Iceland Consulate Houston – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Iceland Schengen Visa

Iceland is an incredible Schengen country, so if you’re planning on going there make sure you leave the capital of Reykjavik – at least for a little while. If you go on any of the tours available, you’ll be treated to some of the most striking vistas in the world- huge glaciers, which glisten from the sunlight, lava fields, and raging waterfalls. In the south, there are opportunities for whale watching in the summer and a whole host of other tourist attractions to enjoy. Iceland is simply amazing! In this article learn more about how to apply for Iceland visa at the Iceland consulate in Houston, Texas, Iceland visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Iceland visa application center, flight itinerary for Iceland visa, hotel bookings for Iceland visa, Schengen travel insurance for Iceland visa application, and Iceland Visa Application Process at the Houston consulate.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States         

If you are a US citizen and you are planning to go to Iceland, you do NOT need a visa for tourist or business purposes for stays of up to 90 days. If you are not a US citizen, you DO need a visa to be able to enter Iceland for the same purposes and duration.

Whether you are a US citizen or not, if you are planning to go to Iceland for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a residence permit.

There are 4 offices in the United States that issue visas for Iceland and the one you need will be the one that is located nearest to where you live. Each visa office has responsibility for their own jurisdiction which means that you must apply to the one that deals with your area.

The 4 offices are:

1. Washington DC Embassy
2. New York Consulate General
3. San Francisco and Houston Consulate Generals
4. Chicago

You have to make sure you apply at the right Iceland embassy and consulate. If you live in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Florida, Alabama, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, or Jamaica, it is the consulate general in Houston that covers these locations.

However, the above offices do not issue Iceland visas. It is Norway that handles Iceland visa applications in the United States, so your application will be registered on the website of the Embassy of Norway in Washington DC and you will hand over your documents to VFS Global in Houston who also represent Iceland in the United States.

This may sound confusing, but this article will provide you with a series of steps to follow to make the application process easy for you.

Schengen Visa

In 2017, there were 7,610 Iceland Schengen visa applications received worldwide. Just 73 of these were denied for a number of reasons. This makes Iceland one of the easiest countries to obtain a Schengen visa. There was no data about the number of applications received in the US.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Embassy of Norway in Washington DC and VFS Global in Houston

There are 2 types of visa for Iceland and the one you choose will depend on your reason for traveling to Iceland and how long you wish to stay.

1. Visitors Visa – allows you to stay in Iceland for up to 90 days for tourism, business, and to visit family
2. Residence Permit – allows you to stay in Iceland for more than 90 days for family reunification, work including as an Au Pair, study etc. More information on residence permits can be found on the website of The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)

Visas are issued as single, double, or multiple entry which means you are permitted to enter once, twice, or unlimited times during the validity of the visa.

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington DC and VFS Global in Houston

When you come to apply for your Iceland visa, you should aim to do so at least 15 days before your plan to travel. Turnaround times are 15 days from when your application is submitted, but it could take longer to process your application based on the type of visa you are applying for and your nationality. You can apply up to 90 days before, but any longer than that and your application will not be accepted.

As mentioned above, there are a few steps to help you in applying for your Iceland visa. The first thing you need to do is to register your application on the website of the Embassy of Norway in Washington DC.

Step 1: Register and complete your application

Go to the website of the Embassy of Norway in Washington and click on: “Visitor’s visa and residence permit”:

Then, click on: “Visitor’s visa”:

On the next page, scroll down to “3 – online registration and payment” and click on: “Register your application on the application portal:

The next page will give information about the application portal which you should read:

Please note, only some types of applications can be registered using this application portal, so you should check UDI’s website for further information regarding this.

If you are able to use the application portal, you must create a user account first:

Once you’ve done that, you can log in and fill in the application form in order to register it:

Please make sure you select the correct application form to complete. You should select “New York” for your online application and choose to submit your documents to VFS Global in Houston. Once you’ve completed your application, you will also pay the fee for your visa.

Once you have registered, you will receive an email with confirmation on your registration and a cover letter which needs to be submitted to VFS Global with your other documentation.

Step 2: Make an appointment to submit your file to VFS Global

The next step is to make an appointment in order for you to hand over your documents to VFS Global for processing. You cannot just turn up, you need to book a pre-arranged day and time on their appointment booking system. To do this, go to VFS Global’s website and click on: “Schedule an appointment”:

You will have to register as a new user:

Then, log onto the system and you will be able to book a suitable day and time for your appointment:

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!

Step 3: Prepare your documents

It is very important to get all the required documents for your visa application. If you fail to comply with what is needed in order for your application to be processed, it could lead to it being rejected. There is a document checklist on the website of the Embassy of Norway, so it’s a good idea to spend time looking at that before you start. You should also print this checklist and sign it to be submitted with your other documents.

Document checklists for residence permits can be found on the UDI’s website.

