APPROVED First time DIY applicant (short stay ME for tourism) via France Embassy (TLScontact)
Timeline:
May 12, 2026
Scheduled 8 am appointment at TLScontact (didn't pay for any add-on or premium service). Process was very smooth, and it took us an hour to finish everything (waiting, submission of documents, and biometrics).
Status: Application documentation confirmed, then Application transferred to Consulate
May 13, 2026
Status: In process
May 14, 2026
Status: In process
May 15, 2026
Status: Passport returning from Consulate, then Passport returned (after 30 mins)
Received an email from TLScontact at 10 am that our passports are ready for pick up.
Picked up our passports within 5 minutes.
Embassy: France (last stop of our Europe trip and longest stay)
Schengen countries declared: Spain, Italy, and France
Visa type: Short-term Tourist
Travel date: October 1-31, 2026
Requested: 31 day ME visa
Granted: 35 day ME visa
Documents submitted:
2 pcs passport ID
Latest PSA birth certificate (original)
Cover letter (1 page)
Daily travel itinerary
RT flight itinerary with our names
Agoda hotel bookings with our names
AXA Schengen travel insurance with our names
DTI
BIR
Latest ITR
2 PRC licenses
Bank certificates with OR (PHP and USD savings and investments from both traditional and digital banks for the last 6 months)
Bank statements (PHP and USD savings and investments from both traditional and digital banks for the last 6 months)
PHP and USD savings account passbooks for the last 6 months
Credit card statements for the last 6 months
Other investments (MP2)
Land title
OR/CR of 2 vehicles
Columbarium titles
Birth certificate of my parents (not traveling with us)
Marriage certificate of my parents
Birth certificate of my sister (traveling with her)
Death certificate of my father
Senior citizen ID of my mother (our dependent - proof of strong family ties)
Profile:
DIY application
First time Schengen applicant (short-stay tourist)
Single female in my 30s
Traveling with sister (almost the same profile as mine)
4x a year overseas travel for the past 5 years (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, HK, Macau)
Previously used China, US and New Zealand tourist visas
Self-employed business owner (sole proprietor of an online business)
ADB: 500k+
Note:
The picture they used in my Schengen visa was the one they took during my biometrics, not the passport ID photo I passed as part of the requirements