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Tips and tricks for adventure Filipino travelers trying to visit Europe but have visa problems. By Lolita Tan
This problem can easily occur even Partisan Voyager own staff was rejected when trying to visit a travel related trade show in Germany. Our journalist was supposed to visit and report from the ITB (International Tourism Bourse) in Berlin on an all expenses paid and pre-booked trip but an apparently corrupt visa officer at the German embassy in Manila made it impossible
Travel advice for rejected visa applicants.
Amazingly large number of travelers arrive in Italy via a backdoor and without any need to have a valid Schengen visa.
IOM ( International Organization on Migration) reported that in 2014 over 40000 travelers arrived in Italy by boat. Surely the 2015 arrivals will be substantial up and all this without promotion by the Italian tourism office. Mostly departed from Libya most of the travelers came from numerous African countries as well as Middle Eastern countries where it could be also troublesome to obtain a visa unless the traveler is rich or famous. It appears that no Filipino travelers have so far used this “backdoor entry” The journey itself may not be suitable for the light hearted travelers since there are reports of some of the boats have a tendency of sinking but then on the other hand apparently the Italian and other European navy are on standby and ready for the rescue if need arises.
Ones in Italy the travelers can expect to receive a warm welcome and if they will use the magic word ”asylum” are even given free accommodation , food and medical care. The Italian people are really generous. A report in a German newspaper indicates that a group of Nigerian passenger which where short of travel money but wanted to visit Germany where issued with the sought after Schengen visa and where even given free railway tickets for the journey north. It appears that no Philippine travel agent is offering this interesting journey as a package so travelers need to make their own arrangements. Best is to fly to Cairo and from there a short overland trip to Libya (be aware of possible crossfire along the way also there are reports parts of the country is ruled by some religious fanatic's and non Muslims may get killed). If on an extreme budget an overland trip starting from Singapore by trains and busses via Thailand, India, Pakistan, Iran etc. could be possible.
The Greek island of Kos seems to be a safer entry point to Europe .
The Greek Island of Kos is very close to the Turkish coast (in viewing distance) other islands like Lesbos are also sought after and offering similar facilities. Large number of mostly Asian people arrive here including some even real refugees from Syria. Again the “Open Sesame” for entry to Europe is the magic word “Asylum” For the last leg of the journey from Turkey you may have to find a private tour operator to reach Kos in a fly by night operation. You need to register there with the local authorities after which you can purchase a ticket on a ferry to mainland Greece. From there most adventures take a train (Its offered free of charge from the Macedonian border town of Subotica to real or fake refugees) to Belgrade in Serbia and further make their way to reach the EU via Hungary. Lately there are reports of some problems on the Macedonian border due to many arrivals likewise the Hungarian government got tired of too many fake refugees and is considering to build a fence along the green border to Serbia. So different routings may become necessary in the future.. Anyways, ones you reached Hungary you are in the EU and since there are no more borders between EU countries you should have no problems to reach your favored destination like Rome or perhaps Compostela in Spain. To reach London is a problem since a different visa is required. Currently there are a large number of travelers stuck up in Calais (France) trying to hitch a visa free ride to the UK or cross the channel tunnel under the cover of darkness, but this seems to be troublesome and is not recommendable. Otherwise if there are any problem, always use the magic word Asylum. Particularly Germany appears to be very friendly to refugees (fake or not) and even pay cash and provide free food and accommodation. Gypsies traveler from the Balkan even travel to Germany just for the cash payouts (about PHP 9000.– per month) which exceed the salary of a police chief in their own country as a leading German newsmagazine “Der Spiegel” reported recently. So if a traveler runs out of cash Germany would be the place to be. The friendliness and generosity of the German people has been noted particularly in Syria. Syrian travelers or people who purchased fake Syrian passports in Turkey even get preferential treatment, however this may work for travelers arriving from Pakistan or Afghanistan but is not recommendable for Filipino travelers since even the most stupid official may figure out that Filipinos do not look like middle eastern people. It appears the whole country of Syria is on the move to resettle in Germany. The large number of adventure travelers and real refugees arriving in Germany may make it necessary in the future to accommodate the new comers in private accommodation . This should cause no problems since there are virtually millions of Germans with large houses or apartments who can easily put up a few refugees to sleep in the launch room on a spare couch. Not all Germans are so happy about all those people coming and wasting tax payers money so there have been recently incidents where places of accommodation for the newly arrived have been torched and went up in smoke. Anyway now is the time to visit Germany since in the near future the whole outlook of the country may turn “Middle east”.
