THE BIRTH OF THE SCHENGEN AREA

Since the formation of the European Economic Community following WWII, the free movement of persons was a core part of the European project. From the beginning, citizens of EEC member states could travel visa-free from one-member state to another with only a passport or national ID card.

Nevertheless, it was still a headache to travel around Europe.

Nationals of EEC member states were still subjected to systematic identity controls at a vast network of patrolled borders. And it was even worse for tourists. Many folks who wished to travel to Europe would have to obtain travel visas for every country they planned to visit. I can just imagine the piles of paperwork (and anxiety feeling that comes with it, for me at least), visa fees and other expenses kept a lot of people from even thinking of traveling to Europe.

On June 14, 1985, the breakthrough came when five of the ten members of the EU at the time decided to make an agreement of their own in order to bypass the UK, which was vehemently against opening up its borders. Leaders of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands met on a boat near Schengen, Luxembourg (where the territories of France, Germany, and Luxembourg meet) and signed the Schengen Agreement, while eating cheese and waffles and drinking Bordeaux wine. Or, at least, that is how I picture it.

At the time of creation, only seven EU countries were involved in the intergovernmental initiative. With time, however, more and more EU member states signed the Schengen Agreement. Eventually, a consensus was reached and the policies of the Schengen Area were incorporated into the procedures of the European Union. The agreement is no longer considered an external treaty and all amendments are now made according to the legislative procedures for EU treaties.

All participating states are required to remove any obstacles impeding the free movement of people and goods at internal borders. Since implementation, border posts have been closed, border traffic has been eliminated, and even though air carriers are still allowed to perform security controls, for all intents and purposes, Europe is now a single zone that can be traveled end to end without restriction, a fact I can personally attest to.

If you want to know the details, please visit:   https://www.schengenvisaitinerary.com/

5 Benefits of Booking Your Travel Insurance in Advance

Travel insurance policies prove to be of benefit when you are travelling overseas. Schengen countries also mandate a valid travel insurance policy before you are allowed to travel to such countries.

Besides providing a comprehensive cover against medical costs, travel insurance in India and abroad also covers other travel-related contingencies which incur financial loss. However, when people tend to buy travel insurance online, they might delay the purchase till the very end. This is wrong. Ideally, you should invest in travel insurance policies well in advance after you book your trip. Do you know why?

The reasons why Advance booking of Travel Insurance is Beneficial –

1. You get coverage against trip cancellations

Despite carefully planning for your trip, there are certain instances which might force you to cancel the trip altogether. For instance, if a fellow family member falls severely ill, you might have to cancel your trip. When the trip is cancelled, you lose the money which you have already spent on booking tickets in advance and for making hotel reservations. However, if you have invested in a travel insurance policy, the policy would pay for trip cancellations. The coverage would be available only if the policy has been purchased in advance. If you buy a policy when you are already thinking about cancelling the trip, coverage would not be available.

2. You can get coverage against illnesses which happen after buying the policy

Travel insurance in India and abroad usually does not cover medical complications which arise out of pre-existing illnesses. However, if the illness happens after buying the policy, coverage is allowed. If you buy travel insurance onlinein advance and thereafter face an illness, such illness would be covered if it becomes chronic and requires hospitalization when you travel. If you delay buying the policy and develop an illness before taking the journey, the said illness would be excluded from the scope of coverage.

3. You have time to modify the coverage if required

Travel insurance policies allow modifications. After you buy a policy and feel that a particular add-on would be suitable for enhancing the coverage, you can choose the add-on later on by paying an additional premium. Moreover, any other modifications which you think suitable can be done easily when you buy a policy in advance. If you buy the policy last minute you wouldn’t have time to reconsider the coverage features and modify the coverage even if you want.

4. You eliminate the possibility of not buying the cover altogether

When you delay buying travel insurance to the last possible minute you might end up forgetting to buy the cover at all. When the due date draws near, you are more excited about taking the trip and in all your excitement you might forget investing in a travel insurance plan. As a result, you might take the trip without any coverage and face financial difficulties in case of contingencies. Thus, to avoid forgetting about the cover, buying the plan in advance is better.

5. You can shop around

Do you know how many travel insurance policies are available in the market? There are more than a dozen and each plan offers something better than the other. To buy the best policy you should compare the different plans and then choose the best. To compare, shopping around is required. When you buy travel insurance in advance you have time to shop around and compare different plans. You can utilize the time to choose the perfect plan for your trip and enjoy a good coverage.

Taking the above-mentioned benefits in consideration, investing in a travel insurance plan in advance is always the best bet. In fact, you should book a travel insurance plan right after you book your air tickets and hotel accommodations.

