Dutch Consulate Miami – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Netherlands Schengen Visa

Whether you’ve been to the Netherlands before or this is your first time, you’ll find plenty of things to keep you busy. Quaint cities with interesting old quarters, many art galleries that house famous artist’s work, and streets and alleys to wander and explore. The countryside is largely unspoiled with not a hill in sight – getting outdoors and into the national parks is a fabulous way to see as much as you can while you’re in this Schengen country. In this article learn more about how to apply for Netherlands Visa at the Dutch consulate in Miami, Florida, Netherlands visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Netherlands visa application center and Netherlands Visa Application Process at the Miami consulate.

Schengen Visa

Over 621,000 Schengen visa applications were received around the world last year. The number of rejections totaled 62,778. The consulate of the Netherlands in Miami refused 4.8% of its 439 applications received.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States        

If you are planning on visiting the Netherlands you need a visa to enter the country if you are a non-US citizen. You can apply for a visa from the United States if you live permanently in the US.

You have to make sure you apply at the right Dutch embassy and consulate. If you live in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, and the US Virgin Islands you can apply at the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Miami. Each consulate has its own jurisdiction that it deals with, so if you live anywhere else, contact the consulate via their contact form and they will tell you which consulate you need to apply.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Dutch Consulate in Miami

There are 4 types of visa which are available from the consulate of the Netherlands in Miami. They are:

1. Airport Transit – for connecting flights outside the Schengen area
2. Short-stay visa – for stays up to 90 days otherwise known as a Schengen visa. Issued as single, double, or multiple entry.
3. Long-stay visa – for trips over 90 days and also known as an authorization for temporary stays (MVV)
4. Caribbean visa – for travel to Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St Eustatius, and St Maarten

Whichever visa you need, you also need to choose the correct category. This will be determined by your reason for traveling to the Netherlands. For example:

1. Tourism
2. Business
3. Visiting family or friends
4. Cultural
5. Sports
6. Study
7. Employment
8. Medical reasons

You must apply for the correct visa and category, so before you do anything else, you should take a look at the consulate’s website to gain a fuller understanding of the visas available. It is not the responsibility of the consulate to get this right – it’s yours!

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Miami

The consulate of the Netherlands in Miami ONLY deals with applications for long-stay (MVV) visas. Applications for Schengen visas and Caribbean visas are dealt with by VFS Global in Miami.

Wherever you apply, you can use the following steps to help you with your visa application.

Step 1: Make an appointment

For Schengen visas and Caribbean visas, go to VFS Global’s website and click on: “How to apply”:

Scroll down and click on: “Schedule an appointment”:

On the next page, log in:

Or, you’ll need to create an account:

Once you have done that, you can make a suitable appointment to visit VFS Global to submit your short-stay visa application.

If you are applying for a long-stay (MVV) visa, you must make an appointment at the consulate of the Netherlands in Miami. Go to their website and

click on: “Long-stay visa (MVV)”:

Enter the country you are applying from:

On the next page, click on: “How to apply for an MVV in the USA”:

Click on: “Make an appointment via the online appointment system”:

Click on: “Schedule an appointment”:

Select the consulate in Miami:

Then, choose the correct category for MVV:

Fill in your personal details and make a suitable appointment:

If there are no dates available, you should keep trying.

You will receive confirmation of your appointment which you need to take with you when you visit VFS or the consulate to submit your application.

Please don’t leave it too late when applying. Processing times are usually up to 15 days, but it could take as many as 30 or 60 days to process. You can apply anytime from 15 days up to 90 days at the earliest, so it’s best to apply well in advance of your departure date.

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: Complete your application form

For Schengen and Caribbean visa applications, you can complete your application on the consulate’s website.

Scroll down and click on: “Visa application form”:

You will be directed to the consular services portal. Click on the type of visa you are applying for:

Scroll down and click on: “Start advisor”:

Click on “Start application”:

After you have finished completing your application online, don’t forget to print and sign it.

You can only use the consular services portal to complete your application if your main destination is the Netherlands or you are transiting through a Dutch airport. If this does not apply to you, you must download the application form.

The application form for long-stay (MVV) visas can be found on the consulate’s website. Scroll down to where it says “Applying for a residence permit and MVV”:

The MVV issue form link is on this page, so you can download it from there:

Step 3: The required documentation for your visa application

Step 3 is vital! You need to submit all of the required documentation to VFS Global or the consulate in order for them to make an informed decision on your application. If you don’t do this, your application will not be processed and you’ll have to make a new appointment which could delay things for you.

The consulate’s website has checklists available, so you know what you need to prepare. VFS Global also has information regarding this on their website.

You also need to provide originals as well as photocopies, so don’t forget to do this!

