Greek Consulate Atlanta – 4 Easy Steps to Apply for Greece Schengen Visa
Greece has it all – dazzling beaches, a sunny climate, plenty of archaeological sites and natural beauty that is second to none. It’s no wonder that millions of visitors head to this Schengen country to enjoy all that is has to offer. There are mountains, olive groves, forests and some of the most beautiful islands in the world. It’s one of the world’s dream destinations – could it be yours? In this article learn more about how to apply for Greece visa at the Greek consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, Greece visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Greece visa application center, flight itinerary for Greece visa, hotel bookings for Greece visa, Schengen travel insurance for Greece visa application, and Greece Visa Application Process at the Atlanta embassy.
Greece Schengen Visa
In 2017, 1,029,564 applications for Greek Schengen visas were received worldwide. Of these, 39,969 were rejected. The Consulate of Greece in Atlanta received 195 applications and rejected 12 of them.
Applying for a Schengen Visa from the United States
If you are currently living in the US on a permanent basis, but you were not born in the country, you need to apply for a visa in order to enter and stay in Greece. You can do this easily from the United States, but you must be able to prove that you have a legal right to remain in the country.
You have to make sure you apply at the right Greek embassy and consulate. The Consulate of Greece in Atlanta deals with applications from people who reside in the following areas:
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
Therefore, if you live in these areas, you may submit your application to the consulate in Atlanta.
Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Consulate of Greece in Atlanta
Depending on the duration of your trip to Greece and your reason for going there, you may apply for 1 of the following types of visa:
Schengen visa – up to 90 days. Schengen visas are issued for the following purposes:
- Tourism
- Business
- Visiting family/friends
- Study
- Airport transit
National visa – over 90 days. National visas are issued for the following purposes:
- Family reunion
- Employment purposes
- Studies, research, practical and vocational training
- Any other reason
Visas are usually issued as:
- Single entry – 1 entry during 90 days
- Double entry – 2 entries during 90 days
- Multiple entry – No limit to entries during 90 days
Schengen Visa Application Process at the Consulate of Greece in Atlanta
You should aim to apply for your Greece visa AT LEAST 15 days before your intended trip and no earlier than 90 days before. Visa applications are usually processed within 15 days, but in some cases, it could take longer – maybe as long as 30 or 60 days. It is your responsibility to apply well in advance to give the consulate enough time for your application to be processed.
When you submit your application, the consulate in Atlanta will inform you of a decision date.
To help you apply for your Greece visa, here are a few steps to follow:
Step 1: Make an appointment online
As long as you live in the aforementioned regions, you need to make an appointment in order to submit your application in person to the Consulate of Greece in Atlanta. All you need to do is contact the consulate by phone or email to make a suitable appointment. Their telephone number is 1 (404) 261-3313 and their email address is grcon.atl@mfa.gr
Step 2: Prepare your documents
Step 2 is to prepare your documents to support your visa application. You need to make sure that you provide ALL the required documents, so it’s advisable to spend time looking at the consulate’s website before you begin.
Schengen visa requirements:
Please be aware that you must provide originals AND photocopies.