What are the requirements for entry into the Schengen Countries?

Visas Are required to enter the Schengen Area:

U.S. citizens with valid passports intending to travel within the Schengen Area for three months or less can apply to enter without a visa. Otherwise, travelers may need to apply for a Schengen short stay visa, which allows the holder to travel within the Schengen Area for no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

 The requirements for entry into the Schengen Countries:

•           A valid passport, issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months (recommended 6 months) beyond the traveler’s intended departure date from the Schengen Area.

•           Any applicable visas and supporting documents.

•           Proof of adequate financial resources for the duration of the stay, and any relevant information regarding travel and accommodations in that time.

•           Short stay visa applicants must hold travel insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation (known as Schengen Visa Insurance).

Some Schengen countries have additional entry requirements. Travelers are advised to contact the embassy of the Schengen Country(s) they intend to visit to determine what applications to file and to obtain the full entry requirement list, including travel insurance requirements.

Applications must be submitted between 15 days and three months before the start of the intended journey. Typically, decisions regarding the visa application are reached within 15 days, but in some cases, this may be extended to 30 or 60 days. When planning a trip, travelers are advised to submit applications well in advance and consider trip protections to safeguard against delays in application processing.

Possession of a valid passport or short stay visa does not guarantee entry into the Schengen Area. Travelers should always carry copies of documents related to their stay and take care to understand the entry requirements specific to their trip. It is also wise to carry trip protection in the event of border delays and travel interruptions.

We offer a variety of travel insurance plans that will meet Schengen visa requirements. Simply enter your trip details into our quote form to view available quotes. Then choose a plan that meets the minimum coverage levels for the medical, hospitalization and repatriation benefits as mandated by the country that you are visiting.

What must be the coverage of a valid Schengen travel insurance? What are the advantages of having a travel insurance?

Schengen embassies do have a minimum coverage requirement for a travel insurance to be considered valid for travel. Here are the minimum coverage requirements for the Schengen travel insurance:

·         A medical coverage of at least €30,000 or no less than $50,000

·         A validity period that covers the entire duration of stay within the Schengen area

·         A repatriation coverage for medical emergencies or death

These required coverages are really very basic which is probably one of the reasons why travellers do not see purchasing a travel insurance as a good enough investment. However, since this is a requirement, there is no other choice but to get one. On the contrary, many travel insurance providershave thought of giving better travel insurance coverage for the same fee. Doing this gives insurance providers better edge over competing providers as well as more options for travellers.

Here are some upgrades to the basic Schengen travel insurance coverage:

·         Full or partial refund of a cancelled trip due to natural causes or medical emergencies

·         Allowance for an interrupted trip due to natural causes or medical emergencies

·         Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit

·         Lost or stolen luggage benefit

·         Damaged personal property or travel documents benefit

·         Act of terrorism benefit

These are just some of the travel insurance coverage upgrades. There may be more or less depending on the insurance provider you choose. To get a better quotation, better check the Schengen Travel Insurance, an online insurance provider that can give you a quick quotation.

What are the advantages of having a travel insurance?

There are many advantages of having a travel insurance, especially when you are visiting a highly developed country with a high cost of living. TheSchengen area is definitely counted as a highly developed area and the cost of living in any of the member countries are very high. This means that getting sick while in transit or while vacationing within the Schengen area will cost a lot of money. That is if you are not insured. This is also the reason why the Schengen group decided to make a travel insurance rule to Schengen tourist visa applicants. It is not to give travellers a harder time or a dearer travel expense but to protect them from a potentially high medical expense if in case a medical emergency occurs while within the Schengen area.

Apart from the obvious medical coverage benefit, another advantage of getting an upgraded travel insurance is having a safety net in case of theft, misplaced or broken luggage, or worse trip interruption. All of this cost extra pocket money but if you are insured, all these extra expenses will be covered by your insurance provider. See how important it is to be insured?

Schengen Travel Insurance Coverage – Get One Now!

Now that you know the benefits of being insured, you may let go of any doubts and worries about getting one. Should you have any more questions about your trip or the travel insurance coverage, just contact us and one of our friendly agents will respond to your queries.

Do I need travel insurance for my overseas holiday?

In order to get an approved Schengen visa, all applicants are required to get the correct Schengentravel insurance coverage. According to the Schengen visa rule enacted in 2010, all uniform visa applicants must prove possession of adequate and active travel medical insurance. This valid travel medical insurance must cover any expenses connected to medical emergencies that require hospitalization, urgent treatment, and/or repatriation while staying within the Schengen area.

