Danish Consulate SFO, San Francisco- 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa
Denmark is a wonderful Schengen country to visit any time of the year. Zealand, the country’s largest island is home to the capital city of Copenhagen which is brimming with lovely churches and historic buildings, lots of canals and a vibrant atmosphere. Then, there’s the island of Bornholm which is famous for its smoked herring and variety of handicrafts. You’ll also find nature in this region and Almindingen forest is a wonderful place to experience it! In this article learn more about how to apply for Denmark visa at the Danish embassy in San Francisco, California, Denmark visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Denmark visa application center, flight itinerary for Denmark visa, hotel bookings for Denmark visa, Schengen travel insurance for Denmark visa application, and Denmark Visa Application Process at the San Francisco consulate.
Denmark Schengen Visa
In 2017, there were 152,467 Denmark Schengen visas received and 9,585 of this total amount were rejected. The Consulate General of Denmark in New York received 4,862 applications and rejected 8 of them.
Applying for a Schengen Visa from the United States
If you are planning on going to Denmark for any reason, you may need to apply for a visa. If you are a US citizen by birth, you do NOT need to do this. If you are not a US citizen by birth, but you live in the US on a permanent basis, you DO need to apply for a visa. However, you must be able to prove your legal residency status and not be in possession of a B1/B2 visa. If you wish to check whether you need to apply, visit the Embassy of Denmark’s website.
There is no consulate office for Denmark in San Francisco, but you can apply through your local VFS Global office. There are 5 offices located across the US:
- New York
- Washington DC
- Houston
- Chicago
- San Francisco
You have to make sure you apply at the right Danish embassy and consulate. If you are located in San Francisco, you may apply at VFS Global in San Francisco. However, once you have submitted your application to VFS, it will be sent to the Consulate General of Denmark in New York where it will be reviewed. It is this consulate that will make the ultimate decision about whether to accept your application or not.
Types of Schengen Visas Offered at VFS Global/the Consulate General of Denmark in New York
There are 2 types of visas that you may apply for:
- Schengen visa – for tourism, business, cultural or scientific events or visiting family and/or friends for a maximum of 90 days. Schengen visas are issued as single, double, or multiple entry which relates to the number of times you are permitted to enter Denmark during the dates of the visa
- National visa – for work, study, religious reasons, permanent residence etc., for over 90 days. You will also require a residence and work permit. You can check the embassy’s website for further information regarding this. National visas are usually issued as single or multiple entry
The one you need will depend on the duration of your trip and your reason for traveling to Denmark. Make sure you apply for the correct one, otherwise, your application may be rejected.
Schengen Visa Application Process at VFS Global in Chicago/the Consulate General of Denmark in New York
Before you begin the application procedure, take a look at the embassy’s website for everything you need to know about applying for your visa.
Visa applications are reviewed by the consulate of Denmark in New York and it takes them up to 15 days to reach a decision. Processing times could be longer depending on the type of visa you are applying for and also during the peak season months of May, June, July, August and December. You can apply up to 90 days ahead, so don’t leave it too late.
It is recommended that you apply no later than 20-30 days prior to departure for a number of reasons:
- It could take up to 2 weeks to obtain an appointment with VFS Global
- Sending your documents to and from the consulate adds 2-4 days to the processing time
- If you submit your application less than 15 days before your trip, VFS can still accept it, but there may not be enough time for the consulate to process it
Here are a few steps to follow that will help you apply for your Denmark visa:
Step 1: Complete your application
Step 1 is to complete your application. You need to do this online, so go to the website of the Embassy of Denmark and click on: “Travel and residence” and then “Visa”:
Next, click on: “Business, tourist, and private visitor visa”:
Scroll down to “How to apply” and click on: “Visa self-service – Denmark”:
This is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark’s system where you can register and complete your application. Click on: “How to apply online”:
Read the information about applying online:
Next, register as a new user:
Then, log in:
Once you’ve done that, you can register and complete your application. It will be submitted to the consulate in New York in order to be processed after your visit to VFS Global. You do NOT need to give VFS Global a paper copy of the application form, but you MUST provide the cover letter which can be printed off once you have finished with your application. If this letter is not handed into VFS Global within 14 days, the fee will still be deducted from your bank account.
If you are applying for a National visa, go to the embassy’s website and click on the link for the application form:
On the next page, you’ll find the SIRI application form guide. If you scroll through this, you’ll find the correct application form for your National visa which you can download:
For example, “Application for a residence and work permit for students“:
Step 2: Make your appointment 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!
Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:
- Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
- Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
- Receive appointment confirmation in email
You can also make an appointment on your own by following the below steps:
- Go to the embassy’s website and click on: “Where to apply”:
- Go down the page until you find the details for VFS Global in San Francisco and click on the link to schedule an appointment:
- You will be directed to VFS Global’s booking system and you’ll need to register as a new user:
- Then, login:
You’ll then be able to make your appointment.
Step 3: Get your documents ready
You need to take extra care with step 3 because if you fail to provide everything the consulate requires for your visa application, you run the risk of it being rejected. This part of the procedure is your responsibility to get right, so take a look at the checklists available of the embassy’s website before you start.
In addition, you will need to provide original documents and colored photocopies, so don’t forget to do that.
