For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Try to search the forum for relevant posts from Camino walkers from South Africa because they are in the same situation and there are a number of them who actively post on this forum. I cannot tell right now whether there is a common tag for such posts which would make the search easier.I live in Thailand and my friend holds a Thai passport. Prearranged accomodation every night is a problem.
I live in Thailand and my friend holds a Thai passport. Prearranged accomodation every night is a problem.
Thanks. My friend can demonstrate she is not a risk since she holds a very senior Thai government position. She needs to apply for a visa in Thailand, so a consular visa is necessary. I had thought of pre-booking accommodation and cancelling when visa issued. Not sure she would go along with that though. I am looking at options that I can be up front about accommodation.
Thailand: To apply for Schengen visas get an appointment at BLS Bangkok. For other visas get appointment directly at the Embassy.
Don't scare themSadly, there are some countries around the World whose residents have a 'record' of over staying their visas. Thailand is one of those. So expect Visa 'rules' to be very strict.
How have other pilgrims from non-Schengen countries dealt with this previously?
The South African Confraternity of St James had an arrangement with the Spanish Embassy that we previously did not need pre-booked accomodation.Try to search the forum for relevant posts from Camino walkers from South Africa because they are in the same situation and there are a number of them who actively post on this forum. I cannot tell right now whether there is a common tag for such posts which would make the search easier.
I cannot remember how an itinerary with daily changing accommodation is handled for applications for Schengen visa, sorry. I had a quick look at the Spanish embassy in Bangkok or rather at BLS International who handle this for Spain and where your friend has to apply for the visa but I did not see any helpful relevant information there.
Forum member @jsalt may be able to help as she has organised several camino trips to Spain for travellers from South Africa.
The South AfrIcan Confraternity of St James had an arrangement with the Spanish Embassy that we previously did not need pre-booked accomodation.Try to search the forum for relevant posts from Camino walkers from South Africa because they are in the same situation and there are a number of them who actively post on this forum. I cannot tell right now whether there is a common tag for such posts which would make the search easier.
I cannot remember how an itinerary with daily changing accommodation is handled for applications for Schengen visa, sorry. I had a quick look at the Spanish embassy in Bangkok or rather at BLS International who handle this for Spain and where your friend has to apply for the visa but I did not see any helpful relevant information there.
Forum member @jsalt may be able to help as she has organised several camino trips to Spain for travellers from South Africa.
The closest tag would be the one that I have now attached to this thread - "travel-documents/insurance". The tag can be seen at the top of the thread, under the title, or click here.Try to search the forum for relevant posts from Camino walkers from South Africa because they are in the same situation and there are a number of them who actively post on this forum. I cannot tell right now whether there is a common tag for such posts which would make the search easier.
I walked with a South African woman in 2019. We booked accommodation along the way as needed. She had a SA passport and didn't need to show accommodation. Why not pre book but then cancel and change once in Spain. I had a similar situation to get a visa for China.Try to search the forum for relevant posts from Camino walkers from South Africa because they are in the same situation and there are a number of them who actively post on this forum. I cannot tell right now whether there is a common tag for such posts which would make the search easier.
I cannot remember how an itinerary with daily changing accommodation is handled for applications for Schengen visa, sorry. I had a quick look at the Spanish embassy in Bangkok or rather at BLS International who handle this for Spain and where your friend has to apply for the visa but I did not see any helpful relevant information there.
Forum member @jsalt may be able to help as she has organised several camino trips to Spain for travellers from South Africa.
I think that it would be best to book fully refundable accommodations for the entire Camino, then cancel them if needed. I would not lie about the purpose of my trip.One way would be to book fully refundable accommodation (e.g. many properties on booking.com offer this) for the duration of the stay at the city of arrival/departure, and then cancel it once the visa has been approved. A problem here might be that if your friend is asked why they are traveling to Spain when applying for the visa, they would have to give a different reason for the trip. Of course, you could also try to book fully refundable accommodation throughout the camino and then not have to lie about the purpose of the trip, but that would require a lot more effort.
Don't scare them. You will find that there is a big difference for tourists from Thailand between visas granted by EU/Schengen countries and visas granted by Australia.
Illegal immigration from Thailand is not a major concern for the EU. In 2019, the EU consulates in Thailand received 340,000 applications for an EU/Schengen visa and only 4% were refused. Compare this with a refusal rate of over 40% for applications for an EU/Schengen visa received in countries like Algeria, Nigeria, or Senegal.
One way would be to book fully refundable accommodation (e.g. many properties on booking.com offer this) for the duration of the stay at the city of arrival/departure, and then cancel it once the visa has been approved. A problem here might be that if your friend is asked why they are traveling to Spain when applying for the visa, they would have to give a different reason for the trip. Of course, you could also try to book fully refundable accommodation throughout the camino and then not have to lie about the purpose of the trip, but that would require a lot more effort.
Thanks. My friend can demonstrate she is not a risk since she holds a very senior Thai government position. She needs to apply for a visa in Thailand, so a consular visa is necessary. I had thought of pre-booking accommodation and cancelling when visa issued. Not sure she would go along with that though. I am looking at options that I can be up front about accommodation.
Oh definitely. It’s just a lot more effort and it may be difficult to find refundable accommodation for every end-of-stage location on the camino.I think that it would be best to book fully refundable accommodations for the entire Camino, then cancel them if needed. I would not lie about the purpose of my trip.
But, end of stage locations don't really matter if they will be canceling them anyway.Oh definitely. It’s just a lot more effort and it may be difficult to find refundable accommodation for every end-of-stage location on the camino.
Out of curiosity, I had a look at the application forms / application procedures for a Thai national who applies to either France or Spain for a short-stay Schengen visa (see here for France and here for Spain).Sorry, no intention to scare anyone.
But as I pointed out, my wife on a Thai Passport travelling to France (as the port of entry), had to show a complete itinerary.
But I don't think the Guardia Civil has anything to do with immigration and visas. Nobody will be asking, along the way. The only controls/concerns are at the borders where there is an immigration office.after arrival, talk to the Guardia Civil about your plan to cancel the hotel and do the Camino, completing and leaving before your visa would expire. I suspect they would be quite approving of that idea.
I don't know about the route that you are planning, but I've recently been looking at fights from the Oregon to Portugal for next Spring, and the price for refundable tickets is much lower than it has been in the past. As far as accommodations, just look on booking.com, and you will find many without cancellation fees that you don't have to pay for in advance.Thanks everyone. I agree with the reply that I should be upfront when applying for a visa. I am still left with the problem that if I book cheaper non-refundable airfare and hotels I will be left out of pocket if the visa is refused. If I buy the more expensive refundable airfares and hotels, when I receive the visa, the first thing I will do is cancel all refundable bookings and rebook in less expensive non-refundable places. I will phone the embassy and ask what they suggest.
This is where a site like booking.com is extremely beneficial. I had to cancel approx. 25 pre-made bookings for my 2020 Camino due to covid and the ease of making those cancellations was so appreciated. Had I made each one separately, the process of canceling would most likely have been a nightmare.I think that it would be best to book fully refundable accommodations for the entire Camino, then cancel them if needed. I would not lie about the purpose of my trip.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?