Dutch Consulate San Francisco – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Netherlands Schengen Visa
Known for its windmills and wooden shoes, the Netherlands has so much more to offer. Beautiful cities with many canals and bridges – great for romantic strolls. National parks for exploring and getting out in the great outdoors. A buzzing nightlife and an interesting art and culture scene. All this and much more in this amazing Schengen country will certainly keep you entertained. In this article learn more about how to apply for Netherlands Visa at the Dutch consulate in San Francisco, California, Netherlands visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Dutch visa application center and Dutch Visa Application Process at the San Francisco consulate.
Schengen Visa
Last year, 621,431 Dutch Schengen visas were applied for. Out of this number, 62,778 were not approved. The Dutch consulate in San Francisco received 1,908 applications and 51 were refused for one reason or another.
Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States
If you are a non-US citizen who is permanently living in the US, you can apply for a Schengen visa to visit Europe from the United States.
First of all, you have to make sure you apply at the right Dutch embassy and consulate. If you live within the jurisdiction of the Consulate of the Netherlands in San Francisco you are free to submit your application there. The areas that are included are:
– Alaska
– Arizona
– California
– Colorado
– Hawaii
– Idaho
– Montana
– Nevada
– New Mexico
– Oregon
– Utah
– Washington
– Wyoming
Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Dutch Consulate in San Francisco
The visas that you can apply for at the Consulate of the Netherlands in San Francisco are:
- Airport Transit visa
- Short-stay (Schengen visa)
- Long-stay visa (MVV)
- Caribbean visa
There are different categories of visas depending on your reason for traveling to the Netherlands and you need to apply for the correct one.
The categories are:
- Tourism
- Business
- Visiting family or friends/Other family reasons
- Cultural/Sports
- Official visit
- Medical reasons
- Study
- Transit
- Airport Transit
- Employment/Self-employment
- Research
- Working holiday/Cultural exchange
- Au Pair
- Readmission to the country
Before you begin your application, spend time looking at the consulate’s website for further information about these visas and what you need to do.
All of these categories of visas can be:
- Single entry – Maximum of 1 entry within the validity of the visa
- Double entry – Maximum of 2 entries within the validity of the visa
- Multiple entry – Unlimited entries within the validity of the visa
Schengen Visa Application Process at the Dutch Consulate in San Francisco
There are 5 easy steps to applying for your Dutch Schengen visa.
Step 1: Complete your application online
The first step is to complete your application online. You can either use the consulate’s consular services portal or you can download your application from their website. On the first page, click on: “Schengen Visa”:
This screen gives instructions on applying for a visa:
Scroll down and click on: “Start Advisor”:
Next, input the information required and click on: “Check advice”:
On the next screen, click on: “Start application”:
Once you have completed your application, print it off as you will need to sign it.
Step 2: Making an appointment
All short-stay visa applications will be submitted to the VFS Global’s visa application center, so you will need to make an appointment through their website.
Click on: “How to Apply”, and then on the next screen, scroll down and click on: “Schedule an appointment”:
Next, input your log in details if you have them:
If you are a new user, you need to create an account. You’ll then be able to confirm your account and log in. Once you have done that, you can complete your application.
If you are applying for a long-stay (MVV) visa, the process is slightly different and you will make an appointment and submit your documents at the Dutch consulate in San Francisco.
Go to their website and click on: “Long-stay visa (MVV)”:
Next, enter your country:
On the next page, scroll down the page or click on: “How to apply for an MVV in the USA”:
Click on: “Make an appointment via the online appointment system”:
The appointment system will allow you to schedule, re-schedule, or cancel an appointment:
Next, select: “San Francisco”:
On the next page, select the correct long-stay visa category and continue:
Then you will be asked to fill in your personal details:
Once you have done this, you will be able to schedule a convenient time and day. You’ll receive a confirmation by email. Remember to print this off and take it to the appointment.
You need to allow enough time for your application to be processed. Turnaround times are generally around 5-15 days but could be longer, especially if the consulate asks you to provide further documentation. You can apply any time from 2 weeks up to 12 weeks, but it’s advisable to do so as soon as possible.
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 San Francisco
If you have a look at the Dutch consulate in San Francisco’s website, you’ll find a useful checklist of requirements. Handy if you want to tick items off as you proceed through this step.
