Italian Consulate Boston – 4 Easy Steps to Apply for Italy Schengen Visa

One of the best places in Europe to visit, Italy has a history that spans many centuries and you can delve into the past with hundreds of ancient monuments, buildings, and cities across the country. With some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the dazzling sands and azure waters will wash your troubles away. Explore the most popular attractions or discover a few less well-known ones, you won’t be at a loss of things to do in this alluring country. In this article learn more about how to apply for Italy Visa at the Italian consulate in Boston, Italian visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Italian visa application center and Italy Visa Application Process at the Boston consulate.

Schengen Visa

Of the 1,850,260 applications received for Italian Schengen visas in 2017, 141,722 were not issued. The Consulate General of Italy in Boston issued all but 3 of the 1,142 applications they received.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States      

If you are a non-US citizen and live permanently in the US, you must apply for an Italian Schengen visa from one of the consulates in the US.

However, if you have a B1/B2 visa, you must apply for an Airport Transit visa only. You should arrange this in your own country.

First of all, you have to make sure you apply at the right Italian embassy and consulate. The Italian consulate in Boston accepts applications from people living in the following areas:

– Maine

– Massachusetts

– New Hampshire

– Rhode Island

– Vermont

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Consulate General of Italy in Boson

The type of visa you need to enter Italy depends on how long you are planning to go for.

1) Up to 90 days – Schengen visa

2) Over 90 days – National visa

Your reason for travel will determine the category of visa you need and the following visas, which are valid for a maximum of 90 days, can be applied for at the Consulate General of Italy in Boston:

a) Tourism

b) Business

c) Invitation

d) Medical Care

e) Mission

f) Religious reasons

g) Research

h) Salaried employment

i) Salaried employment (entertainment field/sports activity)

j) Self-employment

k) Self-employment (entertainment field)

l) Sports competition

m) Study

n) Transit

o) Transport

Each of these visas can be:

1) Single entry – Maximum of 1 entry during 90 day period

2) Double entry – Maximum of 2 entries during the 90 day period

3) Multiple entry – Unlimited entries during the 90 day period

The following visas are available if you are planning on going to Italy for over 90 days:

1. Adoption
2. Elective residence
3. Family reasons
4. Family reasons (family members of EU citizen)
5. Medical care
6. Mission
7. Re-entry
8. Religious reasons
9. Research
10. Salaried employment
11. Salaried employment (artists/maritime/sports activity)
12. Self-employment
13. Study
14. Study (apprenticeship/vocational training)
15. Voluntary work (European voluntary service/national quotas)
16. Working holiday

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Consulate General of Italy in Boston

The website of the Consulate General of Italy in Boston has a handy tool that will tell you if you need to apply for a visa based on your nationality, country of residence, reasons for visit, and length of stay. Just complete the basic information on the questionnaire and it will tell you what documents you need to provide. It will also provide you with the consulate details.

Once you’ve had a look at that, the next thing you need to do is to book your appointment.

Step 1: Making an appointment          

The Italian consulate in Boston only accepts online appointments. You must make your appointment with their online booking system, Prenota Online.

You’ll need to log on or register as a new user if this is your first time using the system.

You must take account of the consulate’s processing times when applying for your Italian visa. If you don’t, then your visa may not be done in time. You can apply up to 3 months in advance, so bear that in mind when booking your appointment. If you cannot get an appointment, you should keep checking the booking system for cancellations.

