Iceland Consulate San Francisco – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Iceland Schengen Visa

What an awe-inspiring Schengen country Iceland is!  The sheer beauty of it is astounding. Take time to explore the capital city, but, whatever you do, you must take a trip into the countryside. Go on an organized tour or hire a car and you’ll see volcanoes and beautiful glaciers. Plus, if you visit during the summer months, you’ll have the opportunity of spotting magnificent whales offshore. In this article learn more about how to apply for Iceland visa at the Icelandic consulate in San Francisco, California, 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 SFO consulate.

Iceland Schengen Visa

In 2017, there were 7,610 Iceland Schengen visa applications received by all the visa authorities located across the globe. Just 73 of these were rejected. There was no data for how many applications were dealt with by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in San Francisco.

Applying for Iceland Schengen Visa from the United States         

If you are a non-US citizen who currently resides in the US on a permanent basis, you will need to apply for a visa to go to Iceland.

You have to make sure you apply at the right Icelandic embassy and consulate. There are 4 offices that issue visas on behalf of Iceland in the United States:

1. Washington – Swedish Embassy
2. New York – The Consulate General of Denmark
3. San Francisco, California, and Houston – The Royal Norwegian Consulate General
4. Chicago – The Lithuania Consulate

Therefore, if you reside in the San Francisco area, you will deal with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in San Francisco. However, your visa application will be submitted through VFS Global’s visa application center in San Francisco and will be sent for processing at the consulate general of Norway in San Francisco.

Here are a few steps to help you apply for your Iceland visa.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in San Francisco, SFO

There are 2 types of visas for Iceland offered by the consulate of Norway in San Francisco and the one you need to apply for will depend on the duration of your trip:

1. Visitor’s Visa – for stays up to 90 days
2. Residence Permit – for stays over 90 days

Whether it’s a visitor’s visa or a residence permit you are applying for, you must choose the correct category on the application form. This will be determined by your reason for traveling to Iceland.

Visitor’s visas are issued for the purposes of tourism, business, or if you wish to visit family and/or friends

Residence permits are issued for the purposes of family reunification, employment, study etc. Further information on residence permits can be found on the website of The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)

On your application form, you can state how many times you want to be able to enter Iceland. For example:

1. Single entry – you are permitted to enter once within the dates of the visa
2. Double entry – you are permitted to enter twice within the dates of the visa
3. Multiple entry – there is no limit to the number of times you can enter within the dates of the visa

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General and VFS Global in San Francisco

You can apply up to 90 days ahead of your intended departure date, so don’t leave it too late. You must ensure that plenty of time is given for your application to be processed. 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.

Plus, it takes an extra few days for your application to be sent to and from the consulate by VFS, so bear that in mind too.

Here are a few steps to help you apply for your Iceland visa.

Step 1: Register and complete your application

Go to the website of the Royal Norwegian Consulate General of Iceland in San Francisco and click on: “Visitor’s visa and residence permit”:

Then, click on: “Visitor’s visa”:

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

Read the information about the application portal:

Most applications can be registered on this portal, but check the UDI’s website for further information regarding this before you start.

If you can use the application portal, you must create an account first:

Next, log in and fill in the application form:

Please make sure you select the correct application form and the correct office where you will submit your application.

You will pay the fee for your visa at the same time as registering your application.

Once you’ve completed this step, you will receive a confirmation and cover letter by email. You need to take this when you visit VFS Global in San Francisco when you submit your application.

Step 2: Make an appointment to submit your file to VFS Global in San Francisco, SFO

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!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make appointments yourself by following below steps:

1. VFS Global in San Francisco, do not accept walk-ins, you must arrange an appointment in order to hand over your visa application. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on: “Schedule an appointment”:
2. You will have to register as a new user:
3. Then, log onto the system and you will be able to book a suitable day and time for your appointment

Step 3: Prepare your documents

You need to take extra care with this step. Before you start to prepare your documents, take a look at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General’s website. There is a document checklist that you can refer to which will make this part of the procedure easier for you. You need to print and sign this checklist and hand it over with your other documents to VFS Global.

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

The consulate requests that you prepare original documents AND photocopies of everything, so don’t forget to do this.