Documents include:
1) Visa application form – completed and signed
2) Passport or other travel document (plus a copy of relevant pages)
– Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your return to the US
– Must have been issued in the last 10 years
– Must have at a minimum of 2 blank pages
3) Proof of residence
4) Work permit
5) Recent passport photo
6) Round-trip flight confirmation
8) Proof of financial means – 3 x bank statements
9) Employment letter confirming the period of absence, job, salary, and purpose of the trip
10) Proof of employment/school or university enrolment etc.
11) Travel health insurance valid throughout the Schengen area. Must be for a minimum of €30,000 to cover medical costs, hospital care, emergency treatment, and repatriation
12) Valid residence card and/or valid Visa allowing re-entry to the US
13) Birth and/or marriage certificate
14) Parental consent form/parent’s ID/declaration of consent (for minors)
16) Host’s employment contract and 3 x host’s 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:
- Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
- Submit the travel details and make the payment online
- Receive flight itinerary in email
Step 4: The visa interview
You need to attend the VFS Global center in San Francisco to submit your short-stay visa application or the Dutch consulate in San Francisco for long-stay visas. Whether it’s VFS Global or the consulate, make sure you are not late, dress smartly, and have all the necessary paperwork. Applications with missing documents will be rejected. Please also ensure you have originals and photocopies of everything.
When it’s your turn, the visa official will look over your application and may ask you extra questions to confirm what you have stated in your application. If this happens, just answer them to the best of your knowledge and be clear. Common visa interview questions are:
- Are you married? How long have you been married?
- Do you have any relatives studying in this university?
- Does your son/daughter have any children?
- Have you booked or bought the flight ticket?
- Have you ever traveled to other places or the Schengen zone?
The relevant fee will also need to be paid. Please note this fee won’t be refunded, even if your application is refused. There is also an additional service charge of $33 payable to VFS Global. In addition to these fees, $30 for each passport will be charged by VFS Global if you want to have your passport mailed back to you by UPS courier. You will receive a receipt for the fees paid.
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
Type of Visa | Fee |
Schengen visa | $69.00/€60.00 |
Schengen visa (children aged 6-11) | $40.00/€35.00 |
| Caribbean visa from 6 years old (max 30 days) | $40/€35.00 |
Schengen visa, low tariff: visas for citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kosovo, Russia and Ukraine | $40/€35 |
Children up to 5 years old | Free |
If you have never applied for a Schengen visa before, you will have to provide biometric data which includes fingerprints and a photograph taken.
Step 5: Receiving your visa
Once you have submitted your file, you can track the progress of your application on VFS Global’s website and click on: “After submission”:
Click on: “Online tracking”:
Key in the requested information and 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 a decision has been made, you can make arrangements to collect your passport from VFS Global or the consulate. You will need your receipt, ID, and a copy of your application in order to pick it up.
If you prefer, you can also arrange for your passport to be returned to you from VFS Global by UPS courier. The Dutch consulate requires you to provide a pre-paid, self-addressed envelope for your passport to be mailed by UPS, FedEx or DHL.
If all goes well, you will find your Dutch Schengen visa in your passport, but there are times when applications get denied. Typical visa rejection reasons include:
- Documents proving the purpose of stay have not been submitted
- Passport is not valid for 3 months beyond the return date
- No flight booking
- No bank statements included
- Holding an active Schengen visa
- Lack of evidence of pre-tours
To ensure your application is not rejected, make sure you don’t already have a valid Schengen visa. Make sure your passport is valid and have all the necessary documents including those that prove why you wish to travel to the Netherlands.
Contact details for VFS Global in San Francisco
Address: 110 Sutter Street, Floor 5, San Francisco, CA 94104
Email: Netherlands.usa@vfshelpline.com
Telephone: +1 347 329 2738
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, 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm (collection of passports)
Contact details for the Consulate of the Netherlands in San Francisco
Address: 120 Kearny Street, Suite 3100, San Francisco, CA 94104
Email: sfn@minbuza.nl
Telephone: +1 415 291 2033
Fax: +1 415 291 2049
Hours:
Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 1.00 pm (appointments)
Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 1.00 pm (collection of passports)
(Please note: you must email the consulate with the name of the person who will pick the document up and the date it will be picked up)
Conclusion
It’s very simple to apply for your Dutch Schengen visa. All you need to do is follow these 5 steps.
- Complete your online application
- Make an appointment at VFS Global or the Consulate of the Netherlands
- Get your documents ready
- Submit your application at your interview
- Track and receive your visa.
At the end of the fifth step, you should have your visa and you can countdown to your departure 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.
