Greek Consulate SFO, San Francisco – 4 Easy Steps to Apply for Greece Schengen Visa

If you’re looking for an island getaway, Greece has got to be it! There are over 200 islands to escape to, each with its own character and exciting things to see and do. Visit Rhodes for its nightlife and beaches or Santorini for its picturesque village with impressive views and sunsets. If you look hard enough, you might even find your own piece of paradise! In this article learn more about how to apply for Greece visa at the Greek consulate in San Francisco, California, 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 SFO embassy.

Greece Schengen Visa

In 2017, 1,029,564 applications for Greek Schengen visas were received worldwide. 39,969 (3.88%) were rejected. The Consulate General of Greece in San Francisco received 466 applications and issued 100% of them.

Applying for a Greece Schengen Visa from the United States

Applying for a Schengen visa from the United States is easy. First, you need to know whether you have to apply for a visa as some nationalities can visit Greece without one. As a general rule, if you are a US citizen, you do NOT need a visa if you wish to visit Greece, but if you are not a US citizen, you DO need a visa to go to Greece.

You have to make sure you apply at the right Greek embassy and consulate. If you live in the following areas, you may submit your application to the Consulate General of Greece in San Francisco:

1. Alaska, California (zip codes 93000+), Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Consulate General of Greece in San Francisco

There are 2 types of visa you can apply for and the one you need will depend on the duration of your trip and your reason for traveling to Greece:

1. Short-term Schengen visa – for stays of up to 90 days for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting family/friends, cultural, sports, medical reasons, study or transit
2. Long-stay National visa – for stays exceeding 90 days for the purposes of employment, family reunion, study, research, practical and vocational training, financial investment or another any purpose

Visas are usually issued as single entry (1 entry), double entry (2 entries), or multiple entry (unlimited entries).

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Consulate General of Greece in San Francisco

The consulate in San Francisco takes around 15 days to process visa applications. Some applications could take as many as 30-60 days depending on certain factors such as the type of visa and your nationality. You can apply up to 90 days before your departure date, so it’s your responsibility to apply well in advance. If you leave it too late, the consulate may not have enough time to process your application.

When you submit your application, the consulate will inform you of the decision date.

Here are a few steps to help you apply for your Greece visa:

Step 1: Make an appointment

The first step is particularly easy! In order to make an appointment at the consulate, all you need to do is contact them by phone or email. Appointments are made on a first come first served basis, so this is another reason to apply for your visa well in advance.

1. Tel: +1 (415) 775-2102
2. Email: grgencon.sf@mfa.gr

Step 2: Prepare your documents

Before you begin step 2, take a look at the consulate’s website to understand what documents are required for your visa application. It is your responsibility to get everything together. If you submit an application with missing documents, your application could be refused.

In addition, you need to prepare and provide originals AND photocopies.

The list of documents can include:

1. Schengen visa application form or National visa application form
2. Passport with at least two blank pages. The passport should have been issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of your departure from the Schengen area. It should also have 2 free pages
3. A recent photograph conforming to ICAO standards .
4. A valid alien resident card or visa to the US (except of B1/B2)
5. Bank and credit card statements for the last 3 months
6. W2 forms for the last 2 years
7. For employees: Reference letter from the employer stating position and monthly/annual salary
8. For self-employed persons: A letter from your bank stating that the company is in good standing
9. For foreign students on F1 visas: Valid I-20 and a reference letter from your school/college/university) stating that you are in good standing, your major, and the expected day of graduation
10. Hotel reservations or proof of participation in group travel
11. A letter of invitation signed by the inviting person and duly notarized in Greece.  If you are traveling for business and your accommodation costs are covered by an inviting company in Greece you will need to provide a letter from the inviting company
12. Schengen Travel Medical Insurance to cover emergency medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation (in case of death). The minimum coverage should be for €30.000 and valid for the entire Schengen area
13. Criminal record certificate issued by the foreign authorities
14. Medical certificate issued by a recognized state or private institution
15. Return flight booking with a full itinerary for the entire trip
16. Evidence of family ties and/or details of a Greek address
17. Marriage/birth certificate
18. Evidence of enrolment and/or evidence of sponsorship in course etc.
19. Parent’s permission for minor to travel and/or financial responsibility agreement with parent’s ID (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: Submit your file

On the day of your scheduled appointment, remember the following things:

1. Remember to take ALL the relevant documents for your visa application – if you hand over an incomplete application the chance of rejection is extremely high
2. Don’t be late – it’s best to arrive before your allotted time to give you a chance to relax before you meet the visa officer. If you are late, you may have to reschedule your appointment
3. Dress smartly – don’t turn up in a t-shirt and shorts if you want to make a good impression

When the visa officer starts to review your application, they may ask you more questions in order to be able to make a fair decision about whether to grant your visa. If they do this, just answer honestly.

Typical questions include:

1. Is this your first time traveling to the EU?
2. What are your plans when you are in Greece?
3. Do you know anyone that lives in Greece?
4. What is your salary?
5. How many children do you have?

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 fee for your visa.

You may also have to provide biometric data which involves a scan of your fingerprints and a photo. If you have previously applied for a Schengen visa within the last 5 years, your data can be reused.

Step 4: Receive your visa

When a decision about your visa has been reached, you can collect your passport from the consulate on or after the date you were given.

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – you will find your visa attached inside your passport. You must check that you have been given the correct visa. If not, you must notify the consulate immediately
2. Rejected – if your visa application has been rejected, you can appeal the decision. You will be notified of the rejection reason

Common rejection reasons are:

1. Insufficient funds – you must be able to afford your trip and the documents you provide must prove this
2. Letter of invitation not included – if you are being invited to Greece by a person or a company, you must provide a letter of invitation
3. The photograph is not acceptable – the photograph you provide must meet certain specifications
4. Travel insurance is not for the correct amount – your travel insurance should provide cover for at least €30,000

Contact details for the Consulate of Greece in SFO, San Francisco

Address: 2441 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Email: grgencon.sf@mfa.gr

Phone: +1 415 775 2102

Fax: +1 415 776 6815

Hours: Monday to Friday, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Conclusion

All you need to do to apply for your Greece visa is:

1. Make your appointment
2. Get your paperwork ready
3. Submit your file
4. Receive your visa

The next step is to start the preparations for your departure to 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 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

Worldwide Visa Requirements