switzerland Schengen visa processed
Want temporary flight, hotel or insurance for your Schengen visa appointment?
Let me guide you further in detail.
Do I really need a Switzerland Schengen visa?
Your nationality determines whether or not you need a short-stay visa to enter Switzerland. You can check if your country is one of those that need a Switzerland Schengen visa.
Do I have to apply to the Atlanta Consulate for my Switzerland Schengen visa?
If you reside in any of the following states of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Alabama, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and the Cayman Islands, then it is the Atlanta Consulate where you need to apply for your Switzerland Schengen visa.
Does a US Permanent Resident permit card owner require a Switzerland Schengen visa?
Unless you are a legal US citizen, you will need a Switzerland Schengen visa to visit the country of Alps.
Does a B1/B2 visa holder require a Switzerland Schengen visa?
Yes, a B1/B2 visa holder too will require to apply for a Switzerland Schengen visa to visit Switzerland.
Do I have to apply for my Switzerland Schengen visa at the Switzerland embassy?
Without any doubt. If your travel goal centers on Switzerland then you need to apply at the Swiss Consulate. But, if it is Italy or Spain dominating most of your travel plan then you have to apply from either of the nation’s consulate.
Read the below post for a clearer understanding.
The next important step for you to know is,
How do I book myself a Switzerland Schengen visa appointment at the Atlanta Consulate?
Ensure that you don’t apply for your visa three months or a week before your departure date to Switzerland. You need to plan your trip in such a manner that you at least have a month’s time between your visa appointment date and your exit date from Atlanta.
Schedule your Switzerland Schengen visa appointment by visiting the official website of the Swiss consulate in the US.
On the top left, you have an option as “Representations”. Click on it and select “Consulate General of Switzerland in Atlanta“.
You will be directed to the official web page of The Atlanta Consulate.
Once you are the Atlanta consulate page, you need to click on “Visa & entry to Switzerland”.
Read the instructions given below Visa-Entry to and residence in Switzerland before clicking on it. You will be redirected to the below page.
Once you are done reading the information given on the page, click on “Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days”.
The next step for you, is to explore all the given options and gain an adequate amount of knowledge about Schengen visa. Be certain of your Schengen visa requirements.
Click on to “Where to apply for a Schengen visa?”
You will be provided with many US Consulates, to apply for your Switzerland Schengen visa. Choose “Consulate General of Switzerland in Atlanta”.
You need to read the information given below Appointments and Inquiries. Once you are done reading it, click on www.swiss-visa.ch
On the requested area of Selection, choose “United States”, since you are applying for your Switzerland Schengen visa from the Atlanta consulate.
You need to choose “Atlanta, Swiss representation in the United States of America”, and select “Next” , at the end of the page in order to apply for your online Switzerland Schengen visa appointment.
You are first required to complete your “online application” before booking your Switzerland Schengen visa appointment. Click on “online application”, to register yourself and schedule an appointment to submit your documents as well as to gain your biometric details at the Atlanta Consulate.
Fill in all the details on the required fields. Make sure that the filled information is as same as given on your passport. Hit “Next” after filling in all the necessary details to proceed with your visa appointment date and time. With this, your online visa application process is hereby completed.
Download your online Schengen visa application form
What are the required necessary documents for my Switzerland Schengen visa approval?
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Valid passport
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Recent passport size front-faced photographs
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US Permanent Residence permit card
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Travel Itinerary
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Travel Health Insurance
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Hotel Reservations
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A copy of your filled Schengen visa application form
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A cover letter
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Proof of your Financial Sustenance in Switzerland
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Employment letter
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University letter
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You need to carry your original passport while going for your Switzerland Schengen visa interview. Be certain that it has a validity of at least three months post your Switzerland departure. In addition to that, your passport should at least carry 2 blank pages.
You should provide your US Permanent Residence card, to prove that your valid stay in the US.
Your recent three passport size photographs should be provided.
A cover letter must include a brief explanation of your Switzerland trip, your travel itinerary as well as hotel reservations. Also, don’t forget to state the documents that you are submitting at the Atlanta Consulate.
Your travel Itinerary helps your Switzerland Schengen visa to get faster approval.
Hotel bookings prove to The Consulate that you have already confirmed your reservations in Switzerland.
Financial sustenance in Switzerland can be proved with your credit cards, bank balance statements, and travel cards.
Employed people should provide a valid employment letter.
If Self-employed, then your company’s registration documents and business license will suffice.
A foreign student studying in the US will need to provide an official letter stating the same from the current university.
Do I need to hold on to my flight and hotel bookings till my Switzerland Schengen visa gets approved?
Well, it can be risky to make any kind of prior bookings for your Switzerland trip without gaining any visa confirmation. Because you will need to pay a substantial amount if your visa gets rejected. Therefore, it will be wise to make only temporary bookings till your visa gets approved.
Our site gives you affordable flight and hotel bookings.
Why should I book my flight and hotel reservations from your site?
Our site has successfully processed 100000+ bookings in a short span of time. In addition to charging a minimal fee for our services, we also provide our customers with a cover letter and a travel itinerary.
What are the visa fees for Switzerland?
The length of your stay and the visa type that you apply for determines your visa fee,
The visa fees shown on the below post further includes your travel health insurance along with your temporary flight and hotel bookings.
What are the business hours Of the Atlanta Consulate for Switzerland?
Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m. The Consulate remains closed on all weekends.
How long will my Switzerland Schengen visa take to process?
It usually takes a week to fifteen days for a visa to get processed. You can keep a track of your visa status on the online portal with the reference number given to you while submitting your visa application form at the Atlanta Consulate.
What is the validity of my Switzerland Schengen visa?
The number of days provided on your travel itinerary is the validity days of your Switzerland trip. We advise that you add a few more days to your itinerary to enjoy a pleasant stay in Switzerland.
The Consulate General of Switzerland in Atlanta
Address:
1349 West Peachtree Street Northwest #1000, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
Telephone:
+1 404-870-2000
visaatlanta@eda.admin.ch
Related Switzerland Schengen visa articles
Switzerland visa requirements for US green card holders-2018