anywhere visa free?
Apr 29th, 2004 | 08:08 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13
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anywhere visa free?
i would like some help please,i live in u.k.and my girlfriend is coming over from canada (3 wks.time),and i would like to take her to paris but because her passport is jamaican she need`s a visa (and there is not enough time for her to get one),is there anyway round this or is there somewhere else in europe we can go without her requiring a visa? we would only want to stay 3/4nts at our destination. thanx jezza.
Apr 29th, 2004 | 08:59 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
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Kate,
I think the problem here is that in most cases you have to apply for visa in the country of your citizenship.
It would still be possible, but costly. What she would need to do is to contact the French consulate in Jamaica or another countries consulate that the French government uses in case it does not have it's own and ask them what the best procedure is for expedited service. It will probably have to be overnighted both ways and we really don't know how strict the procedure is for Jamaican citizens to get a visa for France.
To answer the OP, no there is no other way, no shortcut, other than what I described above. I can't think of another European country outside of UK that would not require visa for Jamaicans.
Good luck.
I think the problem here is that in most cases you have to apply for visa in the country of your citizenship.
It would still be possible, but costly. What she would need to do is to contact the French consulate in Jamaica or another countries consulate that the French government uses in case it does not have it's own and ask them what the best procedure is for expedited service. It will probably have to be overnighted both ways and we really don't know how strict the procedure is for Jamaican citizens to get a visa for France.
To answer the OP, no there is no other way, no shortcut, other than what I described above. I can't think of another European country outside of UK that would not require visa for Jamaicans.
Good luck.
Apr 29th, 2004 | 10:37 AM
#6
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
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The reason countries impose visas on other countries is often that they really don't want visitors of that nationality, because there's a high raste of overstaying.
In those cases, asking for a request to be processed quickly, unless you've got clear evidence of some real urgency (like a parent dying) will merely make them more suspicious. Presumably the French Embassy in Canada has told your girlfriend it'll take more than three weeks.
Four suggestions - and Ireland does require visas from Jamaicans (www.irelandemb.org/howto.html), even if they have a UK visa, though if you travel across the land border they don't check
1. Presumably your girlfriend has a UK visa on her Jamaican passport. Try phoning the French embassy in London and see how quickly they might process it in London. They, after all, are used to processing applications from UK-resident Jamaicans who have absolutely no intention of overstaying their visa in France. This would not be the case in Kingston, where the blunt truth is that they start off on the assumption that ALL Jamaicans want to stay in France forever.
2. Phone the Jamaican High Commission in London and ask their advice. She can't be the first Jamaican in London who wanted a quick trip to the Continent.
3. If Ireland and France (ie all Schengen) are out, you're left with Switzerland and the relatively close Central European countries like Poland and Czech which might be possibilities. Trawl through their Home Office web sites.
4. If all else fails, there's always the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Different-looking banknotes, their own stamps, no immigration officials. Feels kind of foreign.
In those cases, asking for a request to be processed quickly, unless you've got clear evidence of some real urgency (like a parent dying) will merely make them more suspicious. Presumably the French Embassy in Canada has told your girlfriend it'll take more than three weeks.
Four suggestions - and Ireland does require visas from Jamaicans (www.irelandemb.org/howto.html), even if they have a UK visa, though if you travel across the land border they don't check
1. Presumably your girlfriend has a UK visa on her Jamaican passport. Try phoning the French embassy in London and see how quickly they might process it in London. They, after all, are used to processing applications from UK-resident Jamaicans who have absolutely no intention of overstaying their visa in France. This would not be the case in Kingston, where the blunt truth is that they start off on the assumption that ALL Jamaicans want to stay in France forever.
2. Phone the Jamaican High Commission in London and ask their advice. She can't be the first Jamaican in London who wanted a quick trip to the Continent.
3. If Ireland and France (ie all Schengen) are out, you're left with Switzerland and the relatively close Central European countries like Poland and Czech which might be possibilities. Trawl through their Home Office web sites.
4. If all else fails, there's always the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Different-looking banknotes, their own stamps, no immigration officials. Feels kind of foreign.
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Apr 30th, 2004 | 12:49 AM
#8
Joined: Aug 2003
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jezza, perhaps next time you could write to us in the English language, which is widely accepted. That would be very helpful. We don't all communicate in mobile phone language. Hard ask, I know, but if you work at it you'll get there.
May 1st, 2004 | 05:36 AM
#9
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2004
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"well i dont believe it"
thank`s to victor meldrew for your suggestion. now here`s one for you perhaps you might like to try trainspotting or some other such pastime that get you out of the house more.thereby leaving the rest of us free to use this sight for the purpose it serves providing useful travel information.
thank`s to victor meldrew for your suggestion. now here`s one for you perhaps you might like to try trainspotting or some other such pastime that get you out of the house more.thereby leaving the rest of us free to use this sight for the purpose it serves providing useful travel information.
May 15th, 2004 | 09:14 AM
#12
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5
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Jezza, I am in a similar pickle and would love to hear how things turned out. I am Jamaican residing in America as a permanent resident. I am heading to England and thought I would be able to get a visa to visit the continent in a couple of days. Please help.
