New Schengen Visa exemptions for Barbados and...

[Aplmac]

Back in Oct. 2006 the subject of new Schengen Visa exemptions for the country of my residence(Barbados) and others was raised..

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Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:39 pm
Post subject: New Schengen visa exemptions for 6 countries

The requirement to obtain a Schengen visa will soon be removed for nationals of:

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Mauritius
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Seychelles

This exemption will come into force when the above countries conclude their visa agreements with the EU.

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It's now been quite some time since October of 2006
and since my wife is currently in need of a Schengen Visa in order for us to take a cruise in the Mediterranean,
I'm wondering if anyone has any clue as to WHEN these new exemptions might come about?
In another month?
Another year?
Another Decade?
Before we die?
Is there any hope on our horizon for her NOT having to apply?

I travel on a UK/EU Passport, but she travels on a Barbados passport.
Any help/comments/hints/suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks for your time and attention.

[petkanov]

It is hard to predict how long it will take. Please note that eventhough the European Comission proposed that, this can be rejected at a later stage from the European parliament or the representatives of the member states. When Bulgarians needed schengen visas, it took about 3 years to finally remove the visas since the EC announced that it wanted to do that. So, it is a long term thing, possibly another 2 years.

[Aplmac]

I'm not standing on one leg,waiting...that's for sure!

I phoned our local Ministry of Foreign Affairs,yesterday to ask questions about how much longer this may take.
The usual non-committal responses of course, but she seemed more optimistic than pessimistic.
Sounded like it might be another year or so, and on our side we/Barbados are ready to 'rock'
the minute they want us to sign on the dotted line - i.e. NO DELAYS HERE!

With luck by the end of this year, yeaah riiight!
-but I know how slowly Governmental wheels turn(ALL Governmental wheels!)!

One thing's for sure: I won't be applying for another Schengen Visa for my wife's passport after this one!
I don't do "Government Hoops" very well (I'm a poor jumper)
and if they don't want my tourism business, I can always go somewhere else to spend my million$!

[Aplmac]

For what it's worth to anyone out there...

After two years of there being no Spanish Hon.Consul on the island of Barbados,
one has now been appointed. She is Mandy Chandler, a lawyer
and the application for my wife's Schengen Visa will now be routed to Spanish Embassy in Jamaica, thru Ms. Chandler.

Nice to have someone local here, on the ground, to help.

------------------------------

Our Hon. Consul for The Netherlands is Mr. Anthony Gittens.

[Aplmac]

You'll be happy to know that Wife's Barbados passport came back from Jamaica
in just ten days! -with approved Schengen Visa for our visit in Sept.
Thank you, Jamaica.

Citizens of Barbados await the pending S.Visa exemption with bated breath
so we don't have to jump thru hoops,any more.

Can't tell you what a relief that will be!

[pedro_han]

Back in Oct. 2006 the subject of new Schengen Visa exemptions for the country of my residence(Barbados) and others was raised..

====================================

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:39 pm
Post subject: New Schengen visa exemptions for 6 countries

The requirement to obtain a Schengen visa will soon be removed for nationals of:

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Mauritius
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Seychelles

This exemption will come into force when the above countries conclude their visa agreements with the EU.

=======================================


It's now been quite some time since October of 2006
and since my wife is currently in need of a Schengen Visa in order for us to take a cruise in the Mediterranean,
I'm wondering if anyone has any clue as to WHEN these new exemptions might come about?
In another month?
Another year?
Another Decade?
Before we die?
Is there any hope on our horizon for her NOT having to apply?

I travel on a UK/EU Passport, but she travels on a Barbados passport.
Any help/comments/hints/suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks for your time and attention.

Hey, I've been told by the consulate of one of the 6 nations that the new schengen visa exemption will start from 1st january 2009. less than 3 months to go if this is true