Family Involvement In Relationships

[not so old china hand]

6 hours ago, Methersgate said:

Thanks. Yes, I can comment on the UK and I think other European countries are very similar.

The situation may have changed recently, however as at 2012, the French Embassy in Beijing would issue a one year Schengen visa to the wife of an EU citizen with very little hassle and free-of-charge. On the other hand when an unmarried Filipina friend of mine applied for both a UK visa and a French Schengen visa she found the British visa far less trouble to get both in terms of time and the supporting documents required  (like K's friend she had a good job to return to).

[Maxheadspace]

On 11/24/2016 at 11:46 PM, not so old china hand said:

The situation may have changed recently, however as at 2012, the French Embassy in Beijing would issue a one year Schengen visa to the wife of an EU citizen with very little hassle and free-of-charge. On the other hand when an unmarried Filipina friend of mine applied for both a UK visa and a French Schengen visa she found the British visa far less trouble to get both in terms of time and the supporting documents required  (like K's friend she had a good job to return to).

My wife got a French Schengen visa last fall without hardly a question.  However, she applied in the US, has a job and Green Card.  As was mentioned before, it all boils down to what ties you back (and brings you back) to your place of residence.  I had some language training a while back and there were some consular officers from the State Department in my class.  I heard a lot of bizarre, entertaining stories, but the bottom line always came back to the probability that they would leave and go home when they were supposed to.

Edited June 30, 2017 by Maxheadspace

[OnMyWay]

This popped up again and I realized I had not updated.

I don't see much on FB but they are still together.  He sent flowers on her B-day a few days ago and she posted that.  My wife said he planning another visit soon.