Traveling for Science: How and where to apply for Schengen visa in the Philippines

Most of the time, visa applications are done in embassies. For Schengen visa application, especially if you will be mainly staying in the Netherlands, Poland, or Latvia, your application will be processed by an application center. In the Philippines, Schengen visa application for these countries are outsourced to VFS Global (VFS stands for Visa Facilitation Services). 

VFS Global application center is located in Makati city. Their full address is: 

Ecoplaza Building, Mezzanine Floor

Don Chino Roces Ave, Extension, Makati

1231 Kalakhang Maynila, Philippines

● Schedule an appointment

Before going to VFS Global, you need to schedule an appointment online. You can visit the following link to schedule your appointment:

https://row1.vfsglobal.com/GlobalAppointment/Account/RegisteredLogin

● Prepare for the appointment

When your appointment has been set, make sure to print out your appointment letter. This is emailed to you right after you have scheduled online. This letter will be checked by a personnel at VFS Global before allowing you to enter the building.

Before going to your appointment, make sure that you have all the necessary documents. For a guide on what documents  to prepare for visa application, please click this link: 
https://theladyinthelab.blogspot.com/2019/06/traveling-for-science-documents-for.html

If you need to fly to your appointment, it is best to be in Manila at least a day before your appointment. Flights can be delayed or worst, canceled.

● Application process

On the day of your appointment, you need to be at the application center at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time. Applicants are allowed to enter by batch. Batches are determined by appointment time.

When inside the application center, you will be allowed to use a locker to store items you don't need during the application. Locker fee is Php 50. All you need to bring with you are the documents to be submitted, your phone (in silent mode), and wallet.

Inside the application center, you will be guided to the lobby where your documents will be checked. Make sure that your photo is not glued to your application form. If you have glued your photo to your application form, it will be removed by the personnel checking your documents.

After checking your documents, the personnel will give you a priority number. You will also be asked if you want to avail of their logistics and sms services. The logistics service will deliver your processed passport through a courier. The sms service will send notifications to your phone about the status of your application. If you avail of these services, the personnel will give you forms to fill up. In these forms, you will print your personal details necessary for the services.

After checking your documents, you will be guided through another room, and you will wait for your number to be called. Once called, you submit your documents to another personnel. The personnel will assess your documents. You will be asked a few basic questions, i.e. what is the purpose of your travel.

If there are problems with any of your documents, you will be given an hour to rectify the problem. If your problem is not solved after an hour, you have two options: (1) schedule another appointment, (2) avail of their VIP lounge. The VIP lounge will cost Php 2,000.

If you don't have problems with your documents, they will be forwarded to another personnel and you will be asked to pay the fees. The fees are as follows:

• visa processing fee: Php 3,570 (business, non-orange carpet)
• logistics and sms services: Php 2,170 (this is for provincial address)

After paying the fees, you will be called into another room where your fingerprints will be collected. After that, you can collect your belongings from the locker room, and your done!

Now, all you have to do is wait for your visa. The personnel from the application center will tell you that it will take 15 calendar days to process your application. However, if you have submitted complete and correct documents, it may take less than 15 days.

I hope this has been helpful, especially for students applying for visa to do academic research abroad.

Travel and learn!!