Pre-departure:
When getting ready to leave to go overseas, always see that your visa application is done way before you leave. I had to apply to the Belgian embassy and prior years I needed to compile all that is required and then take it myself to the embassy for processing. Now they work differently, whereby you still compile all the requirements, but you need to take it to an external company namely TLS in Cape Town and they check and send all your documents to the embassy. The only thing is you need to pay them R450 for doing this and then still pay the Schengen visa costs. It was compulsory however, only if it’s an emergency may you go to the embassy yourself. On a positive note, I received my visa within one week, so that is good.
