Greek Consulate Chicago – 4 Easy Steps to Apply for Greece Schengen Visa

With a history that spans centuries, Greece is one of the most interesting Schengen countries you can visit. Evidence of this, in the form of impressive monuments, ancient ruins, and much more, can be found wherever you go. It really is an eye-opener when it comes to its culture. That’s not all, because Greece is also home to thousands of islands – each with its own character and things to do. Lazy days spent on white sandy beaches, hiking through spectacular pine forests, or partying the night away in the capital cities – it really is a treasure trove of exciting activities and attractions! In this article learn more about how to apply for Greece visa at the Greek consulate in Chicago,Illinois, Greece visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Greek 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 Chicago consulate.

Greece Schengen Visa

In 2017, 1,029,564 Schengen visa applications for Greece were received and 3.88% of these were refused. The Consulate General of Greece in Chicago rejected 4 out of 452 applications throughout the same year.

Applying for Greece Schengen Visa from the United States

If you are planning on going to Greece for any reason, maybe you want to go island hopping or you have secured a job there, you may need a visa.

Generally, if you are a non-US citizen who is permanently living in the US, you DO need a visa to visit Greece. If you are a US citizen, you don’t.

If you need a visa for Greece, you can apply at the Greek Embassy in Washington or any of the consulates located in the US. However, the one you deal with must have jurisdiction over the area where you live.

You have to make sure you apply at the right Greek embassy and consulate. The Greek Consulate General in Chicago deals with applications from residents of:

1. Illinois
2. Indiana
3. Iowa
4. Kansas
5. Michigan
6. Minnesota
7. Missouri
8. North Dakota
9. Nebraska
10. Ohio
11. South Dakota
12. Wisconsin

If you don’t live in the above locations, you can check the consulate’s website for information on the other visa offices.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Consulate General of Greece in Chicago

There are 2 types of visa that you can apply for if you’re thinking of going to Greece and the one you apply for will depend on the duration of your trip:

1. Schengen visa – up to 90 days
2. National visa – over 90 days

Then you’ll need to choose the correct category of visa and this will depend on your reason for going to Greece. You need to ensure you pick the right one before you apply, so it’s a good idea to have a look at the consulate’s website before you start. If you choose the wrong one, it could lead to your application being refused.

Schengen Visa

1. Tourism
2. Business
3. Visiting family/friends
4. Cultural/sports
5. Official visit
6. Medical reasons
7. Study
8. Transit/Airport transit

National Visa

1. Family Reunion
2. Employment/Company staff
3. Study (Over 90 days)
4. Research
5. Practical or vocational training
6. Independent financial activity/investment
7. Accreditation

Visas are usually issued as:

1. Single entry – 1 entry during 90 days
2. Double entry – 2 entries during the 90 days
3. Multiple entry – No limit to entries during the 90 days

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Greek Consulate in Chicago 

The consulate in Chicago processes visa applications in 15 days, so you should submit your application no less than 15 days prior to your trip. This will ensure it gets dealt with in time for your trip. However, be aware that each application is processed on an individual basis, so it could take longer – possibly up to 30 or 60 days. You can apply no more than 90 days in advance. The common rule is to apply well in advance, so there are no issues when it comes to processing your application. Once the consulate receives your application, they will tell you the decision date.

Applying for a Greek Schengen visa may seem daunting at first sight, so here are 4 steps to help you with your application.

Step 1: Make an appointment online

The first step is to book an appointment in order to submit your file to the Greek consulate in Chicago. All you need to do is to contact them by phone or email to make your appointment.

Email: grgencon.cic@mfa.gr

Phone: +1 312 335 3915-6-7 ext. 831, Monday to Friday, 9.30 am – 2.00 pm

Or, you can go to the consulate’s website and use the contact form:

Step 2: Preparing your documents

Once you’ve secured your appointment, the next step is to prepare your documents. It is essential you get all the necessary documents for your application. Missing information and/or documents will result in the consulate rejecting your application, so it’s worth setting some time aside to peruse the consulate’s website before you start. Please note, you need to provide photocopies as well as original documents, so don’t forget to do this too.