Documents to get ready include:
- Visa cover letter – signed and dated. Remember, you don’t need to provide the visa application form, only the cover letter
- 1 x color passport photo – taken within the last 6 months. You can check the guidelines for acceptable photos
- Receipt for visa fee (which can be printed from the online registration and application system)
- Original passport – valid for at least 3 months beyond your trip, issued within the last 10 years and have 2 blank pages
- Schengen visas issued over the past 5 years including entry and exit points (if applicable)
- US residence permit/card or a US visa (valid for 3 months beyond your trip) with I-94 OR I-20/DS-2019
- Proof of financial means – bank/credit card statements for the last 3 months (It is recommended you have at least $90 per day for hotel accommodation or $60 for hostel or cruise)
- Employer’s letter confirming how long you have been in your current job and if you can return OR last tax return and business license if you are self-employed OR proof of enrollment if you are a student OR proof of pension income if you are retired OR unemployed benefits and/or proof of financial support if you are unemployed/financially dependent
- Return flight booking
- Travel itineraries for all planned stays in the Schengen area
- Hotel/hostel reservations for the entire trip
- Schengen Travel insurance for a minimum of €30,000 for the entire duration of your trip
- Consent of parent (s)/birth certificate for minors. It must be notarized and translated into English
- Invitation letter from the host in Denmark stating the purpose and length of your stay
- Details of events and/or conferences etc., including proof of participation
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:
- Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
- Submit the travel details and make the payment online
- Receive flight itinerary in email
Step 4: Submit your file
When the day arrives for submitting your application to VFS Global in San Francisco, here are a few tips for a successful outcome:
- Arrive early – if you are late, you may miss your appointment and you will have to make a new one which could delay things for you
- Take all your paperwork – don’t forget ANY of your documents, otherwise, you will have to reschedule and/or the consulate will reject your application
- Don’t wear casual clothes – if you have to visit the consulate, dress smartly to show that you are serious about wanting a visa for Denmark
VFS Global will simply take your documents from you, they are not the ones who will be making the decision about your visa. They will send your application to the consulate in New York. Once the consulate reviews your paperwork, they may invite you to attend an interview in order to obtain further information from you. If they do this, comply with their requests and answer any questions put to you honestly and politely. They are simply trying to gain all the facts in order to make a fair decision about your visa application.
- How do we know that you will return to the US after your trip?
- Are you married?
- What is your salary?
- Do you know anyone in the Schengen area?
- What do you know about Denmark?
Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!
When you registered and completed your application form online, you would have paid the fee for your visa, but there are additional fees charged by VFS Global to cover service costs and courier fees. These fees won’t be refunded to you, even if your application is denied.
Visa Type | Fee |
Schengen short-stay visa | $69/€60 |
Schengen short-stay visas children aged 6-11 | $40/€35
|
Reduced for applicants of the following nationalities: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Russian Federation, Serbia, and Ukraine | $40/€35 |
Long-stay visas (category D) | $226 |
Mailing Fee | $25 |
VFS Global service fee VFS Global courier fee | $33 $60 |
If you have never applied for a Schengen visa before, you will have to appear in person in order to provide biometric data. However, if you have previously provided a scan of your fingerprints and a photograph within the last 5 years, you have the option of mailing your application to VFS Global. See the embassy’s website for further information if this applies to you.
Step 5: Receive your visa
Once a decision has been made about your visa application, the consulate in New York will send your passport back to VFS Global. You can either collect it from VFS’s office or have it returned to your home address via courier.
Your visa will have been either:
- Approved – you will find your visa attached to one of the blank pages inside your passport
- Rejected – your visa application has been rejected for a specific reason
Commons rejection reasons include:
- Purpose of travel is not clear
- Damaged passport
- US visa is not valid
- The consulate has doubts about whether you will return to the US
If your passport is damaged in any way, e.g., there are loose or missing pages, you must obtain a new one before applying for your visa. If your US visa is not valid, e.g., it doesn’t have 3 months remaining beyond the dates of your trip, you must get a new one before you apply for your visa. The purpose of your trip to Denmark must be clear to the consulate and the documents you provide, such as a travel itinerary or enrollment in a university etc., must prove this. You must also be clear about your intention to return to the US after your trip, such as having a job or home in the US, and you must alleviate any doubts the consulate may have regarding this.
Contact details for VFS Global in San Francisco
Address: 110 Sutter Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
Email: denmark.usa@vfsglobal.com
Tel: 347-329-2738
Visa application call center hours: Monday to Friday, 10.00 am – 6.00 pm
Contact details of the Consulate General of Denmark in New York
Address: Chrysler Building East, 666 Third Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY, 10017
Email: nycgkl@um.dk
Tel: +1 (212) 223 4545
Fax: +1 (212) 754 1904
Conclusion
There are just 5 steps between you and your Denmark visa:
- Complete your online application
- Book an appointment at VFS Global, San Francisco
- Get your documents ready
- Submit your file
- Receive your visa
Then, with your visa, you can travel to the wonderful destination of Denmark to embark on your adventure!
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.
See Also
How To Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa at Danish Consulate in Chicago, Illinois
How To Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa at Danish Consulate in Washington, DC
How To Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa at Danish Consulate in Houston, Texas
How To Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa at Danish Consulate in NYC, New York