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

Italy’s history spans centuries back in time and across the whole country visitors are enthralled by the impressive architecture and ruins where thousands of stories are kept secret. That’s just the tip of the iceberg because there are modern cities with plenty of things to see and do, charming towns and villages perfect for exploring, and stunning beaches and islands for a spot of relaxation. Once you go to Italy, you’ll want to return again and again to this beautiful Schengen country. In this article learn more about how to apply for Italy Visa at the Italian consulate in Houston, Texas, Italian visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Italian visa application center and Italian Visa Application Process at the Houston consulate.

Schengen Visa

293,553 Italian Schengen visa applications were received worldwide in 2020. Of these, 11.5% were refused. The consulate of Italy in Houston received 246 applications and 13 were not issued.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States      

You can apply for a Schengen visa as long as you are a legal US resident and hold one of the following documents:

1. US passport
2. US permanent residence card
3. Foreign students with valid visa and I-20
4. Exchange visitors with valid visa and I-66
5. Long-term US visa (e.g. L1, L2, H1, H2, R1 etc.)
6. US permit to re-enter
7. US refugee travel document (document de Voyage de refugee)

Applicants with a B1/B2 visa cannot apply for a Schengen visa. In this case, you are able to apply for an Airport Transit visa and you must do this in the country where you were born.

First of all, you have to make sure you apply at the right Italian embassy and consulate. The Italian consulate in Houston only deals with applications from those who live in the following areas:

– Arkansas

– Louisiana

– Oklahoma

– Texas

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Italian Consulate in Houston

There are two types of visa offered at the Italian Consulate in Houston. The one you need to apply for depends on the duration of your trip.

1. Schengen visa – 90 days
2. National visa – over 90 days

Once you know which visa you need to apply for, you then need to choose the category of visa. This will be determined by the reason you wish to go to Italy. The following visas can be applied for at the Consulate General of Italy in Houston:

1. Tourism
2. Business
3. Visiting family/friends
4. Adoption
5. Elective residence
6. Family reasons
7. Investors
8. Medical care
9. Mission
10. Re-entry
11. Religious reasons
12. Research
13. Salaried employment
14. Self-employment
15. Sports
16. Study
17. Transit
18. Transport
19. Working holiday

All of these categories of visas can be:

1. Single entry – Maximum of 1 entry within the 90 day period
2. Double entry – Maximum of 2 entries within the 90 day period
3. Multiple entry – Unlimited entries within the 90 day period

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Italian Consulate in Houston

If you want to apply for your Italian Schengen visa in the simplest way possible, there are a series of simple steps that will guide you through the process. First, go to the Italian consulate’s website and click on “Visa for Italy – Do you need a visa?”

Scroll down and key in your nationality, country of residence, length of stay in Italy, and the reason for your stay:

Click, “go to answers” and the system will tell you what documents you require:

Step 1: Making an appointment          

When you’re ready to book your appointment go to the Italian consulate’s website, scroll down, and click on “Book Online”:

The Italian consulate in Houston has their own booking system called Prenota Online which you must use to book your appointment. Scroll down to log in or register as a new user if this is your first time using the system:

If you are registering, complete the required information and click on “Registration” at the bottom:

When you book your appointment, remember to apply in plenty of time. The Italian consulate in Houston takes up to 2 weeks to process visa applications. However, during the months of May, June, July, August, September and December the request for visas increase. The consulate recommends you apply at least 3 weeks in advance during these months because the processing time can take 2-3 weeks. You can apply up to 6 months in advance of your trip, so the earlier the better!

