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

Visitors to Italy have something wonderful to experience. Marvel at iconic sights, like the Colosseum in Rome, or spend a few days treading the paths along the traditional Riviera route. Then there’s Milan for world-famous fashion houses or the Amalfi coast for some of the most spectacular beaches and resorts in the country. Don’t forget the impressive array of art collections and the delicious food and drink with family recipes that go back years. If it’s your first time in this Schengen country, make sure you get to see as much as you can. If not, there’s always next time! In this article learn more about how to apply for Italy Visa at the Italian consulate in Miami, Florida, Italian visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Italian visa application center and Italian Visa Application Process at the Miami consulate.

Schengen Visa

With over 1.8 million Italian Schengen visas received in 2017, it certainly is a popular destination. Of these, 7.66% were refused. The Italian consulate in Miami received 1,694 applications and 69 were refused.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States      

If you wish to apply for a Schengen visa to visit Italy, you can do so from the United States if you are a non-US citizen who lives in the US permanently. However, if you have a B1/B2 visa, you can only apply for an Airport Transit visa and this must be arranged in the country where you were born.

First of all, you have to make sure you apply at the right Italian embassy and consulate. If you live in the following areas, you can submit your visa application to the Italian consulate in Miami:

– Alabama

– Bahamas

– British and US Virgin Islands

– Cayman Islands

– Florida

– Georgia

– Jamaica

– Mississippi

– Puerto Rico

– Saba

– South Carolina

– St Eustatius

– St Marteen

– Turks & Caicos

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

The Consulate General of Italy in Miami offers two types of visa. The one you need is determined by the length of your trip:

1. Up to 90 days – Schengen visa
2. Over 90 days – National visa

Depending on why you wish to travel to Italy there are different categories of visas available. The consulate’s website gives information on all of these.

1. Schengen Tourist/Transit (including business and academic conferences)
2. Schengen Business
3. Study
4. Subordinate work
5. Religious activity
6. Dependents of US military serving abroad (Mission)
7. Civilian employees assigned to US/NATO bases (Mission)
8. Family of non-EU citizens resident in Italy
9. Elective residency
10. Independent work
11. Research

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

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Italian Consulate in Miami

The first thing to do is to have a look at the Italian consulate’s website. It has all the information you need to find out what documents you require based on your nationality, country of residence, reasons for visit, and length of stay. Click on “Click here to find out if you need a visa?”

Scroll down and input your information:

Once you’ve done that, step 1 is to book an appointment in order for you to submit your application to the consulate.

Step 1: Making an appointment          

The Italian consulate in Miami has an online booking system called Prenota Online which is easy to use when it comes to making your appointment.

You’ll need to register as a new user:

You’ll then receive an email with instructions on how to activate your account. Once you’ve done this, you can log into the system with your username and password:

When you book your appointment, you must bear in mind the consulate’s processing times. You must allow them plenty of time to review your application before your trip. Average processing time at the Italian consulate in Miami is between 7-15 days, but it could be longer due to your nationality and type of visa that you are applying for. You are able to apply for your Italian Schengen visa and book your appointment for up to 3 months in advance. If you have difficulty in securing an appointment, you must continuously check the Prenota Online system for cancellations. If you have been placed on a waiting list, be sure to email the consulate at visa.miami@esteri.it if you manage to get an appointment, so they can remove you from the waiting list.

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

This part of the process is most important and you should take time to go through the requirements for the type of visa you are applying for. The consulate’s website has a list of required documents, but they include the following:

1) Passport or travel document – valid for 3 months beyond last day abroad, 2 blank pages, issued in the last 10 years, and a copy of the page with personal details, expiration date, and signature

2) Proof of physical residence in consulate’s jurisdiction – driver’s license, state ID or utility bill

3) Proof of legal permanent residence – US Alien registration card or valid long-term US visa, I-20 (students), I-66 (exchange visitors)

4) Recent photograph – 1.77 x 1.37 inches, full-face, front view, color. Must be glued to the application form

