In this thread I am going to share my experience of applying for a Schengen visa from the consulate of Italy in Los Angeles as a green card holder with a refugee travel document.
To travel to Italy, contrary to U.S. citizens who can travel to Europe without a visa, green card holders with a refugee travel document will need to apply for a short-term Schengen visa.
The consulate of Italy in Los Angeles does not accept in person walk-ins; therefore, first, you should make an online visa interview appointment. The process of making an appointment with the consulate of Italy is a long and hard process, sometimes impossible. You will need a lot of patience, and super fast internet. Once you have made your appointment via the consulate appointment website, by entering your passport number, address, and a few other bits of information, your unconfirmed appointment shows up in your online account. The link to confirm the appointment opens up from 10 days to the actual date. Make sure to confirm it.
While waiting for the important day, you should prepare your documents and make sure your documents show significant ties to the U.S. A comprehensive list of needed documents plus the fee amount is on the consulate website. You will need a filled out visa form, 3 latest bank statements showing you have the financial means to support yourself, a signed (wet signature) letter from your place of work stating your salary and permission to leave, and a detailed itinerary with hotel and plane ticket bookings for each and every day. In case, you are travelling to more than one schengen area country, you should include transport details between countries, but you do not need transport details within the same country. Make sure your bookings are refundable so that in case you are not granted a visa or your plans change, you can cancel. You will also need a copy of your green card, ID, RTD, and travel insurance plus a money order for the fee. You will also need a self addressed pre-paid envelope for passport return. A USPS express priority envelope is a good and reliable choice. Make sure to keep the tracking number.
The consulate of Italy is on the 14th floor of a building on Wilshire. There is parking inside the building, but it is expensice, almost $17-18 for an hour. It is very hard to find parking in the area though, so I recommend using the parking anyway.
Once you are upstairs, the security guard will check your passport and let you in where you will sit and wait for your turn. I was early to my appointment, but they were accomodating and saw me before my appointment. When one of the officers calls you to the window, she/he will ask you to slide in all of your documents, have copies of everthing ready. Then she will examin them one by one and ask you a couple of questions. If it is your first time applying for schengen, it is recommended to ask for a single entry visa; if your documentation is complete they will grant you multi. Also, it is recommended to apply for a shorter visit, such as 15-20 days, if you are a first timer.
Processing times depend on the time of year. In March, they told me that I would receive my passport in two weeks. They were right! I received it in two weeks with a visa for the exact number of days I had asked for.
Good luck!
To travel to Italy, contrary to U.S. citizens who can travel to Europe without a visa, green card holders with a refugee travel document will need to apply for a short-term Schengen visa.
The consulate of Italy in Los Angeles does not accept in person walk-ins; therefore, first, you should make an online visa interview appointment. The process of making an appointment with the consulate of Italy is a long and hard process, sometimes impossible. You will need a lot of patience, and super fast internet. Once you have made your appointment via the consulate appointment website, by entering your passport number, address, and a few other bits of information, your unconfirmed appointment shows up in your online account. The link to confirm the appointment opens up from 10 days to the actual date. Make sure to confirm it.
While waiting for the important day, you should prepare your documents and make sure your documents show significant ties to the U.S. A comprehensive list of needed documents plus the fee amount is on the consulate website. You will need a filled out visa form, 3 latest bank statements showing you have the financial means to support yourself, a signed (wet signature) letter from your place of work stating your salary and permission to leave, and a detailed itinerary with hotel and plane ticket bookings for each and every day. In case, you are travelling to more than one schengen area country, you should include transport details between countries, but you do not need transport details within the same country. Make sure your bookings are refundable so that in case you are not granted a visa or your plans change, you can cancel. You will also need a copy of your green card, ID, RTD, and travel insurance plus a money order for the fee. You will also need a self addressed pre-paid envelope for passport return. A USPS express priority envelope is a good and reliable choice. Make sure to keep the tracking number.
The consulate of Italy is on the 14th floor of a building on Wilshire. There is parking inside the building, but it is expensice, almost $17-18 for an hour. It is very hard to find parking in the area though, so I recommend using the parking anyway.
Once you are upstairs, the security guard will check your passport and let you in where you will sit and wait for your turn. I was early to my appointment, but they were accomodating and saw me before my appointment. When one of the officers calls you to the window, she/he will ask you to slide in all of your documents, have copies of everthing ready. Then she will examin them one by one and ask you a couple of questions. If it is your first time applying for schengen, it is recommended to ask for a single entry visa; if your documentation is complete they will grant you multi. Also, it is recommended to apply for a shorter visit, such as 15-20 days, if you are a first timer.
Processing times depend on the time of year. In March, they told me that I would receive my passport in two weeks. They were right! I received it in two weeks with a visa for the exact number of days I had asked for.
Good luck!