Documents include:

1. Cover letter (printed from the visa application portal)
2. Application form for the visa (printed from the visa application portal)
3. Receipt for the fee (printed from the visa application portal)
4. 1 passport photo, taken within the last 6 months. See the full list of guidelines for acceptable photos
5. Travel booking plus full itinerary for the entire duration of your trip
6. Passport – must have 3 months remaining after your return to the US, with at least 2 blank pages, and it must have been issued within the last 10 years. Also required: copy of the data page
7. Copies of previous Schengen visas (if applicable)
8. US permanent residence card or valid US visa with at least 3 months remaining past trip. I-20 for students
9. Documents confirming employment, private business, or studies including authorization of leave. Must be on original letterhead and signed
10. Proof of financial means or income such as bank statements for the last 3 months, employer’s statement, or last income tax return
11. Schengen Travel insurance – at least €30,000 ($50,000) in the event of medical emergencies, hospitalization, and repatriation
12. Letter of invitation from company/private individual in Iceland confirming the purpose and length of the trip
13. Letter from US company stating the purpose and duration of the trip
14. Evidence of family relationship
    
15. Proof of accommodation including an address in Iceland
    
16. Marriage certificate – to be provided 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. Proof of permission to travel from parents (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 4: Submit your application to VFS Global in San Francisco

When the day of your appointment arrives, remember the following things:

1. Arrive at VFS Global in San Francisco early – if you are late, you may have to reschedule your appointment and this could have an impact on your plans for your trip
2. Remember ALL your documents – don’t forget anything, even the cover letter and document checklist. It’s better to have too many documents than not enough. If there is anything missing, VFS will not accept your application
3. Dress smartly – don’t turn up dressed too casually. Your aim should be to make a good impression

The visa official will examine your application and supporting documents. They may question you further if they need to know anything else. If they do, simply answer honestly and precisely. VFS need all the facts about your application in order to submit a full case to the consulate for processing and making a decision.

Typical questions could be:

1. Can I see your bank statement?
2. Do you have any type of scholarship?
3. Have you got an approval of leave from your employer?
4. What do your children do?
5. What are you going to do in Iceland and the Schengen area?

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

If you have never applied for a Schengen visa before, you will also have to provide a scan of your fingerprints and a digital photograph.

Iceland Schengen Visa Fee

Fees for residence permits can be found on UDI’s website.

Step 5: Receive your visa

Once you have submitted your application, you have the opportunity to find out what is happening with it. Go to  VFS Global’s website and click on: “Track your application”:

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

When a decision has been made, you will be notified and you can either collect your passport from VFS Global or arrange for it to be mailed back to you. If you prefer for it to be mailed, there is an additional fee of $30 per passport.

If your visa has been approved, you will find it inside your passport. If not, it would have been rejected. Typical rejection reasons include:

1. Past criminal actions
2. Documents proving the purpose of stay were missing
3. No accommodation bookings
4. Last 3 bank statements not included
5. You already have an active Schengen visa

First, check that you don’t already have a previous Schengen visa which is still active – this will save everyone’s time. If you have been involved in any past criminal actions, this could have a negative effect on your visa application, even if it was years ago. You must provide ALL the required documents, including proof of the purpose of the trip, accommodation, and last 3 bank statements. The consulate needs all of these in order to make a fair decision about your visa application.

Contact details for the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in San Francisco, SFO

Address: 575 Market Street, Suite 3950, San Francisco, CA-94105-5857

Email: cg.san.francisco@mfa.no

Telephone: +1 (415) 882 2000

Fax: +1 (415) 882 2001

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

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

Contact details for VFS Global in San Francisco

Address: 110 Sutter Street, Floor 05, San Francisco, CA 94104

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

Email: info.norway@vfsglobal.com

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 4.00 pm (Submission of applications)

Monday to Friday, 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm (Collection of passports)

Conclusion

There are just 5 steps to follow when you apply for your Iceland Schengen visa:

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 in San Francisco
5. Receive your visa

Once you have your visa, you can start the count down to your wonderful trip to Iceland!

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 Iceland Schengen Visa at Iceland Consulate in NYC, New York
How To Apply for Iceland Schengen Visa at Iceland Consulate in Houston, Texas

Worldwide Visa Requirements