Belgium Consulate NYC, New York – 4 Easy Steps to Apply for Belgian Schengen Visa

A tiny country when you compare it to other Schengen countries, Belgium is not to be underestimated. There are plenty of things to do and see including the markets of Antwerp or the canals in Bruges. With a rich history, beautiful Gothic and Baroque architecture, and a buzzing nightlife in many of the cities there, you’ll be sure to wonder why you’ve never been before. In this article learn more about how to apply for Belgium Visa at the Belgian consulate in NYC, New York, Belgium visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Belgian visa application center and Belgian Visa Application Process at the NYC consulate.

Schengen Visa

In 2017, there were 231,437 Schengen visa applications for Belgium. Just over 16% of these were refused. The consulate of Belgium in New York received 1,555 applications and 23 were not approved.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States

If you are a US citizen there is no need for a Schengen visa if you are visiting Belgium for up to 90 days. However, if you are a non-US citizen who lives in the US permanently and wishes to travel to Belgium you must apply for a Schengen visa.  You have to make sure you apply at the right Belgian embassy and consulate.

The Consulate General of Belgium in New York only deals with visa applications from residents of the following areas:

The US states: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin

Kentucky counties: Campbell and Kenton

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Belgium Consulate in NYC, New York

The Consulate General of Belgium in New York offers different types of visas depending on how long you are planning to go to Belgium and the reason for your trip. For stays up to 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa. For stays over 90 days, you’ll need a long-stay visa. Check the consulate’s website for further information regarding this.

The visas available from the Belgian consulate in New York are for the purpose of:

1. Tourism
2. Business
3. Visiting family or friends
4. Cultural
5. Sports
6. Official visit
7. Medical reasons
8. Study
9. Transit
10. Airport transit
11. Other

It’s important to apply for the right one, so your application doesn’t get delayed or refused.

When you apply for your visa, there is an option on the application for you to choose how many times you require entry to Belgium.

1. Single entry – Maximum of 1 entry
2. Double entry – Maximum of 2 entries
3. Multiple entry – Unlimited entries

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Consulate of Belgium in New York

The process of applying for your Belgian Schengen visa is very easy. However, you must ensure that you apply well in advance of your planned trip. You can apply at least 3 weeks prior to your intended departure date and, at the earliest, up to 90 days beforehand. Processing times are generally around a week but could take longer depending on your nationality and type of visa you want.

All you need to do is to stick to the following steps. First of all, check the Belgian consulate’s website to learn about the requirements for the type of visa you are applying for.

After that, you should make your appointment on the consulate’s website. Once you have done that, begin getting all your documents ready.

Step 1: Make your appointment online

Head to the consulate’s website and click on: “Address and Opening Hours”:

Scroll down and click on: “Apply for a visa”:

On the next page, you must create an account if you haven’t already, so click on: “Not registered yet”:

Next, key in your first name, last name, email address, and preferred language:

Once you have registered, you’ll be able to make a convenient appointment. If, for some reason, you cannot attend your appointment please make sure you cancel it online or email the consulate.

Once you have made your appointment, you have the option of completing your visa application online.

Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Step 2: Prepare your paperwork

Before you begin to prepare your documents, check the requirements for your type of visa on the consulate’s website. It is your responsibility to have everything you need. Missing paperwork could result in a cancelled appointment and your application may be refused.

Please also make sure you submit original documents as well as photocopies of everything. Documents to prepare include:

1) A passport or official travel document issued within the last 10 years and valid for 3 months past the planned stay. In addition, the document should have 2 free pages facing each other for the visa and stamps. (In some cases, i.e. higher education applicants passports should be valid for 15 months after the trip)

2) One passport-sized color photograph. With some visa applications, you need to provide 3 photos. Check the consulate’s website to see if this applies to you.

3) Visa application form completed, dated and signed. This can be downloaded and printed from the consulate’s website. Please note, depending on the type of visa you want, you may have to provide 2 application forms, so check the consulate’s website to see if this applies to you.

