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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Yes, one can purchase a tour to
Brussels and go to FOSDEM instead.<br>
In most cases invitation is not needed but one does need to
actually purchase a travel package.<br>
For some countries traveling without travel agencies is allowed,
for others it is not.<br>
Pretty much depends on a given consulate worker that he would
believe that "the applicant has solid reasons to return home".<br>
<br>
Ivan<br>
<br>
<br>
On 21/12/2015 20:24, Emanuil Tolev wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:CANeG0fJHMHeKUgPOdLaAiXu6CbNB0j=HdsupLgt+EkenWaoZWw@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>Gah, what a headache. Is there some kind of tourist visa
that Schengen allows? I can't believe we allow nobody to enter
the Schengen area without an invite by a citizen, that just
seems ridiculous. What if they just want to see the Grand
Place or something? I'd say visiting FOSDEM is an even better
reason for somebody who would otherwise be approved for a
tourist visa anyway.</div>
<div><br>
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<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/tourist-schengen-visa/">http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/tourist-schengen-visa/</a>
indicates a letter *is* required when visiting friends and
relatives but no letter is needed when no such visit is taking
place (I suppose then you can't say "I'm visiting a friend"
without any proof by said friend). Maybe there's a higher
chance of the application being approved if you really are
visiting friends/relatives, but hey, if it's possible to apply
without a letter then that'll cover most people and they won't
have to seek help.</div>
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<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 21 December 2015 at 17:13, Daniel
Pocock <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:daniel@pocock.pro" target="_blank">daniel@pocock.pro</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><span
class=""><br>
<br>
On 21/12/15 18:08, Jo wrote:<br>
> Even though the term invitation letter sounds simple
enough, it's a bit<br>
> more complicated than that.<br>
><br>
> What your doing is getting into a legal contract
between<br>
> yourself/company and the Belgian ministry of the
interior. You agree to<br>
> be liable for all expenses in case this person
doesn't leave<br>
> Belgium/Schengen zone as foreseen. In case of a
forced expulsion this is<br>
> thousands of euros.<br>
><br>
<br>
</span>That is a letter of guarantee. It is not the same as
a letter of<br>
invitation. One letter can combine both concepts, but I've
also seen<br>
invitation letters that don't include a guarantee.<br>
<span class=""><br>
> I would also be very surprised if it's still possible
to accomplish all<br>
> the needed paperwork in one month. It involves going
to the<br>
> municipality, they need to contact the ministry of
the interior and they<br>
> in turn need to contact the embassy of the country,
back and forth. The<br>
> person also needs to present themselves at this
embassy, at least twice.<br>
> The process usually takes 3 - 8 months.<br>
><br>
> Anyway it's not something you'd do for any random
person either. A lot<br>
> of trust is involved.<br>
><br>
<br>
</span>It is for some former GSoC students.<br>
<br>
I think that the whole guarantee thing tends to be necessary
for longer<br>
visas, e.g. exchange programs, or wife has a baby and her
mother wants<br>
to come and stay 6 months.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Daniel<br>
<div class="HOEnZb">
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