Dutch Consulate NYC, New York – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Netherlands Schengen Visa

When you think about the Netherlands, you may think off clogs and windmills, but there is a whole lot more on offer in this small European country. Beautiful architecture and interesting museums, lovely canals, and picturesque villages. It’s also a great country to get outdoors with national parks full of flowers, woodlands, and orchards. With plenty of exciting things to do and see, the Netherlands is one place you’ll love from the start. In this article learn more about how to apply for Netherlands Visa at the Dutch consulate in NYC, New York, Netherlands visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Dutch visa application center and Dutch Visa Application Process at the NYC consulate.

Schengen Visa

Last year, there were 621,431 Dutch Schengen visa applications received by consulates across the world. 10.10% were refused. The Dutch consulate in New York rejected 39 out of 2,309 applications.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States      

If you are not a US citizen by birth, but you permanently live in the US you must apply for a Schengen visa and can do so from the United States. First of all, you have to make sure you apply at the right Dutch embassy and consulate.

The Consulate of the Netherlands in New York deals with applications from residents of the following areas:

– Connecticut

– Maine

– Massachusetts

– New Hampshire

– New Jersey

– New York

– Pennsylvania

– Rhode Island

– Vermont

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Dutch Consulate in NYC, New York

There are different types of visas available from The Consulate of the Netherlands in New York. They are:

1. Airport Transit visa – if you are connecting with another flight at a Dutch airport
2. Short-stay (Schengen visa) – for stays up to 90 days
3. Long-stay visa (authorization for temporary stay (MVV) – for stays over 90 days
4. Caribbean visa – if you wish to visit parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean, e. Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St Eustatius, and St Maarten

Once you know which visa you need to apply for, you’ll need to choose the correct category of visa. This depends on why you wish to travel to the Netherlands. The following categories are available:

Short-stay visas

1. Tourism
2. Business
3. Visiting family or friends
4. Cultural
5. Sports
6. Official visit
7. Medical reasons
8. Study
9. Transit
10. Airport Transit
11. Other (any other reason will need to be specified)

Long-stay visas

1. Employment
2. Self-employment
3. Research
4. Family reasons
5. Study
6. Working holiday
7. Cultural exchange
8. Au Pair
9. Medical reasons
10. Readmission to the country

It is your responsibility to apply for the correct type of visa. if you don’t this could mean your application will be refused and your trip will be delayed. Before you do anything, look at the consulate’s website for further information on what you need to do.

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 Dutch Consulate in NYC, New York

Applying for your Dutch Schengen visa is straightforward. All you need to do is follow the steps mentioned below. First of all, it’s a good idea to take time to look through the visa pages on the consulate’s website to familiarise yourself with the requirements.

Step 1: Complete your application online

Part of the Dutch consulate’s website has a consular services portal which is where you can complete your application online. Click on “Schengen Visa”:

On the next screen, it tells you that you can complete your application online if your main destination will be the Netherlands:

Scroll down and click on: “Start Advisor”:

Next, key in the requested information and click on: “Check advice”:

On the next screen, it will tell you whether you need a visa and the documents you need to have close by in order to complete the application. If you wish to proceed, click on “Start application”:

Once you have completed your application, print it off as you will need to sign it. If you prefer to download the application form to complete, then you can do so on the consulate’s website.

Step 2: Making an appointment          

All short-stay visa applications will be submitted to the Dutch visa application center of VFS Global, so you must make an appointment through their website.

Click on “How to Apply” and then on the next screen, scroll down to step 3 and click on “schedule an appointment”:

To be able to access the appointment system, you’ll need to input your login details:

If you are a new user, click on this and create an account. You’ll then be able to log in and make an appointment.

If you are applying for a long-stay (MVV) visa, there is a different process to follow. If this applies to you, you must make an appointment and submit your documents at the Dutch consulate in New York.

Go to their website and click on: “Long-stay visa (MVV)”:

Enter your country, in this case: “The United States”:

Next, scroll down the page and click on: “How to apply for an MVV in the USA”:

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

You will be able to schedule, re-schedule, or cancel an appointment:

Next, select: “New York”:

On the next page, select the correct long-stay visa category and continue:

Now, fill in your personal details:

Once you have done this, you will be able to schedule a convenient appointment. You’ll receive a confirmation by email. Remember to print this off and take it with you when you attend your interview.

Don’t forget to apply well in advance of your trip. Processing times are usually between 5 and 15 calendar days but could be as much as 30 days or 60 days, especially if extra documentation is required. You can apply any time from 15 days up to 90 days beforehand. The earlier you can do this, 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 3: Preparing your documents for submission to VFS Global or the Dutch consulate in NYC, New York

The Dutch consulate in New York has a handy checklist for what documents are required, so it might be useful to print that off and you can tick things off as you go through preparing everything.