4) Language form (in French, German, or Dutch). Choose one and state your preferred language. There is no English version, but the details you need to include are:

a. Indicate your name: full name as it appears on your passport (nom du demandeur, naam visumaanvrager, Name Visumbewerber)
b. Number of the file will be indicated by this office (numéro du dossier – dossiernummer – Aktenzeichen)
c. Indicate in what language you wish your file to be handled:

– I. have no preference (geen voorkeur, pas de preference, keiner Sprache den Vorzug)
– II. prefer French (français, Frans, französischer Sprache)
– III. prefer Dutch (néerlandais, Nederlands, niederländischer Sprache)
– IV. prefer German (allemand, Duits, deutscher Sprache)

d. Date the form (format: DAY MONTH YEAR (NOT: MONTH, DAY, YEAR)
e. Sign the form (no need to have it notarized)

5) Proof of legal residence in the US and re-entry document (valid US alien registration card or valid US resident visa valid for 3 months past trip)

6) Proof of travel arrangements (roundtrip flight reservation or other proof of transport and full itinerary

7) Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or travel plans/travel agency details)

8) Invitation letter and/or host ID/residence permit/employer reference letter/university letter of enrolment

9) Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements x 3, tax return (self-employed), proof of pension income (retired), proof of expenses covered (business/students), parental consent (minors), financial support form (no income)

10) Birth certificate and/or marriage certificate

11) Affidavit of financial support

12) A nationwide criminal history check dated within 6 months of the date of your visa application

13) Travel Medical Insurance certificate

14) Motivation letter

15) US work permit

16) Details of participation in events/activities

17) Self-addressed, pre-paid US express mail envelope (if you wish to have your passport mailed)

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2. Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 3: Attending your Schengen visa appointment

If this is your first time applying for a Schengen visa, you must appear in person to submit your application. On the day of your scheduled appointment, get to the consulate in New York early. You have a time for your appointment and if you are late you may not be able to attend. In addition, dress smartly and it is very important not to forget any of your documents.

As part of your appointment, you may be asked some questions regarding your application. If this happens, answer them precisely and be honest with your answers. Common visa interview questions include:

1. Have you traveled before?
2. Is this your first time in a Schengen zone?
3. Do you have enough money to pay for this trip?
4. Are you meeting friends or family?
5. What is your salary?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

You will also pay the relevant fee at your appointment. You can pay by certified check or money order payable to the Consulate General of Belgium. This fee is non-refundable, even if your application is refused.

Schengen Visa Fee

If you have previously applied for a Schengen visa and have provided biometric data within the last 59 months, you can mail your application. In order to do this, your data must have been stored on the Visa Information System (VIS) and it must be able to be retrieved from this system. If this applies to you, there are additional requirements that you must comply with. Check the consulate’s website for further details.

Step 4: Receiving your visa

When your passport is ready, you will be sent notification and you can either collect it from the consulate or have it returned by mail. If you choose to collect it, you must make an appointment on the consulate’s website. Scroll down and click on: “Make an appointment here”:

On the next page, input your personal details and click “next”. After that, you’ll be able to schedule an appointment to “pick and drop off documents”:

With any luck, your Belgium visa will have been approved. But, there are times when applications get refused for one reason or another:

1. Incomplete documentation
2. Valid travel insurance not provided
3. Intention to return to the US not clear
4. No signatures
5. Not enough financial means
6. Invalid passport

You will want your application to be approved, so provide all the required documents, and make sure you have sufficient travel cover and money to pay for the trip. Your passport must be valid and you must sign all the forms. In addition, make it known that you intend to return to your home after your trip. These are all fail-safe ways to get your visa.

Contact detail for the Belgium Consulate in NYC, New York

Address: One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, 885 Second Avenue 41^st Floor, New York, NY 10017

Email: newyork@diplobel.fed.be

Tel: +1 212 586 5110

Fax: +1 212 582 9657

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 12.00 pm

Conclusion

As you can see, it really is a straightforward process to applying for your Belgian Schengen visa.

1. Make your appointment online
2. Prepare your paperwork
3. Attend your interview
4. Receive your visa

Once you get to the end, there is nothing to do but countdown to your departure to Belgium and enjoy everything the country has to offer.

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.