Slovenia Embassy in Washington DC-Acquiring Visa in Five Steps

Introduction

Being the first country to be declared as ‘Green Destination’, Slovenia attracts a huge number of tourists every year to visit the country’s enthralling natural scenes, 11,150 karst caves, and gothic architecture. A US resident—who is not a permanent citizen of the USA—requires either a short-stay visa or long-stay visa from Slovenia Embassy in Washington DC to enter the Central European country.

Slovenia is also a member of Schengen Area; a borderless region comprising as many as 26 European states.

Schengen Area

Schengen Area is a borderless area comprising 26 European states till date. The members of the Schengen Agreement apply unvarying visa policies and have approved the same policies for border controls, short-stays, and asylum requests.

Jurisdiction of Slovenia Embassy Washington DC

The Slovenia Embassy Washington DC covers the following states:

District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Usually, officials at the Slovenia Embassy Washington DC issues two types of visa to the applicant. They are:

Schengen Visa

The Schengen Visa enables its holder to travel at liberty in 26 signatory states as he would not be subjected to internal checks for a maximum duration of 90 days.

As mentioned earlier, a permanent US citizen does not need a Schengen Visa to enter the country for up to 90 days. However, if the applicant’s stay surpasses 90 days, then he would apply for Slovenia residence permit.

National Visa

A permanent citizen of the USA will seek Slovenia Residence Permit apply if his/her stay exceeds 90 days period. An applicant can seek Slovenia Residence Permit either for the purpose of the study, residence, medical, etc.

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Slovenia Embassy Washington DC

After classifying your visa’s nature in accord with the purpose, you must first find the accurate embassy or consulate. Once done with an aforesaid task, you just need to follow below-mentioned five steps to acquire a short-stay or long-stay visa.

Usually, Slovenia Embassy Washington DC takes a maximum of 15 days to arrive at the decision on the applicant’s request. However, there are some exceptions under which the duration might surpass the 15-day limit.

You can apply any time from 90 days prior before your departure.

Step One: Make an Online Appointment

Secure an online appointment with the Slovenia Embassy Washington DC by sending them an electronic mail at sloembassy.washington(at)gov.si with the following information:

• Applicant’s full name,
• Mention name of the country of whom passport you’ve been issued,
• The expiry date of the passport and its number,
• Category of the visa you are applying for
• Type of visa/permit you are applying for (long-term visa, residence permit, employee card, etc.),
• The intention of visiting the host nation (study, scientific research, employment, business, family reunification, etc.),
• Expected arrival date in Slovenia,
• Preferred appointment date

Appointments are usually scheduled at least 5 days after the request has been received.

Step Two: Prepare Documents

Application form: You will download the form from the embassy’s website and will fill all the required boxes.

The embassies and consulates of the Slovenia issue these types of application forms:

• Application for a Schengen visa (also used for the airport transit visa)
• Application for a long-term visa
• Application for a long-term residence or permanent residence
• Application for a Blue card and Green card is generated by the system of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Roundtrip Flight Itinerary for visa application: This document clearly mentions intended dates of the applicant’s arrival and exist from the host nation. A flight itinerary—also known as flight reservation—is either issued by the online service provider or the airline itself.

Travel Visa Health Insurance: The Slovenia Embassy in Washington DC will not approve the visa application of the applicant if he forgets to attach the travel insurance. The travel insurance should cover minimum expenditures equivalent to 30,000 EUR or 45,000 USD.

The applicant must ensure that the travel insurance document should clearly elucidate the first and surname of the insured individual along with the benefits being offered.

Hotel Booking Reservation/Proof of accommodation: Both hotel booking reservation and proof of accommodation refer to the same document.

A hotel booking or proof of accommodation explains to the diplomatic staffers that the itinerant has arranged means of accommodation in the host nation and has made payments in this regard in advance.

It includes:

• A hotel/hostel booking; and
• A rental agreement; and
• A letter of invitation from a host at whose house you will be staying.

Bank statement/proof of financial means: This supporting document holds immense importance among all other accompanying documents as it guarantees the visa officers that the itinerant has adequate financial resources to back himself during the course of his/her stay in Slovenia. An itinerant will produce a six-month bank statement.

