when you want to apply for a visa for the UK, have to look at this web
site! 
The homepage of the British Embassy (Berlin/Duesseldorf)
the German visa application form is available here
for download (PDF File)
The
Visa page of the German office of Foreign Affairs (Auswärtiges Amt), in
German!
The information
about the Philippines, provided by the "Auswärtiges Amt", in German!
Safety Information
about the Philippines, provided by the "Auswärtiges Amt", in German!
Information
about visa for Switzerland, from our friends, the Hollingers.
There are some different kinds of Visa you can apply for:
To collect the visa data before you can fill out the electronic visa application for the alien office (Auswärtige Amt) via the following link: http:visa.diplo.de
I have made my experiences only with the first two visas, so I cannot talk about all the others. But still the experiences I made are probably quite helpful, as these are the typical visas you would apply for when you plan to come to Germany.
A tourist visa (called Schengen visa as well) will be automatically issued for the Schengen States, these are the following countries:
Same visa rules apply for the following states, even when they are not called Schengenstates
This means that you can visit all these states without any additional visa requirements. Unfortunately it is quite difficult to obtain such a visa. The major reason for rejection is that you are not able to convince to German Embassy that you are truly willing to return to the Philippines after your trip to Germany. You have to prove that you have strong assets drawing you back, for instance a big bank account, a safe and well paid job, a certification from your employer that he is willing to employ you again after your return. The existence of your family or even your own kids are irrelevant. This visa will only be issued for up to three month. This visa can normally not been extended, but I have seen exceptions from that rule. Enquiries should be made at the local Alien Office (Auslaenderamt). The exception I have seen was when a wedding was planned and the Filipina woman was requested to be a testimony. Another situation was when the Filipina fall ill and the doctor issued a certificate stating that she was not able to travel.
In addition to the application form you have to provide the following items:
The price for such a visa is EUR 30, payable in Peso, calculated with the current exchange rate
The Fiancée Visa
Attention: New since the 1st of August 2003 (Information from the website of the German Embassy in Manila))
The following papers have to be presented at the German Embassy:
All papers indicated with a "+" have to be presented with 3 photocopies.
These papers will be send to the alien office which is responsible for you. They will invite you for an interview, then the papers are forwarded to the marriage registrar (Standesamt). The <Standesamt> again decides if the papers have to be approved by the high court (Oberlandesgericht). When you are in bad luck, the people there decide that you will need a further <Legalisation> of the papers. This means that checks will be done in the Philippines to verify that all data on the supplied papers are correct. This procedure takes typically 4-6 month, and will cost you in addition at least 11000 Peso.
New Information from Dirk: His "Standesamt" wanted a written agreement from the future bride that he was allowed to register the two of them for a planned wedding. So better have your fiancée sign a paper with that context.
Furthermore he told us that you should go immediately with all certified papers (after the check from the "Standesamt" and the high court) to the Alien Office (The "Auslaenderamt"). They should enter the OK already for the visa application, then this process should be very fast in the embassy in Manila.
In case of further information, they will be published here.
All affidavits have to be certified by the Ombudsman (Office of the President of the Philippines, Malacanang Authentification Office) and the DFA, i.e. they have to carry a "Red Ribbon", otherwise they are not accepted. The German Embassy verifies these documents as well with the DFA to check if there has been any illegal copies been made. (This verification is currently suspended for a few countries, including the Philippines, see the information on the following web page of the "Auswärtiges Amt". But is is possible to get a paper from the embassy that they do not do these legalisations anymore. Sometimes the German Authorities still want this legalization process because they do not know that they cannot get that from the Philippines. or because they suspect that the papers provided might not be correct)
For more information about legalization and late registration, click here!
This visa will be issued for up to three month (just like the tourist visa). But this visa can be easily extended in case that the planned wedding is only possible after the visa is expired already. This is done by the Alien Office when the wedding papers demonstrate beyond doubt that the wedding will take place at this date. After the wedding the Alien Office will issue a one to three year residence permit (depending on the office). This allows you again to travel to all the Schengen states, plus going back to the Philippines and back to Germany without further visa requirements. After that time period is expired, and you are still married to your German husband then the residence permit will be extended again for a period of up to 5 years or unlimited.
