Switzerland is one of the most visited Schengen nations. It has a lot to offer to its tourists, from its eternal landscapes to its scenic beauty. In the year 2016, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Washington received close to 900 visa applications, but the number of Switzerland Schengen visas issued to the applicants were only 859.
As you can see on the above statistics, Switzerland holds the maximum visa rejection rate of almost 7%. But, don’t worry, we will help you through the accurate procedure to gain your Switzerland Schengen visa.
This broad and comprehensive article will help you through the entire visa application process.Let me help you look into it in detail.
What are the fundamental steps to get a Switzerland Schengen visa?
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Find out if you really require a visa to visit Switzerland
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Verify if the Washington Consulate is where you need to apply for your Switzerland Schengen visa
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You will then need to schedule your visa appointment at the Consulate General of Switzerland in Washington ( Get Schengen visa appointment for $ 10 )
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You need to keep all your documents ready for your visa application
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Make sure that you attend your visa interview in person
Want temporary flight, hotel or insurance for your Schengen visa appointment?
Do I require a visa to enter Switzerland?
Only and only your country of origin defines whether or not you need a visa to visit Switzerland.
Can I apply to the Washington Consulate for my Switzerland Schengen visa?
Only residents living in the following states of District of Columbia, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam fall under the jurisdiction of the Washington Consulate and are eligible to apply at this consulate.
Does a US Permanent Resident visa possessor require a Switzerland Schengen visa?
Yes, a US Permanent Residence visa possessor will need a Switzerland Schengen visa to visit Switzerland.
What if I am a B1/B2 visa owner?
Well, in that case, you will need a Switzerland Schengen visa for which, you can only apply from your own country and not otherwise.
Is it the Switzerland embassy, where I should apply for my Switzerland Schengen visa?
If your travel destination focuses largely on Switzerland then yes, you need to apply at The Switzerland Consulate. But, if it is Germany or any other Schengen nation that dominates your travel plan then you need to apply at either of the nation’s consulate to get a visa.
Read the below post.
How to book a Switzerland Schengen visa at the Washington Consulate?
The Consulate General of Switzerland in Washington, DC requires each visa applicant to submit an online visa application form and make an appointment to submit the Switzerland Schengen visa form along with the documents.
You need to be certain that visa application forms are not viewed three months or a week prior to your departure from the USA. Therefore, it is very important that you plan your travel accordingly and keep a month’s time between your Switzerland Schengen visa appointment day and your departure from Washington.
You can now book your visa appointment by visiting the official website of the Swiss consulate in the US.
Click on the “Representations” option to be able to access “Embassy of Switzerland in the United States of America”
You will now be able to view the official website of the Washington Consulate.
The next thing that you need to do is, click on “Visa-Entry to and residence in Switzerland”.
It is advisable that you read through the given information on the above page. Click on “Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days”. You will automatically be directed to the page shown on the below image.
Next, scan through all the information provided to you to get yourself well-versed about the attainment of a Schengen visa. Also, make sure that you go through every detail step of your Schengen visa requirements.
Once you are done with the Schengen visa requirements, you need to click on to “Where to apply for a Schengen visa?”
It is pretty evident on this page that you need to select “Embassy of Switzerland in Washington”, since you are applying for your Switzerland Schengen visa from the Washington Consulate.
The Swiss visa desk in Washington answers to all your queries. All you need to do is, read and understand what is required from you to avail of a Switzerland Schengen visa. As mentioned, you can either mail or drop your visa application form and documents at the Washington Consulate.
Visit www.swiss-visa.ch to register and take a copy of your online visa application form.
In order to access your consulate options, choose your consulate from the “selection” pick.
You need to choose the “Embassy of Switzerland in Washington” to apply for your online Switzerland Schengen visa appointment.
Make sure that you complete your “online application” before scheduling a Switzerland Schengen visa appointment for yourself. Click on “online application”, to register yourself and make an appointment to submit your documents as well as to gain your biometric details at the Washington Consulate.
Ensure that you carefully fill in all the requested details. Also, the information that you fill in the form should be the same as provided on your passport. Click on the “Next” after that to proceed further with your visa appointment slot. You have now successfully completed your online visa application procedure.
Download Schengen visa application form
What are the required documents for my Switzerland Schengen visa application?
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Passport
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Recent passport size photographs
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US Permanent Resident permit card
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Travel Itinerary
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Hotel Accommodation
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Travel Health Insurance
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Financial Sustenance proof
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Cover Letter
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Employment Letter
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A letter from your university
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A copy of your filled and signed Schengen visa application form
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Passport: You require to carry your passport for your Switzerland Schengen visa interview. It should at least have a validity of 90 days from your exit date from Switzerland and hold two blank pages.
US Permanent Residence Permit card: It proves that your stay in the US is legal.
Photograph: Carry at least three passport-sized photographs.
Cover Letter: An important document that gives a brief about your Switzerland trip while mentioning your travel itinerary and hotel reservations. Don’t forget to state the documents that you are submitting along with your application form at the Washington Consulate.
Flight itinerary and Hotel Reservations: Each of these documents is essential in order to get an instant Switzerland Schengen visa approval.
Financial sustenance: Your credit card, bank statements, and travel cards can prove that you can financially look after yourself in Switzerland.
Travel Health Insurance proves your ability to take care of yourself in Switzerland if faced with any medical emergencies.
An employment letter needs to be provided if you are an employee.
Your Business Registration card will prove if you are self-employed.
If you’re a foreign student in the USA, a university letter will suffice.
A retired employee needs to provide the last 6 months of his/her pension statements.
Should I wait to book my hotel and flight till my Switzerland Schengen visa gets approved?
You will require to submit your flight and hotel accommodations for your Switzerland Schengen visa approval. And, if your visa happens to get rejected, you will then need to pay quite an amount to cancel your bookings.
Our site offers temporary flight and hotel reservations that you can provide at the Washington Consulate.
Why should I make bookings from your site?
In just a couple of years, we have made 100000+ bookings.
To add to that, we also provide you with a cover letter and temporary travel itinerary which can assist you in availing an instant visa approval for your Switzerland trip.
What are the different visa fees?
The below post shows you the Switzerland Schengen short visa costs if you wish to not make any prior bookings.
What is the Washington Consulate’s office hours?
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m to 12 p.m. They are closed every weekend.
How long will it take for my Switzerland Schengen visa to get processed?
Well, it will approximately take up to 15 days.
What is the validity of my Switzerland Schengen visa?
Your travel itinerary determines the validity of your Switzerland Schengen visa.
We advise you to add a few more days to enjoy a pleasant stay in Switzerland.
The Consulate General of Switzerland in Washington, DC
Address
Swiss Embassy in Washington, D.C., United States
2900 Cathedral Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
United States
Telephone
(+1) 202 745 7900
Fax
(+1) 202 387 2564
Website
www.eda.admin.ch/washington
Related Switzerland Schengen visa articles
Switzerland visa requirements for US green card holders-2018