Despite the clarity and directness of this Schengen visa rule, many still ask whether having a travel insurance is an option or not. To avoid any confusion or errors while applying for a Schengen visa, this article shall discuss the different facets of the Schengen travel insurance coverage. Expect that after reading this article, you will be enlightened of the many advantages of having travel insurance as well as the coverage of such an insurance.

Before proceeding to the Schengen travel insurance coverage, here are the other equally important requirementsto get an approved Schengen tourist visa What is a Tourist Schengen Visa?

Tourist Schengen Visa – Traveling to Europe for Tourism. A Tourist Schengen Visa permits third-country nationals enter into the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within a 6-month period, under the purpose of traveling or visiting Europe for pleasure.

·                     Valid passport and copies of the front and back pages

·                     Current passport-sized photos with white background

·                     Completed Schengen Visa application form

·                     Proof of travel such as flight booking, travel itinerary, and hotel booking – You      may get a Flight Booking for Visa and Hotel Reservation for Visa just for your visa application without having to pay for the airfare or hotel booking.

·                     Travel Insurance – It is better to acquirethis from Schengen Travel Insurance, an affordable and reliable insurance company.

·                     Personal Coverage Letter

·                     Bank Documents

·                     For employed travellers, a No Objection Letter is highly recommended

Tips for a Schengen Visa Successful Application

For applicants from African and Asian countries, the process of applying and getting a visa can be quite stressful. In the last couple of years, I have been through pretty much every type of visa process for Europe. I’ve applied for a Schengen student visa, two Schengen tourist visas, a national long-term visa and a working permit. I’ve also spent considerable time hosting friends and family and hence these tips might be of use to you, particularly if your citizenship requires a visa to travel to the Schengen region.

•           Apply to the embassy of the country where you will be spending maximum time in. Not the country where you think you would like to apply.

•           Give yourself enough time between your visa appointment and the date of departure. Keep at least six weeks, so that in case you do not hear a response or get rejected, you have enough time to repeal the decision.

•           Make sure all your documents are as detailed as possible. Assuming that a half formal looking document will work is not advisable. Get a stamp, a signature, an affidavit, whatever it may need to complete your formal documents, especially related to your job or university.

•           The cover letter you submit shouldbe more than just listing your itinerary. Think of your cover letter as a job cover letter. You need to explain how your background; your current status and your “purpose” of visiting Europe is only travel. It doesn’t need to be formal and can be written in a person manner.

•           Be sure to provide a strong reason for you to return to your home country. More often than not, this is a reason for immediate rejection. If you are unemployed or in-between jobs, you should clearly outline your future plan and how you plan to fund your travels. The reason could also be that you reside with your family and they rely on you for moral support.

•           If you are required to have a visa interview prepare a thorough list of questions and supporting documents that you may be asked. Needless to say, do not lie.

It isbest to prepare for the visa process well in advance and have a significanttime to re-apply if things really don’t work around the first time, although if you are thorough with the above-mentioned tips, there is no reason why you shouldn’t get your visa easily.

What to do if you get rejected: Schengen Visa Remonstrance Process

No one wants to receive a letter that says, “REJECTED”. But it happens more often than not.

The first time my sister visited me in Europe, her Schengen visa got rejected too. Shit happens.

You still have hope. The hope is something called the “remonstrance process’ which is something impossible to find information for.

It’s like this top-secret process that apparently no one wants to talk about.

Take a deep breath. And do what I tell you-

Step 1: Find the local embassy or consulate contact to see what their contact email is.

Make sure you find the embassy that rejected you. This means you have to write the local embassy (such as New Delhi embassy/Bangkok embassy, etc.) that finally checked your visa application. Not the VFS centre that merely “processed” the application.

Step 2: Write an email at this address with a hand-signed letter explaining why you should get this visa.

Think of this as a second cover letter. For Indian passport holders or other developing countries, visa rejections most often have the following reason->>> No guarantee that you will come back to India.

Unless a major document was missing, you can be assured this was most likely the reason you got rejected. Sometimes the embassy will tick a reason why they rejected your visa, but due to the overload of applications, they sometimes give no reason at all. This can be incredibly FRUSTRATING.

Anyway, once you have collected extra information and written the letter and signed it off by hand, scan a copy and send it via your personal email (which you used in the application) and send it to the local embassy.

Step 3: Prepare for a call back.

If you’re lucky you will get a call or an email back setting up a face to face appointment either for an interview or to resubmit missing documents.  Thisof this as a visa interview, and if you pass, you will get your visa stamped onthe same day or next day!

This process happened to my sister and within a week of her visa being rejected, she was given hers.

Now, how the hell do you figure out what to write in this remonstrance letter? Here’s the exact sample that I sent: