Dutch Embassy Washington DC – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Netherlands Schengen Visa

A small country but big on things to do and see, the Netherlands is one destination in the Schengen area you should really visit. Interesting cities with historic centers, culture and vibrant evening entertainment plus regions with lakes and islands. All of this and much more will sure make you happy! In this article learn more about how to apply for Netherlands Visa at the Dutch embassy in Washington, DC, Netherlands visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Netherlands visa application center and Netherlands Visa Application Process at the Washington DC embassy.

Schengen Visas

Last year, there were 621,431 Schengen visa applications received for the Netherlands. Of this amount, 10.10% were rejected. The Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington DC denied 2.4% of its 1,263 applications.

Applying for Schengen Visa from the United States        

Usually, if you come from the United States and you wish to visit the Netherlands for up to 90 days you do NOT need a visa to enter the country. However, if you are not a US national by birth, but you live in the US permanently, you need to apply for a visa.

You have to make sure you apply at the right Dutch embassy and consulate. The Embassy of the Netherlands deals with visa applications from residents of the following areas:

Delaware

District of Columbia

Maryland

North Carolina

Virginia

West Virginia

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Dutch Embassy  in Washington DC

The Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington offers several types of visa in order to enter the country:

1. Airport Transit – you will need this if you are connecting with a second flight to your final destination which is outside the Schengen area
2. Short-stay visa – this is called a Schengen visa and this is for trips up to a maximum of 90 days. Schengen visas are issued as single, double, or multiple entry.
3. Long-stay visa – this is for stays over 90 days and is also called an authorization for temporary stays or MVV.
4. Caribbean visa – for travel to other destinations that form part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean, i.e. Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St Eustatius, and St Maarten

These types of visas are then categorized depending on why you wish to travel to the Netherlands. Visas are generally issued for the purposes of:

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

When you apply, it is up to you to choose the correct one. The Embassy will not offer advice with this, so take time to peruse their website for information on the type of visas that are available. This will save you time later and prevent delays.

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Dutch Embassy in Washington DC

The type of visa that you apply for will determine the procedure you follow when applying. Schengen visas are dealt with by VFS Global and long-stay visas are dealt with by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington.

Take some time to check the Embassy’s website pages, so you get an idea on how to apply and the requirements for the particular visa you are applying for. Then, if you follow the steps here one-by-one, you should find the whole process is relatively easy.

Step 1: Complete your application

First, for Schengen visas, in order to complete your application form, you should go to the Embassy’s website:

Scroll down to instructions on what you need to do and click on: “Visa application form”:

You will be directed to the consular services portal. Click on either: “Schengen visa or Caribbean visa”:

On the next screen, the portal gives instructions on how to use the system:

Scroll down and click on: “Start Advisor”:

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

On the next screen, it will tell you whether you need a visa. Click on “Start application”:

Once you have completed your application, print it off as you will need to sign it.

Please note, you can only use this system if your main destination is the Netherlands or if you are transiting through a Dutch airport. If this does not apply to you, you must download the application form for completion.

For long-stay (MVV) visas, you can find the application form by going to the Embassy’s website. Scroll down the page to where it says “Applying for a residence permit and MVV”. Then, expand the overview regarding applying at an embassy or consulate:

You’ll find the MVV issue form link where you can download the application for completion and signing:

Step 2: Make an appointment 

To clarify, all Schengen visa applications will be dealt with by VFS Global and you can submit your application to the visa application center in Washington. If you are applying for this type of visa, you should make your appointment through their website.

Click on “How to Apply” and then scroll down to “schedule an appointment”:

On the next screen, you must log in:

Or, if you are a new user, you should register a new account:

Once you’ve down that, you can make an appointment which is convenient for you to visit VFS Global to submit your Schengen visa application.

If you are applying for a long-stay (MVV) visa, you must make an appointment at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington.

Click on: “Long-stay visa (MVV)”:

Enter your country as the United States:

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

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

Choose the correct option. In this case, you want to schedule an appointment:

Next, select: “Washington”:

Then, choose the right long-stay visa option and continue:

Fill in your personal details and proceed to make your appointment to submit your application to the Embassy in Washington:

At the end of this step, you’ll get a confirmation of your appointment emailed to you. Please take this with you when you attend your appointment.

An important point to remember is, 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, leave plenty of time for a decision to be made on your application well ahead of your trip!

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: Prepare your documents

It’s so important to get this step right! If you present your application to the Embassy or VFS Global with missing information, your application will not be processed and you might have to re-schedule your appointment. There are checklists for documents required on the Embassy’s website, so check these before you begin to prepare your documents.