Documents include: 

1) Completed and signed Schengen visa application form

2) Passport or other travel document AND a copy of personal details page, previously issued visas with entry/exit stamps. You should also provide a copy of the personal details page and visas of previous passports (if applicable)

– Must have at least 3 months remaining after the end of your trip

– Must have been issued within the last 10 years (otherwise, you will need to arrange a new passport before applying for your visa)

– Must have at least 2 free pages for the visa to be affixed

3) Evidence of legal residency

4) Work permit

5) Passport photo taken within the last 6 months

6) Travel itinerary to and from the Schengen area

7) Documents proving the purpose of stay

8) Hotel reservation

9) Proof of financial means – Bank statements for the last 3 months

10) Employer letter stating the period of absence, job, salary, and purpose of the trip

11) Documents proving that you will return to your home country such as proof of employment/enrolment in school or university/proof you have a home etc.

12) Proof of health insurance valid throughout the Schengen area for a minimum of €30,000 to cover medical costs, hospital care, emergency treatment, and repatriation (including in the event of death)

13) Visa, residence permit, and passport that allows entry to your final destination after your visit to the Schengen area

14) Birth and/or marriage certificate

15) Parental consent form/parent’s ID/declaration of consent (for minors)

16) Proof of sponsorship

17) Host’s employment contract and 3 x pay slips

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 Schengen visa interview

On the day of your appointment, you need to go VFS Global in New York or the Consulate of the Netherlands in NYC, New York in person to hand over your application and supporting documents.

Tips for a successful interview are:

1. Have all the required documents. You must also provide photocopies of everything, so arrange this before you arrive
2. Don’t be late! You may need to arrange another appointment if you don’t arrive on time
3. Make a good impression by dressing the part

When you are called to the submission counter, hand everything over and the staff will examine your paperwork. They may ask you additional questions if they wish to clarify any information from your application. If they do, answer them precisely and honestly. Common visa interview questions are:

1. Is this your first time to a Schengen country?
2. Are you meeting anyone there?
3. How will you pay for your trip?
4. How much do you earn?
5. Do you have any children? If so, how old are they?

You will also need to pay the correct fee which can be paid by credit or debit card. This fee is non-refundable even if your application is rejected. VFS Global also charge an additional service fee of $33 which you will also need to pay. Plus, if you wish to have your passport mailed back to you by UPS courier, the charge will be $30 per passport – this is a charge made by VFS Global.

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

During the interview, you may have to provide biometric data which includes fingerprints and a photograph taken if this is your first time applying for a Schengen visa.

The consulate will provide you with a receipt for the fees and service charge paid.

Step 5: Receiving your visa

You can track your visa to find out how it is progressing. Head to VFS Global’s website and click on “After submission”:

Click on “online tracking”:

Key in your reference number and last name and then click on “submit”:

If you submitted your application to the Dutch consulate, you can track the status on their tracking tool.

Go to their website and click on: “Check the status of your application”:

Key in your country and language and click on: “Submit”:

Key in your tracking number which you would have been given at your appointment and click on: “Submit”:

If your passport is ready to be collected, you can return to VFS Global or the consulate to collect it. Make sure you have your receipt with you as you will need this.

Other documents that you need for collection of your passport at VFS Global are:

1. ID
2. Copy of application

You can also arrange for your passport to be returned to you by UPS courier. The Dutch consulate requires a pre-paid, self-addressed envelope for your passport to be mailed back to you by UPS, FedEx or DHL.

Hopefully, your Dutch Schengen visa will be approved and affixed to your passport, but it might have been rejected for any number of reasons. Common visa refusal reasons include:

1. Purpose of travel not clear
2. Passport not valid
3. Travel insurance for less than the required amount
4. Lack of funds to pay for the trip
5. Intent to return to the US could not be established
6. Missing paperwork

Do everything in your power to avoid your application from being refused. Make sure you state why you wish to go and have proof that you can afford it. Your passport should be valid as required by the consulate and you should have sufficient travel insurance. Provide all the necessary paperwork, and make sure they know that you will return to the US after your trip.

Contact details for VFS Global in New York

Address: 145 West 45^th Street, Floor 4, New York, NY 10036

Email: Netherlands.usa@vfshelpline.com

Telephone: +1 347 329 2738

The call center is open Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. Appointments cannot be booked by email or phone

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm (submission of applications)

Monday to Friday, 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm (collection of passports)

Contact details for the Dutch Consulate in NYC

Address: 666 Third Avenue, 19^th Floor, New York, NY 10017

Email: nyc@minbuza.nl

Telephone: +1 646 557 2200

Fax: +1 212 370 1954

Hours:

Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 12.30 pm (appointments)

Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm (collection of passports)

(Please note: you must email the consulate to make an appointment to pick up documents)

Conclusion

It’s as easy as pie to apply for your Dutch Schengen visa by following these 5 steps.

1. Complete your application online or download it
2. Make an appointment
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your interview
5. Receive your visa.

Once that’s all done and you have your visa, you can attend to the most important part – prepare for your big trip to 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 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 Netherlands Schengen Visa at Dutch Consulate in San Francisco, California