Like to confirm a couple of things.(1) Is it true then that a girl can get a visa for Germany from a travel agent for 2-300 DOLLARS without booking a tour? If this is the case can you tell me Olga, how long does this take and can you tell me the name of the agent in Moscow and does the girl have to go in person to make the application? (2) Does the same apply in France? My girl has been told that is easier to apply for a French visa but not sure what easier means? Can you check? France or Germany is so much easier than Turkey or Cyprus so this is important information. One final thing; are Tenerife and Gran Canaria part of the Schengen treaty and do you happen to know the visa situation for Russian citizens on those islands? Thanks Olga
(1)-money can do everything here.I dont know what travel agent she is using. May be they can do it for her, I dont know. From the info I got from a local travel agency: one can get a visa to Germany without a tour, but in this case a special invitation is required from german citizen. Sometimes if the applicant looks suspicious the embassy can require a personal interview. If no private invitation-only tour.
I cant give you any names of agents in Moscow, just because we are not dealing with anybody there.
(2)-for France one applies for Schengen visa too. Application can be filed via travel agency. It takes like a week and she will need to book a tour for sure.
France or Germany -there is absolutely no difference, as far as I know France is even more complicated. As I already told, much depends on the age of the girl, her financial status. If she is a student she will have to provide a paper from sponsor, if she works she will have to provide a statement from her work that she gets around 400-500$ per month. The younger she is-the more is the possibility that the application will be declined.
Turkey or Cyprus dont requre any visas for Russian citizens at all, so thats the easiest option.
Tenerife and Gran Canaria -they are a part of Spain.So one needs a Schengen visa to go there. Sanish visa. The requirements are same as for France- booked tour, evidence of a good salary. This year spanish embassy declined many women visa applications,mainly those were from young girls.
So of you want to save time and have no problems, just go to Turkey or Cyprus or Egypt.
Here are the e-mails, phone numbers of the embassies of schengen treaty countries based in Moscow. I guess visa departments of those counries will give you more accurate information
http://www.shengen.ru/info.html