The list of documents can include:
- Visa application form completed and signed
- Passport with at least 2 blank pages, issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the intended departure date
- A recent photograph. See guidelines for acceptable photographs. Must be glued and NOT stapled to the application form
- A valid Alien Resident Card or a visa to the US (except B1/B2)
- W-2 tax forms for the last 2 years
- Reference letter from employer stating position and salary (employees)
- Bank letter stating your company is in good standing (self-employed)
- Valid I-20/letter from university/school confirming good standing, major, and expected graduation date (students with F1 visas)
- Hotel reservations or confirmation that you are part of a tour/travel group
- Letter of invitation if visiting family/friends (notarized in Greece) plus your host’s Greek ID and/or residence permit
- Letter from inviting company
- Schengen Travel medical insurance with a minimum cover of €30,000 for hospitalization, emergency medical care, and repatriation
- Criminal record certificate
- Medical certificate
- Acceptance letter of the educational institution
- Confirmed roundtrip flight/travel reservations and full itinerary with closed travel dates
- Proof of funds – Bank and credit card statements for the last 3 months
- EU national passport/evidence of family ties
- Marriage/birth certificate
- University degree/scholarship evidence
- Parental consent and/or financial responsibility agreement/parent’s passport (s) (minors)
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 3: Attend your appointment
On the day of your appointment there are a few things to remember:
- Arrive early – if you are late, you will have to reschedule your appointment
- Have all your paperwork ready and on your person – if you fail to provide everything that is required, you will have to reschedule your appointment and/or your application will be rejected
- Dress smartly – your aim should be to make a good impression and dressing smartly will help
The visa officer will examine your application and supporting documents and if they need to know anything else, they may ask you questions to clarify the information you have provided. They are simply trying to obtain all the facts in order to make a decision, so answer honestly and calmly.
- What do you know about Greece?
- Have you ever traveled to the EU before?
- Are you meeting anyone there?
- Do you have any children?
- What is your job in the US?
Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!
Your fingerprints will be taken unless you have provided this data within the last 5 years.
In addition, you’ll have to pay the relevant Schengen visa fee. You can pay in cash only. This fee will not be refunded in the event of a rejected visa application.
Type of Visa | Fee |
Schengen visa | €60/$68 |
Citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia | €35/$40 |
Children 0-12 years Family members of EU/EEA and Swiss citizens School pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake study or educational training Researchers from third countries traveling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research Representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations Holders of diplomatic and service passports Participants aged 25 or less in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events, organized by non-profit organizations | $0 |
Step 4: Receive your visa
When the consulate has been a decision about your visa, you may collect it on or after the decision date you were given when you submitted your application or the consulate can return it to you by mail if you provided a prepaid express mail envelope.
The decision will be either:
- Approved – you will find your visa inside your passport. If there are any discrepancies, you must notify the consulate immediately
- Rejected – your visa application has been rejected for a reason. You will be notified in writing about the rejection reason and how you can appeal the decision
- Passport invalid – if your passport is invalid in any way (see above requirements) you must obtain a new one before applying for your visa
- Missing acceptance letter – if you are going to Greece to study, you must include an acceptance letter from the Greek school or university
- You have applied for the wrong visa – you must apply for the correct visa. The one you need to apply for depends on the duration of your trip and why you are going to Greece (see information above)
- Insufficient itinerary – you must provide a full itinerary of your travel plans. For example, you should provide flight and hotel reservations and details of any trips/tours you will go on while in Greece including dates and places
Contact details for the Consulate of Greece in Atlanta
Address: Tower Place 100, 3340, Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1670, Atlanta, GA 30326
Email: grcon.atl@mfa.gr
Phone: +1 (404) 261-3313
Fax: +1 (404) 262-2798
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10.00 am – 2.00 pm
Conclusion
There are 4 easy steps to apply for your Greek Schengen visa:
- Make your appointment online
- Get your paperwork ready
- Attend your appointment
- Receive your visa
After step 4, there is nothing else to do except the preparations for your upcoming trip to the wonderful land of Greece!
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 Greece Schengen Visa at Greek Consulate in San Francisco, California
How To Apply for Greece Schengen Visa at Greek Consulate in Houston, Texas
How To Apply for Greece Schengen Visa at Greek Consulate in Tampa, Florida
How To Apply for Greece Schengen Visa at Greek Consulate in Boston, Massachusetts
How To Apply for Greece Schengen Visa at Greek Consulate in Chicago, Illinois
How To Apply for Greece Schengen Visa at Greek Consulate in Los Angeles, California
How To Apply for Greece Schengen Visa at Greek Consulate in Washington, DC
How To Apply for Greece Schengen Visa at Greek Consulate in NYC, New York