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 2: Getting your paperwork ready

Step 2 is extremely important and you should take time to get all your documents prepared. The consulate’s website has a list of required documents depending on your reason for travel, but they include the following:

1) Schengen visa application form filled in and signed at the consulate (You can complete your application form online if you prefer)

2) Recent passport-style photo – 5 cm x 4.5 cm, full front, and white background

3) Passport (and a copy of relevant pages) – valid for 3 months past trip dates, issued within last 10 years, 2 empty pages

4) Alien Registration Card/valid US INS visa and the letter from US government letters i.e. Advanced Parole, IAP66, I20 and copies, I797

5) Proof of physical residence – photocopy of driver’s license, state ID, or utility bill

6) Round trip flight tickets – showing entry and exit from Italy

7) Proof of lodging in Italy – tourist vouchers/hotel booking/offer of hospitality/letter of invitation and host’s ID or permit of stay

8) Proof of economic means of support – last 3 bank statements

9) Proof of employment

– Employed applicants: a recent letter of references from your employer (stating employment start date, job title, annual salary and vacation period) and last three pay stubs

– Self-employed applicants: last 3 bank statements, business income taxes, certificates of incorporation

– Retired applicants: retirement compensation from social security;

– Students: official school letter stating full-time enrolment

– Unemployed applicants:

– dependent spouses or parents should provide spouse/child’s employment letter, pay stubs and joint income tax return and/or marriage/birth certificates

– dependent children should provide parents’ last 3 bank statements, last 3 pay stubs, and income tax return and/or birth certificate

10) Travel insurance – €30,000 cover for medical expenses, hospitalization costs, and repatriation

11) Invitation letter

12)Business registration document

13) Confirmation of enrolment/internship

14) Proof of studies in the home country

15) Scholarship/financial aid details

16) Declaration of value

17) Confirmation of course/cultural program

18) Religious qualification and details of participation in any type of event

19) Birth and/or marriage certificate

20) Military orders

21) Lease agreement

22) Letter of intent to move to Italy

23) Entry clearance documents (Nulla Osta)

24) Parental consent form (for 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 the interview

Step 3 is also very important and you should treat the visa interview seriously. Bear in mind that you want to get a visa to visit Italy and how you look and behave does have an impact on the outcome. Don’t forget any of your paperwork because if there is anything missing, the interview can’t proceed until you submit everything that is required. Also, it’s a good idea to dress smartly as this also helps to make a good impression.

If you feel nervous before the interview begins, try to relax and take a few minutes to think about what you will say in the event they ask you any questions. The questions are designed to confirm the details in your application, so answer them honestly and to the point. Typical Schengen visa interview questions include:

1. Are you married?
2. Is this your first time to Italy?
3. What do you know about Italy?
4. How will you pay for your trip?
5. Are you meeting friends there?

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’ll also need to pay the relevant fee for your visa and you can pay by money order only.

After the interview, you may have to provide biometric data which will be scanned into the system for use by authorities.

Step 4: Receiving your visa

You need to provide a declaration of mailing form when you submit your paperwork for your passport to be mailed back to you when it’s ready. The consulate in Boston aims to process visa applications between 1 and 2 weeks, however, the timescales may change depending on your reason for travel.

You shouldn’t have any problems when applying, especially if you follow these 4 steps to the tee. However, Schengen visa applications do get rejected for a number of reasons:

1. Lack of proof of lodging
2. Passport doesn’t have 2 free pages
3. Lack of financial means
4. Incomplete documents
5. Invalid reference/sponsorship letter
6. Reason for travel cannot be established

The best way to ensure your application doesn’t get rejected is to have all the necessary documents, completed and in order. In addition, be forthcoming and honest with your answers to questions asked at your interview.

Contact detail for the Consulate General of Italy in Boston

Address: 600 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02210

Email: visti.boston@esteri.it

Hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

Tuesdays: 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.

Conclusion

When you apply for your Italian Schengen visa at the Consulate General of Italy in Boston, all you need to do is:

1. Make your online appointment
2. Get all your paperwork ready
3. Turn up to your interview, on time and with your documentation
4. Receive your passport and, hopefully, your Italian visa

The consulate’s website has a lot of useful information, so use that, but also follow these 4 steps to make your life even easier. Then you can concentrate on planning the next stage – your holiday to Italy.

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 and much 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 Italy Schengen Visa at Italian Consulate in Chicago, Illinois
How to Apply for an Italian Schengen Visa from Consulate General of Italy in NYC, New York
How To Apply for Italy Schengen Visa at Italian Consulate in San Francisco, California