tourist visa for european country

[Bill and Linda]

Well, it has been roughly 4+ years since I was last on the forum. I moved permanently to Chengdu in March 2008 and married my sweetheart, Linda. We have been living the good life and I appreciate all the help I rec'd from CFL.

 

To get to the point of my current post.... I have a Chinese friend who has traveled to France and Italy in the past (2011), but it was with a group tour. The tour group, of course, handled the visa process. My friend wants to make another trip to Europe, but not with a tour group (she wants to stay for a month or more). She is afraid she will not be able to get the visa on her own. I told her I would try to find out which European country had the least stringent visa review, because it is my understanding that most all European countries allow movement from one to another without the need to get individual visas. Any information the members can provide will be much appreciated.

 

My sincere apologies for bringing up something that does not fit in CFL's bailiwick, but I really did not know where to start.

 

Bill and Linda

[dnoblett]

Most European countries share a visa called the Shengen visa, you apply for it at the country's consulate of the country where will first land in Europe.

 

http://www.eurovisa.info/

http://www.schengenvisa.cc/

 

UK, Ireland, and several other countries are not part of this, so would need additional visas to visit those countries, can be applied for in Europe.

 

One reason my wife became a US citizen is for ease of travel without having to get visas for many places, however she now needs one to visit home.

Edited January 21, 2012 by dnoblett (see edit history)

[Bill and Linda]

Thanks Dan, I'll check that out.