When she just doesn't get it

[kievstar]

I have taken the train may times from Paris to Brussels and Brussels to Amsterdam.  They rarely check train tickets even when your on the train unless your in first class and they only check to see you bought a ticket. To buy a train ticket very easy to do and do not need passport or ID.

[Aloe]

I have taken the train may times from Paris to Brussels and Brussels to Amsterdam.  They rarely check train tickets even when your on the train unless your in first class and they only check to see you bought a ticket. To buy a train ticket very easy to do and do not need passport or ID.

i was in first class, with youth discount it was 1/3rd cheaper than last minute 2nd class seats

[kievstar]

Aloe, you did not go from Paris to Amsterdam you stopped in Brussels.  Which train where you on Thaly's or another?  If you went from Paris to Amsterdam you would have been checked once.  Did you have your ticket out and they saw you had it.  I used to sleep on the train and kept the ticket out.  They would glance at it from a distance and move on. Was your husband with you or did he meet you in Brussels?

I have never been checked on any train in country of Belgium but often in other countries.  I rode the metro in Brussels area never buying a ticket for almost two years.  Reason for not for buying a ticket was no one else did either. 

[SANDRO43]

they only check to see you bought a ticket.

That's why I asked.

To buy a train ticket very easy to do and do not need passport or ID.

As anywhere else in the West, IINM.

I rode the metro in Brussels area never buying a ticket for almost two years.  Reason for not for buying a ticket was no one else did either. 

No turnstiles in the Brussels metro?

Don't know now, but in 1971 one was often asked to show the ticket on the way OUT of London's Underground stations - presumably because tickets there have different prices depending on itinerary. In the 1980s I was surprised to discover that the Paris Metro had 1st and 2nd-class carriages, and therefore different prices for identical travel. Another Parisian Metro feature was rubber rims on their carriage wheels, which made for a much quieter ride.

[CanadaMan]

I got a 2 month valid, up to 30 day stay, multiple entry schengen visa from the french embassy, in a brand new, absolutely clean passport, i recommend french visa to everyone   Got it 1 day after submitting my papers too.
At the border they only looked at the visa, e-ticket home and said enjoy your stay
I did everything like this website tells you, even sort papers in a specific order, they have detailed instructions and forums for all countries http://archive.travel.ru/france/formalities/visas/

Speaking about checking...

When you leave Russia to go to Europe on a Schengen visa, do the Russian border officials check to see you have 50 Euro/day for your trip in Europe?

This is important for us.

[OlgaH]

Speaking about checking...

When you leave Russia to go to Europe on a Schengen visa, do the Russian border officials check to see you have 50 Euro/day for your trip in Europe?

This is important for us.

CanadaMan , it is duty of the Schengen border police to check.

Google translation (Consulate General of The Republic of Poland in Kaliningrad)
 Schengen - Questions and Answers

"Conditions of entry are checked again at the external border (land, sea or airport) member countries. If the border police decides that a person who has a visa does not fulfill the conditions of entry (for example, lacks the necessary funds to cover the cost of the stay) it will be refused entry, even if a visa in his passport."
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.kaliningradkg.polemb.net/index.php%3Fdocument%3D143&ei=rGVwS4CJDIuVtgfXjZCKBg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CDoQ7gEwCQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%25D1%2588%25D0%25B5%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B3%25D0%25B5%25D0%25BD%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0%25D1%258F%2B%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B7%25D0%25B0%2B%25D0%25BF%25D1%2580%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B5%25D1%2580%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0%2B%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B0%2B%25D0%25B3%25D1%2580%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B8%25D1%2586%25D0%25B5%26hl%3Den

In Russian
http://www.kaliningradkg.polemb.net/index.php?document=143

8. Can entry be refused even with a valid visa?
The conditions of entry are checked a second time when the person presents him/herself at the external border (land, sea or airport) of the Member States. If the border police decides that a person holding a visa does not fulfil the conditions of entry (for example: the person does not have the necessary means of subsistence for the duration of their stay), they will be refused entry, even if they have a visa in their passport.
http://ec.europa.eu/delegations/ukraine/travel_to_eu/visa/index_en.htm

[CanadaMan]

CanadaMan , it is duty of the Schengen border police to check.

Google translation (Consulate General of The Republic of Poland in Kaliningrad)
 Schengen - Questions and Answers

"Conditions of entry are checked again at the external border (land, sea or airport) member countries. If the border police decides that a person who has a visa does not fulfill the conditions of entry (for example, lacks the necessary funds to cover the cost of the stay) it will be refused entry, even if a visa in his passport."

Thanks Olga. The funds will be shipped out shortly.
Just one question. They talk about being refused entry.
Is this checking done when leaving Russia, or entering a Schengen country?
Or possibly twice?

[OlgaH]

Russians usually check only visa validity.

[RussianWind]

Just curious, how do they find out?

Sorry I was not clear enough. She did two separate trips, so stamps showed it.