An Au Pair visa is issued for up to one year and cannot be extended. There has to be some additional formal contract information of your future employer. Unfortunately I do not have more information available. Typically these requirements are handled by special agents. The possibility to apply for such a visa on your own does not work anymore. Information about such agents you will fnd on this web site!
The Student visa is issued for the time required to finish a corresponding study at some German university. Here some additional supporting papers have to be presented from either the parents/family or some organization. Again I do not have more information available on this topic. A detailed report is available with the report available via the above link.
The procedure:
It all starts with an invitation (Einladung und Verpflichtungserklärung) from your friend(s) in Germany. They have to go to their respective Alien Office and request the invitation form. In order to get the approval from the Alien Office they have to show some documents that they will be able to support you for the intended stay in Germany. This typically includes the certificate from their employer that they still are employed, the last three salary certificates plus some information about their place of living (i.e. is this rented, how much is the rent, is this own property...), the last tax report if you are independent, etc. . Once all the required information is available, the Alien Office will approve the invitation form and they will have to pay 50 German Marks. This invitation has to be mailed to the Philippines. Important as well is that the dates on the invitation only mention that this invitation should be applicable to the time entering Germany and then for 3 month. Otherwise it could happen because of the typical problems in the Philippines that the invitation is not valid anymore or only for a much shorter time period. Furthermore a health insurance has to be established for the guest. You can get such a health insurance valid for the typical 3 month in any ADAC office. The price of the 3-month insurance is 97 Euro right now,
Without an appointment there is no chance to enter the German Embassy for a visa application. Further details about the phone numbers number you can find on the embassy page. You have to reserve an appointment with the embassy by the following phone numbers: (these numbers can only be used inside the Philippines!!!)
)
PLDT/Smart;
1-909-101-7777
(Stationary /Touch Card)
)
Bayantel;
1-903-101-7777
)
Globe Telecom;
1-900-101-7777
(Stationary/Public Phone).
And, by the way, these two numbers are busy 24 hours. The best time to get an appointment is when you call after 18:00 o'clock (6PM). All numbers can be reached via stationary phones or cellphones.
Within the embassy you have to fill out the application form thoroughly. Remember to even include all your kids even when you are not planning to take them with you to Germany. This might become important when you later want to bring your kids to Germany. Attach a passport photo to each application form. When all your papers are ready you will be invited for an an interview.
This interview can become quite nasty, they are asking questions like: Why do you want to marry such an old man when you are still so young? Very important as well is that you can prove that you have a relation with your future husband already for a long time, proven by pictures and/or by letters. In case that you are applying for a tourist visa this will probably be denied, when you are not able to convince in that interview that you will return for sure to the Philippines.
Requirements by the Philippine Emigration Office
All Filipinas leaving with a fiancée visa have to attend a half day seminar which is intended to give you some information about the different culture you are going to live in. This will be affixed to your passport as well. These people here try to convince you that it would be much better to stay in the Philippines and not marry such and ugly German/American/whoever.... You have to stay firm again.... This seminar is not required when you are traveling with a tourist visa.
This seminar is called: Pre-Departure Guidance and Counseling Program (of the commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO)). The address of the CFO is:
City Gold Center
# 1345 Quirino Avenue
Corner South Superhighway
Paco, 1007 Manila
Tel: 526-41-75 (Main) 562 38 47 (Info)
Email: cfodfa@info.com.ph; cfomieo@info.com.ph
The above address is just the address of the office, the actual seminar will be in:
Center for Overseas Workers
1043 Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City
CFO Cebu Desk
Room 301-302
GK Chua Building
Sanciangko Street
Cebu City, Philippines
Telefax: (032) 255-5253
E-mail: cfocebu@mozcom.com
Things are changing, and from time to time we get new reports about the current procedures. Click for Olivers report....
In case that the visa has been issued for a child (minor, below the age of 14) an additional certificate (Travel Permit) from the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is required. This certificate is also available in the Aquino airport, only the officers there are very stubborn. You have to stay firm. New is that this certificate is no longer required one at least on parent is traveling with the child.