How to Apply for Italy Schengen Visa At Italian Consulate in NYC, New York

Home to some 61 million people, Italy is known as “Bel Paese” or beautiful country.” It’s also one of the most visited countries in Europe. Hardly surprising when you consider the stunning landscapes with coasts, lakes, and mountains that literally take your breath away. Mouth-watering cuisine across the country and up to the minute fashion known throughout the whole world. The country is also home to 51 of the world’s greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. No wonder, then, that it is recognized as the place where western culture was born. In this article learn more about how to apply for Italy Visa from New York consulate, Schengen visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Italy visa center and Italian Visa Application Process at NYC consulate.

Schengen Visa

Every year, people all over the world apply for Schengen visas to travel to the schengen countries and 92% of uniform visas were issued in 2017. In the same year, the number of applications processed by the Consulate General of Italy in New York was 3,478 with only 66 rejected. That’s an impressive 98%.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States

If you are a US citizen, then you do NOT need to apply for a Schengen visa. You are allowed to visit Italy for up to 90 days as long as you hold a valid passport. However, you DO need to apply for a Schengen visa if you are a non-US citizen or are legally residing in the US.

To apply for your Schengen visa, you must first find out which consulate deals with your region. The Consulate General of Italy in New York processes applications for residents of the following states;

States:

New York, Connecticut

New Jersey counties: 

Bergen

Essex

Hudson

Hunterdon

Mercer

Middlesex

Monmouth

Morris

Passaic

Somerset

Sussex

Union

Warren

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Consulate General of Italy in New York

Schengen visas issued from the Consulate General of Italy in New York are valid for a maximum of 90 days. If you plan to go to Italy for longer than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a National visa.

There are different visas depending on your reason for travel to Italy. It’s important to know which one you need to apply for. By understanding the types of visas and the requirements, you won’t waste valuable time.

a) Tourist – Vacation only

b) Business – Business related to your profession

c) Study – Study

d) Subordinate work – Temporary work and/or seasonal workers

e) Independent work – Self-employed and/or starting a company

f) Residency – Living in Italy

g) Family reasons – Non-EU citizens related to EU citizens

h) The family of US military personnel – Families of US military personnel stationed in US or NATO bases

i) Medical – Receive medical treatment

j) Religious activity – Participate in religious events

k) Airport Transit Visa (ATV) – Change planes on Italian territory

For each of these visas you can apply for either:

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 Stats at Italian Consulate NYC

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Consulate General of Italy in New York

Although the Italy visa center in NYC has a low rejection rate, there are still Schengen visa applications that are not successful. To make sure your application is not among those rejected here is a step-by-step guide to applying for your Italian Schengen visa.

Step 1: Eligibility

To apply for an Italian Schengen visa at the Consulate General of New York, you must:

• Be a non-US citizen and/or a permanent resident of the US

• Come under the jurisdiction of the New York consulate (see residential areas above)

• Not hold a B1/B2 visa

If you hold a B1/B2 visa, you are only eligible to apply for an Airport Transit Visa. This must be applied for in your home country.

Step 2: Making an Italian visa appointment

Applications for your Italian Schengen visa can only be made by appointment. You must apply at least 15 days before your planned trip. Any applications received more than 90 days before your trip will not be accepted.

To make the Italian Schengen visa appointment booking yourself at the NYC consulate, go to the official booking page or we can book the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Step 3: Preparing your documents

Once the appointment has been made, it’s time to get all your paperwork ready. This part of the process is extremely important because if you don’t have all of the required documents, this could lead to your application being rejected. Information on the required documentation for each type of visa can be found here.

Original documents AND photocopies must be provided. Foreign documents must also be translated into English and properly legalized.

The required documentation includes:

1. Fully completed and signed Schengen Visa application form 

2. Passport

• Valid for 3 months after the trip

• Issued within the last 10 years.

• Copies of previous visas (if applicable)

• 2 free pages

3. Non-US resident visa/Residence card/I-94/I-20/I-797/Advance Parole/IAP66

Please note in addition to the above documents, all non-US citizens must provide proof of residence

4. 1 x recent photo

• Passport-size, 3.5 x 4.5 cm

• Show the whole face on a light background

5. Return flight reservation
6. Proof of accommodation

• Hotel booking

• The offer of hospitality/Letter of invitation/Host’s ID

7. Proof of financial means

• 3 months bank/credit card statements

8. Proof of working status

• Employed:

· Employer letter stating start date, position, salary, and duration of the trip

· Last 3 payslips

· Invitation letter with author’s ID

· Italian company’s business license

• Self-employed:

· Business license

· Last 3 bank statements

· Income tax return

• Students:

· Student ID

· Driving license

· Enrolment letter from an Italian university

· Letter from US university

· Bank statement/Credit card statement

· Details of scholarship/financial aid/sponsorship letter

· Medical insurance for the first 15 days

Please note that the minimum amount of funds required to study in Italy is about $50 per day to cover basic expenses in Italy and repatriation costs.

• Retired:

· Proof of pension income.

• Unemployed:

For dependent spouse/parents:

· Spouse/child’s employment letter

· Spouse/child’s pay slips

· Joint income tax

For dependent children:

· Parent’s last 3 bank statements

· Parent’s pay slips

· Income tax return

· Letter giving parent’s permission to travel and assuming financial responsibility

9. Proof of participation in any type of event
10. Birth and/or marriage certificate
11. Proof of travel insurance

• Up to €30,000 for medical emergencies and repatriation

12. Registered lease

Step 4: The Schengen Visa Interview

It’s important that you treat the Schengen Visa interview seriously. It’s the visa official’s job to satisfy themselves that you have genuine reasons why you wish to travel to Italy and for returning home.

You should arrive at the consulate early. This way you can ensure you have everything you need and relax a little before the interview begins. Also, make sure you are dressed appropriately in formal attire.

All paperwork must be completed, signed, and photocopied, so check that you have everything together.

You’ll need to pay the necessary fee for your visa. Cash or money orders are accepted in US dollars only.

Once the interview begins, you’ll be asked a series of questions. Some of the most common questions are:

1. Is this your first trip to a Schengen area?
2. What do you know about Italy?
3. What is the purpose of your visit?
4. How long are you going to stay?
5. How do we know that you will return to your home country?

Listen to the question carefully and answer them truthfully. Be precise and clear when responding.

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

Step 5: Receiving your visa

Your passport will be returned by mail in a pre-paid envelope which you need to provide. It can take 7-90 days to find out whether you’re application has been successful or not.

Although the application process for a Schengen Visa can seem daunting, if you follow these steps you should have nothing to worry about. However, there is a chance that your application will be rejected, so let’s take a look at some visa rejection reasons why this may happen.

1. The intention of travel cannot be established
2. False travel documents
3. Invalid passport
4. Lack of funds
5. Insufficient travel insurance
6. No proof of accommodation

The way to avoid these mistakes is to make sure you have completed the documentation fully and correctly. You may wish to write a cover letter giving further information about your intended trip. Dates and information should be consistent, so take time to thoroughly examine everything.

Here is the contact detail for the Consulate General of Italy in New York:

Address: Consulate General of Italy, 690 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065-5009

Website: Italian Consulate General NYC

Email: newyork.visa@esteri.it

Fax: (212) 249-4945

Hours: Monday to Friday; 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

Please visit the official website for updated information

Conclusion

The application process for an Italian Schengen visa can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. All you need to do is carefully go through the checklist one-by-one. If all goes well your visa will be approved, and you’ll be on your way to Italy for a memorable stay.

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.