We've been to the Italian Consulate in London today who provided us with a new Schengen visa and even did it while we waited. And no charge. They were very helpful and understanding, so that's full marks to them for an excellent service. The lack of the original UK Residence Permit didn't seem to wo...

My understanding is that you cannot legally use your Italian passport to enter or leave SA if you are South African. If you get really stuck on renewing the passport these are the people to contact: http://www.spammer.com They are absolutely excellent and have just got me a new passport within the 1...

Just want to endorse this firm - spammer - http://www.spammer.com They did exactly what they claimed to be able to do, but did it quicker. They kept me informed the whole time on what was going on and I was able to track the application on the Home Affairs web site in South Africa. Yes, it's a lot o...

We were robbed while waiting for a bus at the Gare du Nord in Paris on the way to Italy - Naples. Getting from there to Naples and back again to London was tricky, but I have to say that the UK Border personnel were excellent and let us back in with only a bit of a delay - I had by that time managed...

Just to update this thread, we did get a Schengen visa from the Italian Embassy despite not having 3 months validity on the UK Residence Permit. However they did ask for more information than normal including a statement from me that I was able to support my wife financially. However we have a new p...

OK!! Thanks ... well we are going to the Italian visa people tomorrow, so I'll post here about how we got on and if we got a visa or not.

I agree that getting a German Schengen is very easy; we got one a year ago - no charge and no need to go to London for an interview.

Many thanks for your reply. We live in the UK. There is certainly 3 months on the passport but not 3 months validity on the UK Residence Permit and of course we can't apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain before two months of the expiry of the permit. I appreciate your advice and all the information ...

I am a UK citizen and my wife is South African and has a UK Leave to Remain Residence Permit which expires on 10th November. We want to go to Italy on holiday coming back on 10th September. But the Schengen visa application says the permit to be in the UK must have three months validity beyond the d...

My wife originally came here on a Fiancée visa in April 2008. We then got married and got a Marriage visa which expires in November 2011. Can we apply for ILR now since she has been here since Feb 2008 initially on the Fiancée visa or do we have to wait to get within 28 days of the 10th November w...