Royal Norwegian consulate New York application experience from VFS Vancouver

Timeline:

5.11 Sign up for Schengenappointments notifications service 5.15 Booked application for Croatia on 5.27 5.16 Sent an email to Croatian Embassy to request for passport drop off after processing (which is allowed explicitly stated on their website) but no response even until now 5.20 Called Croatian Embassy but got scolded for asking a question. She yelled at me saying “ YOU CANNOT CALL US FOR QUESTIONS” [hangs up] 5.20 Pivot to Appointment for Norway on May 21 once the appointment opened up on VFS. Changed itinerary on the day.

5.21 Appointment at VFS Vancouver 5.21 Automated email: Your application has been dispatched 5.26 Norway Consulate closure due to Memorial Day in the US （5.28）Visa stamped date 5.30 15:30 PST Fedex notification - We have your shipment and delivery date is updated. 6.2 Passport Received

Total time spent processing (including fedex shipping days) from submission to vfs: 7 business days/12 calendar days Days applied: 11 days/1 entry Days granted: 26 days/ 1 entry

Lessons learnt:

• If there are consulates available in your city, work with them and avoid VFS. There is a disconnect between VFS and Consulates. Consulates will decide your case has nothing to do with them if you submitted with VFS and ask you to call VFS. VFS will tell you there is nothing they can do because they are not in control but consulates do. Make your itinerary to countries with consulates available in your country

• If there are none or none of them works visa matters, book the appointment with VFS centre before making the itinerary. Croatia only works Tuesday to Friday for 2 weeks out of a month. It’s almost like you have life then you are doomed. Secure the appointment then start working on the application documents.

• VFS tracking is absolutely trash. Don’t bother paying more for SMS or even checking the reference number coming with the service. Apparently their tracking is solely based off consulates’ procedure but consulates don’t always bother scanning and updating the status to VFS system - you don’t always receive any status update in tracking from VFS. Not receiving updates from VFS is normal regardless where you are applying to or where you are applying from. Specially for Norway Consulate in New york from my experience (also confirmed by them through email), they don’t provide any update PERIOD. My VFS tracking system has been “No data found for the combination of input” the entire time even until it’s processed. I received Fedex notification to learn that my passport is on the way back to home.

• Here is something i did i think that helped expediting my case: I wrote down the fact i need my passport back by June 13 for my international travel for my best friend’s wedding on the cover letter. They explicitly states “Tourism doesn’t count as Urgency” on the website but i do think the consulate will try their best to work on your case within the usual processing time without delays if your situation is well explained. So do this if you are in rush for your passport like I do when you apply for Schengen visa. Also make a strong case for yourself, showing your stable job and more than enough in financial statement. Prove that you will come back to your home country.