Documents include:   

1) Visa application form

2) Passport or other travel documents, any previously issued visas with entry/exit stamps. Also, you need previous passports (if applicable). The expiry date of the passport must have at least 3 months left after your trip and issued within the last 10 years. Plus, there must be 2 free pages

3) Proof of residency and valid US residence card or US visa including re-entry to the US

4) Work permit

5) Passport photo not older than 6 months. Please see the guidelines for visa application photographs.

6) Evidence of reason for travel

7) Hotel bookings with full travel itineraries

8) Proof of financial sufficiency – 3 x bank statements

9) Letter from employer confirming the duration and purpose of the trip, the role held, and salary

10) Proof of enrollment in school or university

11) Travel medical insurance valid within the Schengen area. At least €30,000 to cover medical costs, hospital care, emergency treatment, and repatriation

12) Birth and/or marriage certificate

13) Consent of parents with ID for minors

14) Sponsorship evidence and/or proof of participation in events

15) Employment contract, pay slips, invitation letter of host

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: Attend your appointment

When the day of your appointment arrives, you should go to VFS Global or the Embassy of the Netherlands in Washington.

Don’t be late for your appointment. If you are, you may have to make a new appointment, and this will delay things for you.

Please remember ALL your paperwork. You must also provide photocopies of everything as well as submitting original documents. If you forget to do this, it will be looked upon as an incomplete application and you will have to re-schedule.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to dress appropriately as this will make a good impression in front of the visa officials.

When it’s your turn, the staff will review your application and supporting documents. They may interview you if they find it necessary to confirm anything you have stated. They may ask you interview questions like:

1. Is this your first time to the Schengen area?
2. What do you know about the Netherlands?
3. Are you traveling alone?
4. Are you meeting anyone there?
5. What is your salary?

If they ask you anything, just answer the questions sincerely and don’t get annoyed. They are only trying to get full information about your situation in order to make a decision about your visa.

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

Also, as part of the interview, you will pay the correct fee for your visa. This can be paid by Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card (Except, American Express, Discover, or Diners Club). Please note, this visa fee 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 to be stored in the Visa Information System (VIS).

Step 5: Receive your visa

After you have submitted your application, you can track its progress by using VFS Global’s tracking tool. Go to their 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 Embassy in Washington, you can use their tracking system to find out the status of your application. Go to their website and click on: “Check the status of your application”:

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

Key in your unique tracking number and click on: “Submit”:

If a decision has been made on your application, you can return to either VFS Global or the Dutch Embassy in Washington to collect your passport.

Or, you can arrange for your passport to be returned by courier from VFS for which there is an additional charge (see above). To have your passport returned from the Embassy, you will need to provide a pre-paid, self-addressed envelope for it to be sent by UPS, FedEx or DHL. See the Embassy’s website for further mailing instructions.

With any luck, you’ll find your Netherlands visa in your passport, but it could have been rejected for any number of reasons. A few reasons why this might be are:

1. Past criminal actions
2. Your employment and financial status does not match
3. Passport does not have 2 free pages
4. No hotel booking
5. Letter from the employer not on official letterhead
6. Invalid travel insurance

Hopefully, the first rejection reason does not apply to you. Any past criminal actions may cause your application to be denied. Your financial situation must match your employment status and you should be able to prove this with payslips etc. There must be 2 free pages for the visa to be attached, so you must ensure your passport meets the stated requirements. You must also provide everything the visa authority requires to be able to make a decision – hotel bookings, letters on official paper, and your travel insurance should be for the correct amount. It’s a waste of your time and the Embassy’s to present documents that do not comply with the prerequisites.

Contact details for VFS Global in Washington DC

Address: 1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005

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, 9.00 am to 4.00 pm (Application submissions)

Monday to Friday, from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm (Passport collection)

Contact details for the Dutch Embassy in Washington DC

Address: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Email: nid@the-netherlands.org

Telephone: +1 202 244 5300

Fax: +1 202 362 3430

You can contact the Embassy by using their contact form

Hours:

Tuesday to Friday, 8.50 am – 12.30 pm (Consular section)

Tuesday and Thursday, 11.00 am – 12.30 pm (Collection)

Conclusion

There is not a lot to applying for your Netherlands visa. All you need to do is:

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

5 easy steps to follow and if you do so methodically, you’ll soon have your Netherlands visa, so you can start planning for your exciting trip away!

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 Netherlands Consulate in NYC, New York
How To Apply for Netherlands Schengen Visa at Netherlands Consulate in San Francisco, California