Cover Letter: This supporting document in your visa application abridges your intention of visiting Slovenia.

Means of subsistence: The European Commission, Article 7 of “The Instructions” states that if a foreigner is planning a visit to Slovenia, then he is required to attest owning cash equivalent to 56 euros per day.

Affidavit of Support: If the itinerant does not have a legal bank account, then the visa officers demand affidavit of support from him. Unlike all other accompanying documents, the relative or friend of the applicant pens down this letter for the latter.

Proof of paid visa fee:

Consular fee for the visa “D” is 77 EUR, which is calculated into USD monthly. It is currently 89 USD.

If employed:

Contract of the employment; and

A 6-month old bank statement; and

A letter illustrating leave permission.

Letter of Invitation.

If self-employed:

Applicant’s business license copy; and

Bank statement of the company owned by the itinerant; and

Income Tax Return (ITR).

If a student:

Proof of enrollment; and

NOC issued by education institute of the home nation.

If retired:

Pension statement of the latest 6 months.

If applicable:

Regular income generated by property proof of the latest 6 months.

Apart from the general documentation required, accompanying should be other additional documents depending on the nature of your visa application.

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)

Documents proving the legal status in the US – original Alien Registration Card (Green Card), a Green card Stamp in your passport, an Advance Parole, or a valid US Visa must be provided along with a valid I-94 departure record. Students should also submit the original validated I-20, DS-2019 or IAP-66.

The US visa or residence permit should be lawful at least 3 months beyond the envisioned exit from the territory of the host nation.

Letter illustrating sustained employment status along with the itinerant’s income statement. If you are self-employed a business license and tax return forms are required.

Step Three: Submit File

After completing the aforesaid tasks, reach the Slovenia Embassy in Washington DC to submit the visa application.

As of May 15, 2014, each individual applying for a Schengen visa in the USA must appear in person, so that the necessary biometric data – ten fingerprints and a digital photo – can be collected. The biometric data are stored for a period of 59 months and can possibly be reused. This means that future applications during that period of time may be filed through correspondence, provided your data are of good quality and can be retrieved from the VIS.

San Francisco, Atlanta, and Washington: visaonweb.diplomatie.be (printed application form and documentation must be sent by postal mail or courier service

San Francisco: by postal mail or courier service only

Exemptions for the fingerprinting requirements are granted to:

• Children under the age of twelve;
• Persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible;
• Heads of State and members of National Governments and their accompanying spouses, as well as the members of their official delegation when invited by Member States’ governments or by international organizations for an official purpose.

Furthermore, the itinerant can obtain the aforesaid data from the Visa Information System (VIS) at any time within a duration of five months. In such a case, you can forward application either by mail or courier.

Step Four: Appear for Interview

The applicant may be required to appear in person before the visa officers for a formal interview. Here are some useful tips:

Arrive at the Slovenia Embassy in Washington DC at the given time

Dress formally.

Stay calm and confident during the interview with the visa officer. The visa officer may confirm a document or documents that you’ve submitted. He may prolong the interview duration depending upon the nature of the visa application.

For further information, you can visit the website of the Slovenia Embassy Washington DC.

However, if the interview is not required, the embassy will send the passport by using the prepaid envelope provided with the application once the visa is issued.

Step Five: Receive Your Visa

As stated above, the Slovenia Embassy Washington DC typically consumes up to 15 days to announce a verdict on your visa application.  The applicant has the option to collect his passport and visa (in case the application is approved) via UPS or USPS in the envelope that the applicant has provided.

Possible Reasons for Visa Rejections

The staffers at the Slovenia Embassy in Washington DC may reject your visa application in the following cases:

• The applicant forget to sign the application
• Invalid passport
• Damaged passport
• Invitation Letter is missing
• Sponsorship Letter is missing
• NOC is missing
• Consulate General fails in establishing a clear reason for your travel

Address

2410 California St, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA

Phone: (+) 1 202 386 6601

Fax: (+) 1 202 386 6633

E-mail: sloembassy.washington@gov.si