5) Schengen visa application form – completely and clearly filled out. You can complete your application form online if you prefer

6) Proof of sufficient funds – recent bank statement or letter

7) Employment verification – Employed: employment letter stating position, salary, and dates of leave; Self-employed: business license and latest tax return; Students: letter of enrolment; Not employed: no documents required

8) Round trip ticket/reservation – stating that it originates in the jurisdiction of the consulate and back, entry and exit points in Europe

9) Lodging for all nights – hotel reservation (s), rental agreement, declaration of hospitality with host’s ID/permit to stay, tour itineraries

10) Worldwide travel insurance – minimum of €30,000 for medical expenses, hospitalization costs, and repatriation

11) Declaration for mailing passport and self-addressed, pre-paid US postal service priority or express envelope

12) Invitation letter

13) Business registration document

14) Enrolment confirmation and/or details of the internship

15) Proof of studies in the home country

16) Guarantee of income in Italy

17) FBI criminal check

18) Details of course/cultural program

19) Documentation of religious qualification and event

20) Birth and/or marriage certificate

21) Military orders

22) Letter with reasons to move to Italy

23) Entry clearance documents (Nulla Osta)

24) Parental consent form (for minors)

25) Declaration of presence/residency permit

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

On the day of your appointment at the Italian consulate in Miami, you should arrive at least 25 minutes beforehand. It is very important not to be late because your appointment may be cancelled and you’ll have to make a new one which could delay your application.

The interview is a way for the visa officials to review your application and ensure that you have honest reasons for wishing to travel to Italy. There is nothing to worry about, but you should still have all your paperwork (plus photocopies), dress smartly, and answer any extra questions you may be asked.

If you are asked further questions, don’t panic, just answer them truthfully and be confident when responding. Typical Schengen visa interview questions include:

1. Is this your first time to a Schengen zone?
2. Do you know anyone in Italy?
3. What is your salary?
4. How much is this trip going to cost?
5. Will you return within the 90 days?

You’ll also need to pay the fee for your Schengen visa. This must be the exact amount and can only be paid by cashier’s check or money order payable to the Consulate General of Italy.

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 

As part of the interview, you may have to provide a photograph and fingerprints. This biometric data is used by the authorities when you travel.

Step 4: Receiving your visa

When your visa application has been reviewed and a decision is made, you will receive your passport by mail. You are not able to collect it from the consulate. You would have submitted a declaration of mailing passport form which states that the consulate is not responsible for lost or damaged passports. Hopefully, your Italian visa will be attached to your passport, but there are instances when applications get refused for common reasons.

1. Invalid passport
2. Lack of funds
3. Missing documentation
4. Itineraries not consistent with dates
5. Intended accommodation is not booked
6. Purpose of the trip cannot be established

You don’t want your application to be rejected, so make sure all the documents are present at your interview and that dates and details are consistent. Also, make sure your passport has not expired or is valid for the correct amount of time. At your interview, make it known what your intentions are if asked and answer the official’s questions honestly and clearly.

Contact detail for the Consulate General of Italy in Miami

Address:  4000 Ponce de Leon, Suite 590, Coral Gables, Miami, FL 33146

Email: visa.miami@esteri.it

Telephone: 305-374-6322 ext. 1017

Fax: 305-374-7945

Hours:

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

Thursdays: Closed

Conclusion

When you apply for your Italian Schengen visa at the Consulate General of Italy in Miami there are 4 simple steps to follow:

1. Step 1: Book your appointment
2. Step 2: Prepare your documents
3. Step 3: Attend your interview
4. Step 4: Receive your visa

4 simple steps stand between you and getting your Italian Schengen visa. Follow them methodically for a stress-free experience, so you can turn your thoughts towards your upcoming trip 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 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 Houston, Texas
How To Apply for Italy Schengen Visa at Italian Consulate in Los Angeles, California
How to Apply for an Italian Schengen Visa from Consulate in General of Italy in NYC, New York
How To Apply for Italy Schengen Visa at Italian Consulate in San Francisco, California