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

Across Italy, you’ll find fascinating places to visit as well as some of the most delicious food in the whole of Europen Union. Known for its vast array of World Heritage sites, dazzling beaches, and glitzy resorts, you won’t have far to go to find something you can call your own. Join thousands of others and make some special Italian memories that will last a lifetime. In this article learn more about how to apply for Italy Visa at the Italian consulate in Philadelphia, Italy visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Italian visa application center and Italian Visa Application Process at the NYC consulate.

Schengen Visa

In 2017, there were 1,850,260 Italian Schengen visa applications received worldwide. 7.66% were rejected. The Italian consulate in Philadelphia received 1,243 applications of which only 1 was not issued.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States      

If you hold one of the following documents, you are eligible to apply for a Schengen visa from the United States:

1. Proof of legal residence in the US and re-entry document such as valid US permanent resident card or valid US visa (Visa type A,E,F plus I-20; visa type G,H,I,J plus J1 documents L,O,R)
2. Please note, if you hold a B1/B2 visa you can apply for an Airport Transit visa only. You must do this in the country of your birth.

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 are able to apply for your visa at the Italian consulate in Philadelphia:

– Pennsylvania

– Delaware

– Maryland (except Prince George and Montgomery counties)

– New Jersey counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem

– North Carolina

– Virginia (except Fairfax and Arlington counties)

– West Virginia

You will need to show proof that you are resident within the consulate’s jurisdiction. A driving license or income tax return will be sufficient for this purpose.

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

The Italian consulate in Philadelphia offers visas depending on how long you are planning to go to Italy for. They are:

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

Whether you need a short-stay Schengen visa or a long-stay National visa, you’ll still need to specify which category of visa you need. This will be determined by your reason for wanting to go to Italy. The following categories are available at the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia:

1. Airport Transit
2. Business
3. Elective Residence
4. Family reunion (of an Italian or EU citizen)
5. Family reunion (of a non-EU/EEA citizen)
6. Mission (family member of US military on overseas duty)
7. Mission (civil contractor)
8. Religious/Missionary (non-Catholic denominations)
9. Religious (Catholic denominations)
10. Researcher
11. Sport
12. Study
13. Tourist
14. Work (self-employed)
15. Work (Subordinate)

All of these categories of visas can be:

1. Single entry – Maximum of 1 entry within the validity of the visa
2. Double entry – Maximum of 2 entries within the validity of the visa
3. Multiple entry – Unlimited entries within the validity of the visa

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Italian Consulate in Philadelphia

Applying for your Italian Schengen visa is very simple. There are a number of steps that you need to follow but, first, go to the Italian consulate’s website and scroll down until you get to “4 questions to find out if you need a visa for Italy”:

Input your nationality, country of residence, length of your stay, and the reasons for your stay and click on “Go to answers”:

The next screen will tell you what documents are required:

Step 1: Making an appointment          

Step 1 is to make an appointment. You can do this on the Italian consulate’s website. Click on where it says: “Prenota Online”. This is the consulate’s booking system.

If this is your first time using the system, you’ll need to register:

Or log on if you have a username and password already:

Remember to allow for processing times. Don’t apply a week before your trip and expect your application to be dealt with because it might not be. Visas are not issued in one day nor is there rush processing available. The consulate aims to process applications from 2 days to 21 days, but long-term visas could take up to 3 months. You can apply anytime from 2 to 12 weeks in advance.

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 Italian consulate’s website for what you need to hand over when you attend your appointment. This will depend on why you are going to Italy, but they include:

1) Completed visa application form – data must match passport and the form should be dated and signed at the consulate

2) Recent passport-style photo – full face and front view on white background. Scanned or photocopied photos will not be accepted

3) Passport and copy of the page with photograph and expiration date – valid for 3 months after the visa expiration date, issued within 10 years, have at least 2 blank pages

4) Alien resident card or other US immigration document allowing re-entry into the United States – valid for 90 days after return/F-1 visa plus I-20/I-66

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

6) Employment verification

– Employed: signed and dated 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, income tax return

– Students: letter of enrollment

7) Proof of sufficient funds – last 3 bank statements or bank letter/affidavit of financial support

8) Proof of worldwide travel medical insurance – for the entire period of the trip for a minimum of €30,000 to cover hospitalization, emergencies, evacuation, and repatriation

9) Proof of lodging for the entire trip – hotel reservation/rental agreement/cruise and/or trip itineraries/letter of host invitation with host’s ID and residency permit

10) Confirmed flight reservation

11) Sponsorship letter/proof of registration at the conference

12) Confirmation of enrolment/internship

13) Scholarship/financial aid details

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

15) Birth and/or marriage certificate

16) 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

On the day of your appointment, you need to go to the Italian consulate in Philadelphia to hand over your application for processing. The most important thing to remember is to have all the required documents together because if you forget even the smallest thing, like signatures, it will mean that your application will be returned without it being processed.

Keep this checklist handy for when you attend your interview:

1. Have ALL documents ready (you must provide BOTH originals and photocopies)
2. Arrive early – this will give you a few minutes to prepare before the interview itself
3. Dress appropriately – this really does help
4. Be confident – try not to come across as nervous as this may also affect the outcome, but don’t be over-confident!

The visa official may ask you extra questions if they wish to confirm any information you have stated in your application. Just answer them politely and honestly. Common visa interview questions are:

1. Will your wife/husband go with you on this trip?
2. Why do you think we should give you a visa to study in the Schengen area?
3. Who will take care of your house when you are away?
4. Who will pay for your visit?
5. Which countries in the Schengen area are you planning to visit?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

When you are at the consulate you will also need to pay the necessary fee for your visa. Fees can be paid by cashier’s check or money order payable to Consulate General of Italy. This fee is non-refundable even if your application is rejected.

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 Visa Information System (VIS) and can be re-used if you have provided this data within the last 2 years.

Step 4: Receiving your visa

When your passport is ready for collection, you will be notified and you can return to the consulate to pick it up. You can also arrange for it to be mailed and you will need to provide a pre-paid, self-addressed envelope, so the consulate can return it. You will also need to complete a mailing declaration which removes all responsibility for lost or damaged passports from the consulate.

Hopefully, your approved Italian Schengen visa will be in your passport, but there is a chance that it may be rejected. Typical visa rejections include:

1. Damaged passport
2. Invalid passport
3. No travel itineraries
4. Letter of enrolment not on original letterhead
5. Invalid travel insurance
6. No evidence of a hotel booking

Schengen visa applications are sometimes rejected for the simplest of things. Don’t let that happen to you! Make sure your passport is valid and not damaged – if it is, you’ll need a new one before applying for your visa. Make sure all the documents are present and meet the requirements stated by the consulate.

Contact details for the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia

Address: Suite 1026, Public Ledger Building, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3470

Email: visti.filadelphia@esteri.it

Telephone: 215 279 9573

Fax: 215 592 9808

Hours:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. (Appointments)

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 12.00 p.m. to 1.00 p.m. (Pick-ups)

You should NOT email the consulate with generic queries or information on the status of your application. Please check the consulate’s FAQs to see if your query can be answered there.

Conclusion

It’s as easy as anything to apply for your Italian Schengen visa at the Italian consulate in Philadelphia.

1. Make your appointment with the consulate’s booking system
2. Prepare your paperwork – check the requirements more than once
3. Attend your Schengen visa interview – don’t forget to take anything
4. Receive your visa – visa approved?!

Once you get to the fourth step, you should have your Italian visa! The next step – pack and take off for your incredible Italian adventure!

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 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 Italy Schengen Visa at Italian Consulate in Miami, Florida
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