For the meantime, let me explain how I completed all the requirements.
SCHENGEN VISA:
The Schengen visa is valid for 26 countries. You may see the complete list of countries here. Do note that UK and Ireland are not part of the list. So if you plan to go to these two (along with the others from list), then there may be separate visas for them.
WHERE TO APPLY (MAIN DESTINATION):
If you're planning on spending your vacation in only one country, then you may submit your application to their embassy. If you're planning to visit several countries, then you have to compute for the number of nights you will stay in each country. Place your application on the country with the longest stay (in nights). If you have 2 or more countries with the same number of nights, then place your application on the first country you will enter.
As for me; since Italy is our main destination, then this is where we lodged our application. If you want to know which embassy is the strictest or most lax (I heard Switzerland though), I can't say. I've been searching through the net and really, different people have different experiences (I stopped reading at some point because I didn't want to be more paranoid than I already am). So we just decided to be honest with our application.
REQUIREMENTS:
The following will be the required documents (for tourist visa) that I have submitted as of August 19, 2015. However, please check this as the requirements may have changed since then.
Word of advice: As a guide for me, I printed out 2 copies of the list of requirements: one for original and the other one for photocopies which I ticked off one by one as I completed each requirement. I also had two separate envelopes for them :)
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL VISA APPLICANTS:
1. Original old and valid Passports (with no less than 3 months validity over the visa expiration but please consider the 6 months validity of the passport as required by immigration).
2. Photocopy of the Biographical page and last page of the valid passports, previous visas and immigration stamps in all countries.
COMMENT: Do not forget the biographical pages and last pages of old passports. (Fortunately, they have a photocopy machine in the reception area but it costs PHP2 for a short bond.) As for the previous visas and immigration stamps, I photocopied them together (a page had 4 passport pages). They accepted it.
3. Completely accomplished Schengen Visa application with one (1) recent passport-sized or 2x2 colored photo with white background.
COMMENT:
a. DO NOT STAPLER the pages or glue the photo!
b. I would suggest to give a 2x2 photo. They didn't accept my passport-sized one because my face was too near/too big(?). Luckily, I brought a lot of pictures. Once they've accepted the photo, they will glue it on the application form.
c. Do not leave anything blank. Put N/A if not applicable.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TOURIST VISA [ORIGINAL AND PHOTOCOPY]
4. Letter of Introduction
5. Certificate of employment & approved leave of absence
COMMENT: Our company indicated in the COE the approved days of my LOA.
6. Declaration of annual income (ITR)
COMMENT: In my case, I gave the 2014 ITR.
7. Bank certification accompanied by account history in the form of either passbook or statements of account, credit card statement
COMMENT: I gave the following:
a. Bank certification for my peso account. Attached 1 year account history. Why 1 year? I am considered an infrequent traveler since I haven't traveled to any of the Schengen states. If you have for the last 5 years, then you would only need to provide 6 months account history.
b. Bank certification of a joint dollar account (time deposit). I didn't provide any account history.
c. Most recent credit card statement. I called the free information center prior to my submission to ask how many months I need to provide. There is no requirement for the months so it is up to you.
d. You may also provide payslips, properties, land titles, etc.
8. NSO issued birth certificate
COMMENT: I recently applied for Japan visa so we had an extra. Information center agent advised me that as long as the NSO was obtained within the year, it was ok.
9. Itinerary, confirmed round trip flight booking and hotel vouchers or booking under the name of the traveler.
COMMENT:
a. Please ensure that the Schengen application form, itinerary, flight and hotel bookings are CONSISTENT!
b. Itinerary: You can see sample itinerary on the net.
c. Flight booking: We bought ours months ago because BDO was having a travel sale. (That is a different story.) Anyway, we made sure that in the off chance we had our visas disapproved, we can refund the tickets (for a fee). Embassy also accepts confirmed reserved tickets.
d. Hotel booking: We booked through booking.com. We made sure that the hotels we reserved have free cancellation and pay later options. Also, don't forget to indicate in the bookings the names of all travelling.