Documents required for your visa application:

1. Schengen visa application form
2. National visa application form
3. Passport with at least 2 empty pages, not older than 10 years, and has 3 months remaining after your trip
4. 1 photograph meeting international guidelines for acceptable photos, and not older than 6 months
5. A valid Alien Resident Card or a visa to the US  (except B1/B2 – holders of this type of visa can only apply for an Airport transit visa from their home country)
6. Proof of funds – Last 3 months bank and credit statements
   
7. Last 2 years W-2 tax forms
   
8. Letter from your company stating position and salary (if employed)
   
9. Bank letter stating that your company is in good standing (if self-employed)
   
10. Valid I-20 and a letter stating you are in good standing. Plus, proof of your major and when you will graduate (for students)
    
11. Hotel reservation and/or evidence if traveling in a group
12. Invitation letter from family/friends or company signed by the inviting person and notarized in Greece
    
13. Schengen Travel insurance valid for the duration of the trip to cover at least €30,000 for hospitalization, repatriation, and emergency medical care
14. Criminal status certificate issued by foreign authorities
15. Medical certificate issued by the state or a private establishment
    
16. Round-trip flight reservation and full itinerary in Greece
    
17. Parent’s permission and/or financial affidavit with the 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:

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: Attend your appointment

When the day arrives for your appointment, make sure you get to the consulate early. If you are late, you’ll have to reschedule your appointment and this could delay things for you. Remember to take all your documents and sign where appropriate. If you present an incomplete application and/or have failed to place your signature where you should, your application will get rejected by the consulate. Lastly, it’s not a bad idea to dress smartly -don’t turn up dressed too casually.

The visa official will start by looking over your application and supporting documents. If they need any additional information from you they will question you about your application or they can ask you to provide further documentation or both! If they do this, just do as they ask or answer any questions honestly. The consulate needs all the facts from you to be able to make a decision about your visa.

Typical interview questions that you could expect

1. What is your job in the US?
2. What are you planning to do in Greece and the Schengen area?
3. Why did you choose Greece as a place to study?
4. Are you married? If so, what does your spouse do?

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

If this is your first time applying for a Schengen visa, you will have to provide a scan of your fingerprints and a digital photo, both of which will be carried out when you attend your appointment at the consulate. If your data has been input in the Visa Application System (VIS) as part of a previously approved Schengen visa application, the biometrics can be reused as long as it was within a 5 year period.

In addition, you’ll have to pay the relevant visa fee:

Greece Schengen Visa

*For some categories of nationals of these third countries the visa fee is waived. Please check the provisions of the relevant VFA.

** The visa fee for nationals of Cape Verde is 69.00 USD, but there are exemptions for some categories

Step 4: Receive your visa

Once a decision has been made about your visa application, the Greek consulate in Chicago will return your passport by mail. If your visa has been approved, you’ll find it inside your passport and you must check it to make sure it is correct. If not, you need to contact the consulate immediately and they will rectify the errors for you. If it has been rejected, you have the right to appeal the decision.

Typical visa application rejection reasons

1. Past criminal actions
2. False documents
3. Travel itinerary missing
4. Invalid reference letters

If the consulate feels that you will be a threat to the public and/or you have engaged in criminal actions in the past, they will refuse your application. Presenting false travel documents will also result in your application being denied – don’t even attempt this as you will be found out. You must include all the relevant documents for your type of visa including a travel itinerary and your reference letters must be valid. I.e on official letterhead, not older than 3 months, signed and notarized by the relevant authority.

Contact details for the Greek Consulate in Chicago

Address: 650 North Saint Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Email: grgencon.cic@mfa.gr

 Phone: +1 312 335 3915-6-7 ext 831

Fax: +1 312 335 4744

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30 am – 2.00 pm

You can also use their contact form

Conclusion

Overall, an easy process to apply for your Greek Schengen visa. Just follow these 4 steps one-by-one:

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

Once you get your visa, all you need to do is to start preparing for your trip to the beautiful country 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 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

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