My wife was inviting a friend from a Visa country, a holder of a 1 year multi-entry visa to Finland, to come to Germany to stay with us for a week. It seems that immigration at Frankfurt airport insisted on seeing an official invitation. You know, that document where you have to get from the Auslanderamt by showing proof of income, registration, etc.
I thought that once you had a Schengen visa and had used it the first time to visit the issuing country, you could go anywhere in 'schengenland' and the only thing that immigration could do is to demand evidence of ability to support yourself? Given that the official form is a pain to organise (mostly taking time off work and queueing), is this actually correct? I know you need the 'official' invitation if you are inviting someone and they are applying to Germany for a visa, but if they already have a Schengen Visa?
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Visiting Germany on a 3rd Country Schengen Visa
Need for an official invitation?
My wife was inviting a friend from a Visa country, a holder of a 1 year multi-entry visa to Finland, to come to Germany to stay with us for a week.
I don't get what you mean.and the only thing that immigration could do is to demand evidence of ability to support yourself?
I dont think so. I have travelled to many Schengen states and my visa was only checked. No more questions asked what so ever.I know you need the 'official' invitation if you are inviting someone and they are applying to Germany for a visa, but if they already have a Schengen Visa?
Why would someone who already has a Schengen visa need an invitation to visit the countries for which they already have a visa?
... a 1 year multi-entry visa to Finland ...
could well be a "Type D" national Finnish visa ... ... D-type visa only give access to the issuing country. The holder of a D-type visa is not allowed to travel around the Schengen area ...
@long-haul: My wife's friend is from a non-EU country (Russia) that normally requires visas to enter Germany and other EU countries, not just Schengen.
Visas issued by any Schengen country are normally referred to as "Schengen visas". You must always first travel to the country issuing the Visa but subsequently you may travel directly to any Schengen country without further need for a visa for the duration of the original visa. Normally the process for entering Germany is to obtain an invitation (showing means of financial support), then to obtain a visa using that invitation.
@miwild: This was a short stay visa but valid for a year, however it does mention that countries may make additional requirements. I guess this is one of them from Germany, but it seems recent and may be a special for those staying privately.
Visas issued by any Schengen country are normally referred to as "Schengen visas". You must always first travel to the country issuing the Visa but subsequently you may travel directly to any Schengen country without further need for a visa for the duration of the original visa. Normally the process for entering Germany is to obtain an invitation (showing means of financial support), then to obtain a visa using that invitation.
@miwild: This was a short stay visa but valid for a year, however it does mention that countries may make additional requirements. I guess this is one of them from Germany, but it seems recent and may be a special for those staying privately.
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