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

Greece has a reputation for being one of the most intriguing countries, not only in the Schengen area but in the world too! It has an interesting history and there are many sites where visitors can uncover some of its past. Not only that, there are hundreds of islands dotted around the Mediterranean, the Aegean, and the Ionian Seas – each one stunning, each with its own character, and each one full of things to see and do. You can party, you can explore, you can relax, you can do whatever you want to do in Greece! In this article learn more about how to apply for Greece visa at the Greek consulate in Tampa, Florida, 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 Tampa consulate.

Greece Schengen Visa

In 2017, 1,029,564 applications for Greek Schengen visas were received worldwide. 39,969 of them were rejected. The Consulate General of Greece in Tampa received 184 applications and approved 100% of them.

Applying for Greece Schengen Visa from the United States

If you live in the US permanently, but you are not a US citizen by birth, you need to apply for a visa if you are planning on visiting Greece.

You can apply from the United States at one of the visa missions located across the country:

You have to make sure you apply at the right Greek embassy and consulate. If you reside in Alabama, Florida, or Mississippi, you can apply for your visa at the Consulate General of Greece in Tampa.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Greek Consulate General in Tampa

Depending on the duration and purpose of your trip to Greece, you can apply for either:

1. Short-term Schengen visa – this visa is for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting family/friends, cultural, sports, medical reasons, study, or transit up to a maximum of 90 days
2. Long-stay National visa – this visa is for the purposes of family reunion, employment, studies, research, practical and vocational training, financial investment, etc., for periods over 90 days

You need to make sure you apply for the correct type of visa, otherwise, your application may be rejected by the consulate in Tampa. Spend time looking at their website before you start the application procedure.

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

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Consulate General of Greece in Tampa

The Greek consulate in Tampa aims to process visa applications within 15 days. It could take longer, as many as 60 days, depending on the type of visa you are applying for. You can apply up to 90 days before your trip, but if you don’t, it’s recommended that you apply at least 15 days beforehand. Just don’t leave it too late and run the risk of your application not being processed in time for your departure.

You will be told the decision date when the consulate receives your application.

Here are 4 simple steps to help you apply for your Greek visa:

Step 1: Make an appointment

In order to submit your application to the consulate in Tampa, you need to make an appointment. All you need to do is contact them by phone or email:

1. Tel: +1 813 865 0200
2. Email: grgencon.tam@mfa.gr

Step 2: Prepare your documents

This step is really important because if you submit an incomplete application with any required documents missing, your application could be rejected. Take the time to look at the consulate’s website before you begin.

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

The list of documents can include:

1. Application form for short-stay or long-stay visa – fully completed and signed in the relevant places. You can find both the application form for a short-stay Schengen application form and long-stay National visa application form on the consulate’s website
2. Passport – must have at least 2 blank pages, issued within the last 10 years and it must be valid for at least 3 months following your return to the US
   
3. A recent photograph meeting ICAO standards
4. A valid permanent residence card or a valid US visa (not B1/B2 visa)
5. Last 2 years W-2 tax forms
6. Employer reference letter confirming position and salary
   
7. Bank letter stating the company is in good standing if self-employed
8. Valid I-20/university/school letter confirming student is of good standing, major, and date of graduation  if you are a student
   
9. Proof of accommodation – hotel booking or rental agreement or other proof if you are traveling in a group
   
10. Letter of invitation from a private individual or company (notarized in Greece)
11. Schengen Travel insurance for at least €30,000 to cover hospitalization, emergency medical care, and repatriation
12. Criminal record certificate
    
13. Medical certificate
14. Proof of return flight or travel reservations and full itinerary
15. Last 3 bank and credit card statements etc., to prove financial means
    
16. Proof of family relationship and/or details of a German address
    
17. Marriage/birth certificate
18. Evidence of enrollment and/or sponsorship etc.
19. Consent of parents 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:

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 you attend your appointment, there are a few things to note:

1. Arrive early – if you are late, you will have to reschedule your appointment and this could delay things for you
2. Remember all your paperwork – the consulate cannot make a fair decision about your visa application if there is anything missing
3. Dress smartly – this is not the place to turn up dressed too casually

If the consulate needs to know anything about you or what you have stated in your application, they may ask you additional questions. Just answer politely and honestly.

Typical questions include:

1. How long are you going to stay in the EU?
2. How do we know that you will return home within the period of the visa?
3. Why did you choose this particular university?
4. Have you ever traveled to other countries?
5. Have you bought or booked your flight ticket?

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

Greece Schengen Visa Fee

You may also have to provide biometric data – a scan of your fingerprints and a photo – especially if this is your first time applying for a Schengen visa.

Step 4: Receive your visa

The consulate would have already given you a date, after which you can collect your passport from their office. If your visa is inside your passport, it has been approved! However, you must check that the details are correct as per your application. If the details are wrong, for example, you applied for a multiple entry visa and it states single entry, you must notify the consulate immediately.

If your visa has been rejected, the visa won’t be inside your passport. The consulate will notify you in writing why it was rejected and you have the right to appeal the decision.

Typical rejection reasons:

1. Fake travel document
2. No documents to prove the purpose of the trip
3. Invalid passport
4. No hotel booking
5. Invitation letter not notarized

If your passport has not been issued in the last 10 years and is not dated for 3 months past your trip, this means it is invalid and you must obtain a new one before applying for your visa. Do NOT, under any circumstances, present a fake travel document – you will be found out! You must provide ALL the relevant documents, including those which prove the purpose of your trip, such as an itinerary, and a hotel reservation. In addition, certain documents, such as invitation letters must be notarized.

Contact details for the Greek consulate in Tampa

Address: 400 N. Tampa Street, Suite 1160, Tampa, Fl 33602

Email: grgencon.tam@mfa.gr

Phone: +1 813 865 0200

Fax: +1 813 865 0206

Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00 am – 14:00 pm

Conclusion

There are just 4 easy steps when it comes to applying for your Greek Schengen visa:

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

After step 4, you can sit back, relax, and think about your exciting Greek 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 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