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: Preparing your documents for submission to the consulate

Check the consulate’s website for the list of required documents. These will depend on your reason for traveling to Italy, but they include:

1) Visa application form – all the names appearing on the passport must appear on the application form (all data must match those on the passport). The form must be dated and signed in front of a Visa Officer. You can complete your application form online if you prefer

2) Recent passport-style photo – full face and front view on white background. Not scanned or photocopied

3) Passport (and a copy of relevant pages) – valid for 3 months after visa expiration date, not older than 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages

4) Permanent residence card or other US immigration document allowing re-entry into the United States

5) Driver’s license, state ID, or other proof of current address

6) Copy of most recent Schengen visa (if applicable)

7) Employment verification

– Employed: letter of employment stating position held, length of employment, salary, approved vacation time and/or recent pay slips

– Self-employed or company owners: business papers, state license, most recent tax return

– Students: enrollment letter or recent transcript

8) Proof of financial means – last 3 bank statements or bank letter of financial good standing/affidavit of support for dependents/bank guarantee

9) Medical insurance coverage abroad – for the entire period of the trip for a minimum of €30,000 to cover hospitalization, emergencies, evacuation, and repatriation

10) Proof of lodging in Italy – hotel reservations with hotel’s address/cruise/trip itineraries/host’s declaration with the host’s ID and residency permit

11) Flight reservation

12) Letter of invitation

13) Copies of visas needed for the current trip

14) Conference registration

15) Confirmation of enrolment/internship

16) Scholarship/financial aid details/sponsorship letter

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

18) Birth and/or marriage certificate

19) 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: The Schengen visa interview

The Schengen visa interview is a way for the consulate to review your application and satisfy themselves that you have genuine reasons for traveling to Italy. Take time to make sure you have everything you need because missing paperwork will mean that the application and appointment can’t proceed and you may have to re-apply.

Tips for success are:

1. Have ALL documents ready (originals and photocopies)
2. Arrive early – this will give you a few minutes to relax and prepare yourself
3. Dress appropriately – this is not the place for shorts and t-shirts
4. Be confident

The visa officer may ask you extra questions if they wish to confirm any information you have stated in your application. Don’t worry if they do, just answer the questions honestly and to the point. Sometimes a simple yes or no will be enough. Typical Schengen visa interview questions include:

1. Have you ever traveled to a Schengen country before?
2. Will you be meeting friends there?
3. What is your salary?
4. How will you support yourself financially in Italy?
5. How do we know that you will return within the visa period?

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 cash, money order or cashier check payable to “Consulate General of Italy”. The consulate does not accept personal checks. This fee is non-refundable.

Schengen Visa Fee

During the interview, you may have to provide biometric data which included fingerprints and a photograph taken. This information is then scanned into the system for use by immigration authorities.

Step 4: Receiving your visa

When your visa application has been reviewed you will be notified and can collect your passport from the consulate during their business hours. You can also arrange for your passport to be returned by mail. If you wish to do so, you need to provide a pre-paid express mail envelope. Please note, the consulate will not return passports by regular mail.

If you follow these 4 straightforward steps, you should receive your Italian Schengen visa without any problems, however, there are times when applications still get rejected. Common visa rejection reasons are:

1. Passport is not valid for 3 months after return
2. Purpose of the trip isn’t clear
3. No accommodation
4. No itineraries
5. Lack of financial means
6. Inconsistent information

To avoid your visa application from being rejected make sure your passport and other documents are valid. Give as much information about your trip as you can and provide all the necessary paperwork to the consulate.

Contact detail for the Consulate General of Italy in Houston

Address: 1330 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 1950, Houston, TX 77056

Email: visas.houston@esteri.it

Telephone: +1 713 850 7520 (from 2.00pm – 4.00pm)

Hours:

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

Wednesdays: Closed

Conclusion

To conclude, all you need to do when applying for an Italian Schengen visa at the Italian consulate in Houston is:

1. Make your appointment
2. Prepare your paperwork
3. Attend your interview
4. Receive your visa

It seems like a lot to do, but in reality, there are just 4 simple steps to go through in order to follow your dream of visiting 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 Boston, Massachusetts
How To Apply for Italy Schengen Visa at Italian Consulate in Chicago, Illinois
How To Apply for Italy Schengen Visa at Italian Consulate in Los Angeles, California
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