10. Travel insurance with a coverage of at least 30,000 euros (with 15 days allowance beyond travel period.)
COMMENT: You may see list of accredited companies here. We chose Malayan Insurance since this is the cheapest (haha!) and I've always used this in my other travels. Unfortunately though, this cannot be refunded if the visas get disapproved. (Other insurance companies offer refund though.) Don't forget the 15 days allowance. So for us, since we're travelling 23 days, I have to get 38 days (or more). NOT LESS.
11. Visa Processing Fee and Service Fee in cash.
COMMENT: I paid exact amount of PHP4632.00. Breakdown is PHP2962.00 for the visa and PHP1400 for service fee. You may call their free information center to ask how much the total fee is (as exchange rates might have changed).
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER:
I placed everything in a long brown envelope. Do not seal it because they have to check your requirements. Also, you have to arrange your requirements based on the checklist. Keep the original and photocopy of each requirement together. The receptionist there will give you the list (also found in the website) but I opted to print out a copy.
APPLICATION FORM:
Don't forget to refer to your passport for your personal details:
#2 - If you're single, write your surname. I wrote N/A and via.ph guy erased it so that I will write my surname.
#11 - Write N/A
#17 - Don't forget to write your mobile number on the Telephone number (s) field.
#19 - 20 - Be consistent with what is written in your COE.
#22 - Schengen countries that you will be included in your itinerary.
#23 - Schengen country that you will first step on based on your itinerary.
# 24 - Single Entry if you will stay in Schengen the whole vacation. If you have plans to go to UK/Ireland/any country not part of the Schengen list in the middle of your vacation, then tick on two or multiple entries (based on your itinerary).
# 28 - If you will be visiting a non-Schengen country and visa is needed for that country. Also note that you have to acquire visa from that country before the Schengen one. Write N/A if not applicable.
SETTING AN APPOINTMENT:
You can only set an appointment 3 months prior to your planned travel and not longer than that.
There are three options:
1. Through their online booking here. This is direct to the Italian Embassy so you won't need to pay the Service Fee of PIASA (amounting to PHP1,400.00). I tried this one, by creating an account and checking the available slot for appointment. Upon checking last July 30, they are already fully booked until NOVEMBER 2015. My flight will be on October 31. So...no. Haha! This also made me panic a little because I initially thought that I might not be able to get an appointment earlier than November. But obviously, that's not the case.
2. Through their call center here. I called August 7 and the earliest appointment they can give me was August 19. That's a week and a half. I think that November is basically low season? So it might take you longer if you're planning on going there during the peak season. Also, you may book for your companion to lessen the charges. Please prepare the following information before the call to avoid prolonging the call (it's PHP32.00 per minute, for pete's sake!):
1. Passport details (you and all your companions). My friend had an ongoing passport renewal process when I called so I made sure that I mentioned that. They accepted it and just reminded me to bring the new one during the actual appointment.
2. Contact details (email, home address, phone number, mobile number of you and all your companions)
3. Itinerary (how many days, countries you will be heading. Be consistent with your itinerary to be submitted).
Before the end of the call, the agent will tell you your booking reference number. You will have a separate reference per appointment.
The call lasted about 20 minutes because I had to wait for my friend's details.
By the way, the appointment here means submission of all requirements. No interview and you have to proceed to the Allegro Center (where via.ph is) and not to the Italy Embassy. Dress code is not strict, just be presentable (but of course!).
Unfortunately, because of some system bug in the DFA, my friend was not able to obtain her passport in time. She called the morning of AUG 19 to have the appointment rebooked. (Just in case you are asking if they will allow rebooking.)
3. They allow walk-in applicants. I don't know the process for this though but I saw a sign in the via.ph office.
FREE INFORMATION CENTER:
Please do not hesitate to call their free information center at 8459200, available Mondays thru Fridays from 8AM until 5PM and Saturdays from 8AM until 12NN. I called twice, thrice, always with so many questions. The agents were always very patient with me.
ONE LAST THING:
If you want to know your chances of being approved, I'm sorry but I cannot help you out with that one. I DON'T EVEN KNOW MINE. HAHA! Just provide all the requirements and be honest with your requirements.
If I don't get approve, then I will definitely go to HK this November and just burn money there. That's what I call making lemonades out of lemons! ;)
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