Schengen Visas

Schengen Visas

SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATIONS NOW BEING HANDLED BY VISA CENTER IN CHICAGO

Since October 4, 2019 applications for short stay  less than 90 days  Schengen Visa to Switzerland, Portugal, Liechtenstein and Lithuania should be submitted at Visa Application Center in Chicago, Washington DC, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco (VFS Services (USA) Inc). Further information can be found on VFS website.

What is a Schengen visa

Schengen visa is the document issued by the appropriate authorities to the interested party for visiting/travelling in and within the Schengen Area. Schengen visa holder may enter and remain within the Schengen Area without residence permit for up to 90 days over any 180-day period.

The Schengen area is composed of 29 states:

• 25 EU (European Union) member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,  Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,  Spain and Sweden;
• 4 non-EU states: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland

Schengen area does not cover Cyprus as well as Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Lithuania joined Schengen agreement on 21st December 2007. All the short stay visas issued by Lithuanian Consulate in Chicago are Schengen visas.

The Schengen visa and entry regulations are only applicable for a short stay not exceeding 90 days. Rules for a long stay exceeding 90 days are laid down by the National Law of the Member States concerned.

Do you need a Schengen visa

• Please consult the list at the following link to find out if you require a visa to Lithuania. Here you will find the list of countries whose citizens do not require visas to Lithuania.
• Please consult the list at the following link to find out if you require a short stay Schengen visa to Switzerland.
• Please consult the list at the following link to find out If you require a short stay Schengen visa to Portugal

How to apply for Schengen visa

Visa applications must be submitted directly with VFS Global https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ltu

All applications must be submitted in person the day of the appointment, with no walks-in allowed.

When to apply to Schengen visa 

A complete application must be submitted to the Consulate at least 15 days before the intended visit and cannot be lodged earlier than 6 months before the start of the intended visit. Make sure to apply sufficiently in advance.

Processing time of Schengen visa application

Visa applications are decided on within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging of an application, which is admissible (the time limit starts when visa application is received at the Consulate and not lodged at a Visa Application Centre). That period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.

Family members of EU/EEA/EFTA citizens

Applications of family members of EU/EEA/EFTA citizens are processed with due priority and free of charge.

Schengen Visa procedures  for family members of EU/EFTA Citizens under Directive 2004/38/EC
For a visa to be issued on the basis of Directive 2004/38/EC, the following requirements need to be satisfied:
 

1. The visa applicant is a direct “family member” of an EU citizen;
2. The visa applicant will be travelling with the EU citizen for a visit or permanent move to an EU member state. (If they are going to the “home” country of the EU citizen, then there is a requirement that the EU citizen is/was living/working in a different member state. Please note that EU nationals who have always lived in the country of their nationality are not exercising EU treaty rights. Their family members therefore are not covered by the provisions of Directive 2004/38/EC);
3. All travellers require a passport (or a national ID card for the EU citizen).

  
If the family member has a “Residence Card for a family member of an EU citizen”, then they do not require a visa.
 
Who is a family member of an EU citizen? A family member of an EU citizen is a family member of a citizen of any of the EU/EFTA  state who is:
a. the spouse,
b. the direct descendant of the EU citizen who is under the age of 21 or is dependent, and those of the spouse, living in the common household with the EU citizen,
c. the dependent direct relatives of the EU citizen in the ascending line and those of the  spouse, or living in the common household with the EU citizen;
 
Visa Requirements

1. completed and signed application form for a Schengen visa;
2. travel document valid for at least three months after departing from the Schengen Area;
3. one passport size photograph;
4. documents confirming the identity of an EU citizen and the family relationship with the applicant (the original marriage certificate, the birth certificate or other applicable certificate with official translation into English);
5. proof of travelling to Lithuania together with family member of the EU citizen.

The submission of visa application form is free of charge for family members of EU nationals.

