Introduction
Visa applications are submitted in the Austria Embassy in Washington DC, Austria Consulate General in New York, and Austria Consulate General in Los Angeles.
Austria at a glance
Spread over an area of 83787 square kilometers, Austria inhabits 88 million people.
Australia is the successor mighty Austro-Hungary Empire. The country has one of the highest per capita income in the world. The country shares borders with Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, and Liechtenstein.
Austria is also part of the Schengen Area.
Jurisdiction of Austria Consulate General in New York
Important! You can only apply at the VFS Application Centers if you reside in the consular jurisdiction of the Austria Consulate General in New York:
Bermudas, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
General Information
Like all other signatories to the Schengen Area, all visa applicants are required to submit biometric data in their personal capacity. The data is stored in the Visa Information System (VIS). It remains valid for a period of six months.
The general rule for US citizens remains the same i-e if you are a permanent citizen, you do not require a visa for a short-stay visa but if the task is to stay for over a period of 90 days, then you will apply for visa Austria Consulate General New York.
Likewise, those applicants who are in possession of US Alien Passports, need to apply for the visa to enter the Austrian territory.
Types of visas
The authorities concerned have classified the Austrian visa into the following types:
Airport Transit Visa (Visa A)
A transit visa is required when the itinerant transits through international parts of the airport. It depends upon itinerant’s nationality whether he requires a transit visa or not.
Travel Visa (Visa C)
If the itinerant is planning a trip not exceeding 90 days, then he will apply for Visa C. It is also called as Austria Schengen Visa. It is pertinent here to mention that Visa C does not tantamount to work permit.
You should remember that in order to apply for an Austrian Schengen visa at Austria Consulate General in New York, your main destination has to be Austria.
Austrian National Visa (Visa D)
You will apply for Visa D or Austria Residence Permit if the duration of planned visit in Austria surpasses 90-day limit.
Visa application process at Austria Consulate General in New York
Follow these simple steps to acquire a visa from Austria Consulate General in New York:
Step 1
Click on the website for Austria Consulate General in New York and then on Services for Citizens.
It will display a number of sub-headings. You will select ‘US Residents Going to Austria’.
Step 2
The criteria for the Austria Schengen Visa has been discussed in the aforementioned paragraphs in detail, however, to find from the updated and official platform, click on ‘Do You Need Visa’.
If the answer is yes, move to Visa Application.
Step 3
The server shall re-direct the itinerant VFS global system. Fill the application form through the online source and secure the appointment.
Step 4
Here comes the tricky part. Now you will arrange all supporting document in your visa application.
Passport: The passport must not be older than 10 years and it must have two blank pages.
Roundtrip Flight Reservation: A flight itinerary is of two types. Roundtrip flight itinerary is sought for short-stay visas whereas one-way flight itinerary is sought for long-stay visas.
Travel Health Insurance: Like the aforesaid documents, travel health insurance is also a mandatory document in your visa application. Before availing medical insurance, you must remember that the company provides coverage amount equivalent to EUR 30, 000. Any amount less than the aforesaid sum will not be considered valid.
Hotel Bookings for Austrian Visa: This document is demanded by the visa officers at Austria Consulate General in New York to ascertain whether the itinerant has sorted his means of accommodation in Austria or not.
Just like flight reservation and travel health insurance, a hotel bookings for Austrian visa is a mandatory document in your visa application.
Cover Letter: In this document, the itinerant explains his reason behind seeking Austrian Schengen Visa or Austrian Residence Permit at Austria Consulate General in New York.
You must not skip any important point and must not write any unnecessary information in the cover letter for the Austrian visa application.
Means of subsistence: It means to provide evidence to the Austrian Embassy or consulate that the applicant has sufficient amount or financial resources to bear his/her expenditures during his stay in the Schengen country. There is no precise or exact amount regulated by Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria.
It may vary on a case-to-case basis.
If employed:
Contract
3-month old valid bank statement
Company’s permission letter
Income Tax Return
If self-employed:
Copy of license for business
3-month old company’s bank statement
ITR
If retired:
3-month pension statement.
If applicable:
Regular income generated by property proof of the latest 6 months.
Recent nationwide criminal history check.
US work permit
Confirmation of participation in any type of event or activity
Self-addressed, pre-paid US express mail envelope (if applicable)
Following individuals are immune from submitting the biometric data
- Children with age less than 12 years
- Any disability preventing itinerant from submitting fingerprints
- Public office holders
Step Five: Interview at Austria Consulate General in New York
As soon as you are done with the aforesaid steps, appear for the interview at Austria Consulate General in New York.
After analyzing your visa application, the visa officer may or may not ask some additional questions. Dress formally and arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your time of appointment as it will leave a good impression.
Be calm and answer all the questions with honesty.
Step Six: Track your Visa
Track your Austrian Visa Application’s progress with the help of VFS global.
Address of Austria Consulate General in New York