Canadaman, just on the contrary Russians check if we have not too big sums with us

($3000 without declaration)

[OlgaH]

CanadaMan , she also will need a medical insurance with coverage not less than €30,000. About an insurance company she better to check with an embassy or consulate. She will need to give a bank account statement and a statement regarding her job position, salary and length of service. Her salary and length of service should conform to the sum of money she has in the bank.

[CanadaMan]

CanadaMan , she also will need a medical insurance with coverage not less than €30,000. About an insurance company she better to check with an embassy or consulate. She will need to give a bank account statement and a statement regarding her job position, salary and length of service. Her salary and length of service should conform to the sum of money she has in the bank.

Thanks Olga. Now this is the very first post in this thread that has informed me that getting a Schengen visa is not such a piece of cake as I had been led to believe.
Bank account statements, salary, length of service is no small deal for someone like my GF who earns a feeble income and has basically ziltch in her bank account.

[ECOCKS]

Schengen applications can and do get refused.

It happens, so anyone who guarantees it will go through is blowing smoke, IMO. The best I am aware that an agency can do [legally] is work on a best efforts basis and refund your money if denied.

I found the agency's value to be convenience rather than "fixing" it for my wife. After she received he schengen into the Czech Republic, we used them for trips to Poland and Bulgaria only due to keeping my wife from having to go and stand in line with forms and itineraries.

[CanadaMan]

Schengen applications can and do get refused.

It happens, so anyone who guarantees it will go through is blowing smoke, IMO. The best I am aware that an agency can do [legally] is work on a best efforts basis and refund your money if denied.

I found the agency's value to be convenience rather than "fixing" it for my wife....

Thanks Ecocks for the straight goods on this one.
I know we are paying a premium for the agent's services.
At first, before knowing more, I thought using an agent would be the only way to get the Schengen.

Now I know you can do it on your own too for our situation.
But as you mentioned, it's not worth the hassles for us too at this point.
I'll just keep my fingers crossed that we get it. We'll know by next week.

[Ronnie]

Because you were already WITHIN the UE. But didn't they check your train ticket ?

I can attest.  On my ride from Termini station to Civitavecchia nobody checked our carriage for tickets.

[Floriana]

Thanks Olga. Now this is the very first post in this thread that has informed me that getting a Schengen visa is not such a piece of cake as I had been led to believe.
Bank account statements, salary, length of service is no small deal for someone like my GF who earns a feeble income and has basically ziltch in her bank account.

It's very difficult for a single Ukrainian woman to get a Schengen visa (Russians probably face similar difficulties). They are mainly suspected of intentions to immigrate.

[Shadow]

It's very difficult for a single Ukrainian woman to get a Schengen visa (Russians probably face similar difficulties). They are mainly suspected of intentions to immigrate.

I have noticed that a lot of people do manage. However it is difficult to get visa if they notice you are making a trip outside of tourist areas, without having your own financial means or reason to return.

[CanadaMan]

I have noticed that a lot of people do manage. However it is difficult to get visa if they notice you are making a trip outside of tourist areas, without having your own financial means or reason to return.

What happens to all your money (hotel reservation, plane) if your visa is turned down, assuming you use a travel agent to take care of everything?
For example, the agent has already said that the hotel cannot be changed without losing all of the money?

[Shadow]

What happens to all your money (hotel reservation, plane) if your visa is turned down, assuming you use a travel agent to take care of everything?
For example, the agent has already said that the hotel cannot be changed without losing all of the money?

Get a travel agent that does allow. It will be more expensive, but in case of not getting the visa it will cost a lot less.

[kievstar]

Single women who are older it is easier to get a visa.  Some of the people on this board do have wives or girlfriends over 30 years old and have children.

[RussianWind]

What happens to all your money (hotel reservation, plane) if your visa is turned down, assuming you use a travel agent to take care of everything?
For example, the agent has already said that the hotel cannot be changed without losing all of the money?

Don't get nervous, she will get her visa. She is not 20 y.o. and just returned from the DR. If she can afford travelling to the DR, why shouldn't she afford a trip to Europe.

There is a question in the application form "Which countries did you visit during last 5 years"

 

[CanadaMan]

Don't get nervous, she will get her visa. She is not 20 y.o. and just returned from the DR. If she can afford travelling to the DR, why shouldn't she afford a trip to Europe....

 Thanks RW I will try to be calm for the next few days then. 

[RussianWind]

Thanks RW I will try to be calm for the next few days then. 

Yes, calm down. It was my post #666, she should be ok 

So which country have you chosen?

[Seeker]

Yes, calm down. It was my post #666, she should be ok 

I noticed... and wasn't going to say anything....   

[CanadaMan]

Yes, calm down. It was my post #666, she should be ok 

So which country have you chosen?

We have chosen the south of Spain, temps in the high teens.
Is 666 a lucky number in Russia? 

[UTRO]

We have chosen the south of Spain, temps in the high teens.
Is 666 a lucky number in Russia? 

When is the trip Rick? Spain is best from mid May to mid September.