Who can apply for a Schengen visa to Lithuania at the Consulate of Lithuania in Chicago

In order to apply for a short stay Schengen to Lithuania applicants must be legal residents of USA

Who can apply for a Schengen visa to Portugal

In order to apply for short term Schengen visas to Portugal applicant must be legal residents of Illinois. Residents of other states please consult with the Embassy of Portugal in Washington DC.

Who can apply for a Schengen visa to Switzerland

In order to apply for a Tourism, Business and Visit short stay Schengen visa to Switzerland applicants must be legal residents of one of the following States in USA: Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Missouri (MO), Nebraska (NE), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), South Dakota (SD), Wisconsin (WI).

Submission of the application for Schengen visa

At the time of submission of visa application, the applicant must appear in person and allow the collection of his/her 10-digit fingerprints.

Exemptions from the requirement to give fingerprints:

• for children under the age of 12;
• persons for whom fingerprints is physically impossible;
• heads of State or Government and members of a National government, the members of their official delegation;
• sovereigns and other senior members of royal family.

Requirements for documents

• All visa applicants must know that each visa application package must include the original of each document and their photocopies, as listed on the website;
• All visa application packages presented will be carefully examined by our visa officer. However, we wish to draw you attention that if you do not submit all the requested documents (originals with their photocopies) the visa will be denied. No exemption will be made. For that reason we do advise you to prepare your visa application package very carefuly in order to avoid any delays.

Lists of supporting documents

• Schengen visa application form
• To Lithuania, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Portugal
  • Schengen visa for Tourism
  • Schengen visa for Visit
  • Schengen visa for Business

• To Lithuania and Switzerland
  • Schengen visa for family members of EU/EEA citizens or Swiss citizens

Visa fees

Please note that if an applicant wants to receive their passport back by mail, they have to bring a prepaid UPS or USPS envelope.

APPLICANTS APPLYING AT VISA CENTER (VFS) PROVIDE A FEDEX ENVELOPE TO VISA CENTER.

Grounds for refusing to issue of Schengen visa

An alien shall be refused a visa if:

• a false/counterfeit/forged travel document was presented;
• justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not provided;
• does not provide proof of sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to his country of origin or residence, or for the transit to a third country into which he is certain to be admitted, or is not in a position to acquire such means lawfully;
• has already stayed for 90 days during the current 180-day period on the territory of the Member States on the basis of a uniform visa or a visa with limited territorial validity;
• is a person for whom an alert has been issued in the SIS for the purpose of refusing entry;
• is considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security or public health as defined in Article 2(19) of the Schengen Borders Code or to the international relations of any of the Member States, in particular where an alert has been issued in Member States’ national databases for the purpose of refusing entry on the same grounds; or
• does not provide proof of holding adequate and valid travel medical insurance, where applicable; or
• if there are reasonable doubts as to the authenticity of the supporting documents submitted by the applicant or the veracity of their contents, the reliability of the statements made by the applicant or his intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa applied for.

The reason of refusal is notified by the consul using the established Refusal form. Notification on the reason for refusal can be obtained at the consulate only by applicant in person.

Right to appeal

Applicants who have been refused a visa or whose visa has been annulled or revoked (unless the visa was revoked at the applicant‘s request) have the right to file an appeal against the decision to Vilnius Regional Administrative Court (Žygimantų g. 2, LT-01102 Vilnius, tel.: +370 5 264 8703, https://vaat.teismas.lt) within 14 days from the service of the decision in accordance with the procedure and under the conditions established by the Law on Administrative Proceedings of the Republic of Lithuania. An appeal must be lodged in Lithuanian language; documents issued in other languages must be translated into Lithuanian and approved in accordance with the established procedure. A stamp duty of EUR 30 must be paid for the appeal (if the appeal is lodged to the court by electronic means only, 75 % of the amount of the stamp duty is payable). The court must hear an appeal not later than within 2 months from the day the court passes a ruling on the admissibility of the appeal.

A decision on refusal, annulment or revocation of Schengen visa is not a subject of administrative appeal.