Visa application for Filipino flying from Manila to Malta

Sicard

My fiance is applying for a visa to fly to the shengan zone, ie Malta from Manila. On the form it is asking for the Member State of first entry (there's no direct flights).
As there are several airlines all having various routes it's blowing my tiny mind. I can't pre book the flights in case her application is turned down and the application is done in Manlia and then sent to Bejjing (?) for some reason so I have no idea how long the process will take.
One airline has a stop over in Dubai which isn't a member state, then onto Malta. Other airlines have 2 or 3 stop overs not all of which are member states. Does she need a visa to cover those countries just for a stop over?
Has anyone done something similar?
Any help would be appriciated.

Voyager2002

I suggest that you make a provisional decision to use Emirates (?) so that the stopover would be outside the Schengen area. So put Malta as the country of first entry.

Once the visa has been granted you can change your mind if you wish. Her visa would be valid for all Schengen countries: if she has a stopover in another country then she might need a transit visa but that is something to consider at the time.

Sicard

Voyager2002 said:

I suggest that you make a provisional decision to use Emirates (?) so that the stopover would be outside the Schengen area. So put Malta as the country of first entry.

Once the visa has been granted you can change your mind if you wish. Her visa would be valid for all Schengen countries: if she has a stopover in another country then she might need a transit visa but that is something to consider at the time.

Thanks for that. Much appreciated. 

Sicard

There is a question on the form:

Number of entries requested:

Single entry

Two entries

Multiple entries

I'm not sure which one to tick. Presumably on your suggestions it would be Single entry?

eDicky

The meaning of double entry and multiple entry visas is usually that they remain valid for future travel to the territory, over a period of validity. You should be able to check what that would be, and decide if they would be more convenient (if eligible) than a single entry visa.

Sicard

eDicky said:

The meaning of double entry and multiple entry visas is usually that they remain valid for future travel to the territory, over a period of validity. You should be able to check what that would be, and decide if they would be more convenient (if eligible) than a single entry visa.

Thanks so much.

I must admit it's so refreshing to get unconditional help without any form of judgement which I've experienced in consumer forums here.

Vegastare

I would make sure that the Emirates flight after Dubai is Malta....some did at one time also fly Malta, Cyprus, Dubai. 
Having seen this while in Malta Airport.

CKhalvashi

Vegastare said:

I would make sure that the Emirates flight after Dubai is Malta....some did at one time also fly Malta, Cyprus, Dubai. 
Having seen this while in Malta Airport.

Cyprus is not Schengen.

Bear in mind to the above that getting more than applied for is possible (Minsk VAC was known for giving out 6 months with proof of a single trip, this has likely changed in recent months) but getting less is generally not possible.

Voyager2002

Vegastare said:

I would make sure that the Emirates flight after Dubai is Malta....some did at one time also fly Malta, Cyprus, Dubai. 
Having seen this while in Malta Airport.

If the 'plane simply lands in Cyprus on the way to Malta and she remains on board then there are no visa issues. If she needs to leave the 'plane and remain in the transit area of the airport then there MIGHT be need for a transit visa.

Voyager2002

Sicard said:

There is a question on the form:

Number of entries requested:

Single entry

Two entries

Multiple entries

I'm not sure which one to tick. Presumably on your suggestions it would be Single entry?

If she is only planning one visit to Malta (or other Schengen countries) then single-entry is the most appropriate. And of course it depends on her travel history: if she has made several trips to countries that attract illegal immigrants and returned on time then she might be trusted with a multiple-entry visa.

Sicard

There is also a Catch 22 senario. She is supposed to provide evidence of travel/health insurance to all Schengen countries but travel agencies won't sell this until the flights are booked. I don't want to do this in case the visa application doesn't go through.