Filipino adventure travelers even with a good story would most likely be rejected as refugee eventually but procedures take time and in the end the adventurer may even get a free airline ticket back to the Philippines after exploring the touristic highlights of Europe. Anyway, if a traveler is out of money and like to return home in a hurry someone can always cancel the application to be a professional refugee because the “situation in home country has changed “ Partisan Voyager ask the German Embassy in Manila what is the procedure for rejected refugee applicants but did not receive any reply likewise the Turkish Embassy did not respond to our request to outline the visa procedure to apply for a Turkish transit visa.
If anything goes wrong Partisan Voyager does not accept any responsibility. Travel at your own risk.
What others say: Der Spiegel (Germanys leading news magazine): Welcome Germany
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The cheap way to reach Turkey: Take a flight to Bangkok or Singapore with low cost airline. From there take another low cost flight to India. Apparently overland travel from Thailand to India is now possible but Partisan Voyager lacks information. Any information would be appreciated. In India take a train to Amritsar . Indian railway grants student concession if you have an real or close enough looking student card. (Don't forget to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar and highlights like Agra, Delhi, Varanasi along the way). From Amritsar take a bus or tricycle to the Pakistan border. Owns in Pakistan make your way to the Lahore bus terminal take bus to Quetta. From here Take another bus to the Iran Border. This Bus is a bit wired A former traveler reported that just prior to reaching the Border crossing about 25% of passenger disappeared in to the dessert and reappeared mysteriously after entering Iran even faster than by using the official border. Some travelers tale on this part of the journey. Take a bus to Tehran and from here another bus to Erzurum in Turkey. From here take bus to Bodrum Which is near Kos Island. Traveler reported in the past that the overland trip from India to Europe is an interesting journey but Iran is unfortunately a black hole in between. Best cross asap. Depends on circumstances this trip may cost you around $ 200.– From India to Turkey can be done leisurely in about 5 days.
Visa along the way may be easier to obtain en route as you go. Important on your way to Europe: Stay away from travel facilitators also called people smuggler. Stay away from crowds of fellow adventures.
Keep Partisan Voyager informed of your progress. |
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Who is a Refugee ?
Wikipedia describes a refugee as:
“A refugee is a person who is outside their home country because they have suffered (or feared) persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, or political opinion; because they are a member of a persecuted social category of persons; or because they are fleeing a war. “
Well said but it does not seem to apply to some people escaping Syria even as recent incident highlights. When a boat from Turkey to Greece encountered mishap and sank drowning a little boy, his brother and mother the distraught father took the body's back to his hometown in Syria for burial. Well done but was he a refugee in the first place? Eg how comes he returns to the place he just escaped from without any problem after living already for 2 years in Turkey. |
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Update 14 September 15
Hungary closes border effective 15 Sep. For illegal's (Naturally all adventure travellers arriving without visa can be considered as illegal's) ......... Train service between Austria and Germany Disrupted. ......... Ferry and train connection Germany to Denmark suspended. ......... Munich railway station evacuated due to a Bomb scare. ......... Fighting broke out between Turks and Kurds in Germany. ......... Partisan Voyager recommends tourist to stay away from Germany . The situation is likely to deteriorate further
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Update 16 September 15
The invasion of Europe now gets in to full swing: Large numbers of real of fake Syrian gather in Edirne (Adrianopolis formerly) to storm the land border of Greece since arrival by sea became inconvenient due to high cost and danger of mishap at sea.
Germany's closure of border had not much effect. Many 1000 still made it. Many more on the move now after watching media reports of Germans at Munich railway station applauding arriving real or fake Syrian and passing out presents of clothing and toys.
European countries re-establish border check to deterring illegal's.
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Update 18. September 15
Adventures and real or fake refugees find it more difficult to reach greener pastures in Europe. Hungary border now closes. Croatia closes border . Slovenia returns arriving traveller by train.
Smart travellers make their way away from the crowd. |
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Update 21. September 15
The party goes on On a daily basis large number of adventures arrive in Germany. The generosity of the German government is overwhelming. Besides proving free food and accommodation the newly arrived also receive cash payouts on a regular basis and banks in Germany were advised to make it easy to open bank accounts. So newly arrived do not need show passports but a registration paper issued by the government entirely based on the arrivals own information whether true or false. So its open season for crooks, cheaters and even terrorist to open bank accounts under false names and nationality's. |
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Update 6. October 15 Hungary now closed, New arrivals are facing court proceedings and deportation The situation in Germany deteriorates. With expectation of over a million new arrivals this year parts of the German population want a further influx to be stopped. Reports of violence and rape between the new arrivals. Filipino adventures are well advised not to accept the generous offer of free accommodation and food but rather to enjoy the visa free entry to Europe. German government sourced report about 260000 adventures did not register themselves as refuges so far. |