Make sure you prepare photocopies of the documents to be submitted alongside the original documents.

Documents include:

1. Cover letter printed from the visa application portal
2. Online application form, printed from the visa application portal
3. Receipt for your application fee, printed from the visa application portal
4. 1 passport photo, not older than 6 months. See the full list of guidelines for acceptable photos
5. Travel itinerary or booking with details of travel for the entire trip
6. Passport is valid for 3 months beyond return date with at least 2 blank pages. Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years. Plus, a copy of the data page
7. Copies of previous Schengen visas (if applicable)
8. Proof of legal residence in the US such as a US permanent residence card or valid US visa with at least 3 months remaining past trip. Students can submit their I-20
9. Documents confirming employment, private business, or studies to include permission to leave. Original letterhead with signatures
10. Documents confirming financial means or income such as bank statements for the last 3 months, employer’s statement, or last year’s income tax return
11. Schengen Travel medical insurance stating cover of €30,000 ($50,000) for medical emergencies, hospitalization, and repatriation
12. Invitation letter from company/inviting individual in Iceland stating the purpose and duration of the trip
13. Letter from US company stating the purpose and duration of the trip
14. Proof of family ties
15. Confirmation of accommodation
16. Proof of marriage in English or certified translation
17. Proof of spouse’s residence in the EEA area
18. Host’s payslips and ID/passport
19. Birth certificate
20. Letter of consent from parents

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 4: Submit your application to VFS Global

On the day of your appointment, go to VFS Global in Houston with your application and supporting documents. Don’t forget anything because your application cannot be processed if you present an incomplete application. It’s a good idea to arrive early, just in case you miss your appointment. If this happens, you will have to reschedule and this may delay your travel plans. In addition, don’t turn up dressed too casually. It always helps if you can make a good impression and dressing smartly will help to do this.

When the staff starts to examine your paperwork, wait patiently as it may take a while. They may ask you questions about your application. If they do, answer them politely and honestly. Don’t get annoyed! They are only trying to get the right facts from you to be able to make a decision about whether to grant your visa.

Typical visa interview questions include:

1. Are you married?
2. Is this your first time to a Schengen country?
3. Are you meeting anyone in Iceland?
4. What are your plans when you get there?
5. Are you planning on returning to the US?

You would have already paid the fee by credit or debit card on the visa application portal. However, there is also an additional charge of $33 payable to VFS Global. This is paid when you submit your application. These fees are not refunded, even if your application is refused.

If this is your first time applying for a Schengen visa, you will also have to provide biometric data which is a scan of your fingerprints and a digital photograph.

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

Schengen Visa Fee

Step 5: Receive your visa

After you submit your application, you can track the progress of it on VFS Global’s website. Click on: “Track your application”:

Enter your details requested and click on: “Submit”:

You’ll then be able to see the status of your application.

Once a decision has been reached, you will receive notification and you can either:

1. Collect your passport from VFS Global – you need to take your receipt and visit VFS Global during their collection times
2. Arrange for your passport to be returned by mail – your passport can be returned to you via UPS courier. If you wish for this to happen, you need to tell VFS Global when you submit your application. An additional fee of $30 per passport is charged

Hopefully, you’ll find your Iceland Schengen visa in your passport, but if it isn’t there, your application could have been rejected. Common visa rejection reasons include:

1. Missing documents
2. Documents not signed
3. Damaged passport
4. The passport was issued longer than 10 years ago
5. Lack of funds

If your passport is damaged in any way, i.e. loose or missing pages, and/or it was issued longer than 10 years ago, you cannot apply for a visa until you obtain a new passport. You cannot submit an incomplete application, so you must check that you have all the required documents to support it, including proof that you can afford the trip. Plus, you must sign the documents in the relevant places, so double check that you have done so before arriving at VFS Global.

Contact details for the Embassy of Norway in Washington DC

Address: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Email: emb.washington@mfa.no

Telephone: +1 202 333 6000

Fax: +1 202 469 3990

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

Please note, inquiries regarding visa applications should be made to VFS Global in Houston

Contact details for VFS Global in Houston

Address: 2425 West Loop S, Suite 330, Houston, TX 77002

Tel: 347 329 2738 – Monday to Friday, 8.00 am – 6.00 pm

Email: info.norway@vfsglobal.com

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 8.00 am – 3.00 pm (Submission of applications)

Monday to Friday, 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm (Collection of passports)

Conclusion

Although the procedure to obtain your Iceland Schengen visa appears difficult, if you follow these steps you’ll find it easier than you think:

1. Register and complete your application
2. Make an appointment to submit your file to VFS Global
3. Prepare your documents
4. Submit your application to VFS Global
5. Receive your visa

So, 5 easy steps stand between you and your Iceland Schengen visa. What are you waiting for?

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

Worldwide Visa Requirements