Documents include:   

1) Application form for Schengen or MVV visa

2) Passport or other travel documents, any old visas with entry/exit stamps and previous passports (if applicable). The expiry date of the passport must be at least 3 months beyond your return date and issued in the last 10 years. In addition, there must be at least 2 blank pages

3) Proof of legal residence

4) Valid US residence card or US visa including re-entry to the United States

5) Document with proof of permission to work

6) Recent passport photo. For guidelines relating to visa photographs, check the consulate’s website

7) Proof of purpose of travel to the Netherlands

8) Hotel reservation

9) Travel itineraries

10) Proof of financial sufficiency – Bank statements for the last 3 months

11) Employer letter stating length and reason for the trip, the role held, and annual/monthly salary

12) School or university enrollment letter

13) Travel medical insurance for at least €30,000 to cover medical costs, hospital care, emergencies, and repatriation

14) Birth and/or marriage certificate

15) If the applicant is a minor, consent of parents and ID is required

16) Details of sponsorship and/or events etc.

17) Letter of invitation from host/company

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 4: The visa interview

On your appointment day, get to VFS Global of the consulate of the Netherlands in Miami with time to spare. If you are late, you might not be able to attend the scheduled appointment.

Remember to take ALL the required documents, including the photocopies. As mentioned above, missing documents will result in you having to re-schedule the appointment to a time when you have everything that is needed.

The last thing to do, which may not seem important, is to dress smartly. It is important to make a good impression when you attend your appointment. Dressing in jeans and t-shirt will not meet this objective.

The visa staff will begin by looking over your application and other documents. If they need to clarify anything, they will ask you extra questions. If they do, just answer them honestly. They are only trying to obtain all the information from you to be able to make a decision on your application. Typical visa interview questions could be:

1. Why do you need a 3-month visa?
2. What do you earn?
3. What do you do in the US?
4. Are you meeting family or friends in the Schengen area?
5. Do you enjoy any scholarship?

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 will also pay the relevant fee for your visa. You are able to pay by Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card. This money won’t be refunded if your application is declined.

VFS Global also charge an additional service fee of $33.

If you wish to have your passport mailed back to you by UPS courier from VFS Global the charge will be $30 per passport.

Schengen Visa Fee

The last part of your appointment will be taken up with biometrics. If this is your first time applying for a visa, a scan of your fingerprints and photograph will be taken and stored in the Visa Information System (VIS). If you have applied within the last 5 years, your data can be re-used.

Step 5: Receive your passport and visa

You can use VFS Global’s tracking tool to track the status of your application. To do this, go to their website and click on: “After submission”:

Click on: “Online tracking”:

Type your reference number and last name and click on: “Submit”:

If you submitted your application to the consulate of the Netherlands in Miami, you can use their tracking system to see if a decision has been made. Go to their website and click on: “Check the status of your application”:

Key in the information and hit: “Submit”:

Key in your tracking number and “Submit”:

If a decision has been made, you can make arrangements to collect your passport from VFS Global or the consulate in Miami.

If you prefer, you can have your passport mailed back to you by courier from VFS. The consulate also returns passports by mail, but you’ll need to submit a pre-paid, self-addressed envelope for it to be sent by UPS, FedEx or DHL. The consulate’s website has more information on mailing instructions.

Hopefully, you will receive your passport with your new visa inside. However, visa applications get rejected for a variety of reasons, some of which include:

1. Missing information
2. Paperwork not signed
3. Applying at the wrong consulate
4. Invalid passport
5. Reason for the trip not clear
6. Lack of funds

Each consulate has its own service area that it looks after, so you should apply to the one that looks after the area in which you live. It is essential that you do not present an incomplete visa application because it will not be processed. Likewise, forms not being signed are unacceptable as well. Your passport must be valid, as per the consulate’s requirements, and you must be able to provide a reason why you wish to travel to the Netherlands and you must be able to pay for it and prove that this is the case.

Contact details for VFS Global in Miami

Address: 2655 S Le Jeune Road, Penthouse 1A, Coral Gables, Miami, FL 33134

Email: Netherlands.usa@vfshelpline.com

Telephone: +1 347 329 2738

Call center: Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. Appointments are not to be booked by email or phone

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 3.00 pm (Submissions)

Monday to Friday, from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm (Collections)

Contact details for the Dutch Consulate in Miami

Address: 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 500, Miami, FL 33131

Email: mia-ca@minbuza.nl

Telephone: +1 786 866 0480

Fax: +1 786 866 0498

You can contact the Embassy by using their contact form

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 12.00 pm

Conclusion

5 very easy steps to follow when you apply for your Netherlands visa to be able to enter the country:

1. Make an appointment
2. Complete your application form
3. Prepare the required documentation
4. The visa interview
5. Receive your passport and visa

That’s all you need to do! When you get to step 5, you’ll hopefully have your visa in your hand, so you can start to countdown the days until you leave for the Netherlands!

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 Netherlands Schengen Visa at Dutch Consulate in NYC, New York
How to apply for Netherlands Schengen Visa at the Dutch Consulate in Washington DC
How To Apply for Netherlands Schengen Visa at Dutch Consulate in San Francisco, California