What is VFS? 

In layman's term, they are third party or middle-man for visa processing of numerous countries. In this case, I've applied for Schengen Visa - The Netherlands.

Set an appointment

No walk-ins allowed so I advise to set an appointment first to make it just right on time in completing all the requirements. As the schedule shown in their portal is a week late and is filling up so fast. (link here)

What are the requirements?

Download the requirements/checklist in this link.  Below are excerpts from the checklist, however, i have included some tips to guide you further.

• Application Form - (link here)
• They key to any visa application is honesty. They will check for sure so fill out the form will all honesty.
• Documents
• Original Passport (& copy of the personal details page)
• must be valid for at least 3 months from the date on which you leave the Schengen area
• must have at least 2 empty visa pages
• cannot have been issued more than 10 years ago
• Copy of previously issued visas with entry & exit stamps (if there's any)
• Evidence of legal residence - for Qatari Residents, it is the Residence Permit a.k.a. QATAR ID 
• should be valid for at least 3 months
• Tip: if you are working but on husband/father sponsorship, include the Labour Card for proof of employment           

• Photo
• A passport photo that meets Dutch passport requirements. This photo cannot have been taken more than 6 months agoand must bear a clear resemblance. 
• See:https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/brochures/2014/02/11/photomatrix-guidelines-2007.

• Proof of travel
•  Travel itinerary (travel reservations to and from Schengen in your name, not a ticket) - this is the most confusing of all. You don't need to make a list of where you are going. It is as simple as plane booking or reservation (i repeat, booking not ticket which means it should be cancelable)
• Hotel reservation - a cancelable reservation that should match the dates of your plane reservation
• Bank statements of the last three months - the million dollar question, "how much should be on your account?" Who knows? It depends on how long you'll stay and how much will be the total cost of the tour. I'd say, it should be a little over the expected expenses during your travel. When Financial Capacity is asked, it should be enough to nourish the tourism of the country you wanted to visit.
• If you are employed: a declaration from your employer stating the period of absence ; Documents proving that you will return to your own country after your trip; & Documents proving your visit is for tourist purposes - a.k.a. Noc for Travel. It should match the salary in your bank account, should be on Company Letterhead, should be signed and stamped by authorized signatory.
• sample of my Salary Certificate/NOC                                                                                       

• Proof of health insurance  
• The insurance policy has been taken out in your name
• Your insurance is valid throughout the Schengen area and for the duration of your stay.
• At least €30.000 of medical costs are reimbursed, including hospital care, emergency
• I got mine at AXA via online (click here). However, I wanted to make sure that it will be accepted by the consul so I opted to go to their City Centre branch and get it stamped. 

• Visa 
• A visa, residence permit or passport which gives entry to your final destination after your visit to the Schengen area
• if your final destination is Qatar, then it is the Qatar ID

• Payment
• Visa Fees (regular)- QR 256
• Processing fees - QR 120
• SMS notification fees - QR8 (if you're excited, this is essential)
• Make sure to bring cash as they do not have POS Machine (Card).

Processing Time:

Contact Details:

3rd Floor (301) Jaidah Square, Al Matar Street (Airport Road), Doha, Qatar

Submission Timings:

09:00 to 16:00 (Sunday – Thursday. Except on Public Holidays.)

Passport collection time:

16:00 to 17:00 (Sunday – Thursday. Except on Public Holidays)

Ramadan Timings:

Application Submission: 09:00 - 14:00 (Sunday – Thursday, Except Holidays)

Passport Collection: 14:00 - 15:00 (Sunday – Thursday, Except Holidays)

For information through the call center:

+974 44069001 between 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 15:00(Sunday – Thursday. Except on Public Holidays)
email: info.netherlands@vfshelpline.com




Disclaimer: The above are only guidelines and does not guarantee approval of Visa. Rates may change without prior notice. These are all as per my personal experience during my application on November 2017.

I missed taking photographs.


It was not so long ago when I was at a height of being a millennial -- going out almost every night. Busy with street photography, with jiujitsu, a bit of blogging and everything in between. I don't even know to fix my loaded schedule during off-days.


It was also then that I have numerous blog ideas, and then poof! I lost interest in anything.


I slowly feel that going out doesn't give fun anymore. That I'd rather spend my night lying on my bed, doing nothing. I'm becoming a Tita (Aunt/Mid-aged woman).


I am afraid to get old, to get old without anyone to grow old with. I am afraid that all the emotions I had invested for my friends will be of waste. Nobody will really stay with me until the end. And when you give your trust to someone but that someone wants something more. wants to go over the boundary. and you feel abused. you feel mistreated. you feel not sufficient. you feel unloved. you feel unworthy. you feel unappreciated.


I am this girl, trying to be tough, trying to look strong. But dying inside in reality.


This might be the middle-life-crisis thingy they are talking about. When you don't really have a problem but you are kind of depressed in something. Something you cannot pin-point. Something you are frustrated about is swallowing your identity. You don't know what to think anymore. You don't know what you like. You are on auto-pilot. You just let things the way it is. or the way it was.






And now here i am, picking up the pieces where I left off




Yes, at some point in your life, you travel through the path of the unknown






And though I always say that I’m okay. Sometimes it’s easier to say you’re fine rather that explaining why you are not.


I am also needing the same affection that I am giving to others. It’s true that in any aspect of love, you don’t expect something in return, but you wish to have that affirmation to get going.






What a lovely feeling if all the efforts you’ve put through are acknowledged and if not equally compensated, at least, valued.







EDIT: 14 August 2018

I randomly wrote this sometime March this year when I wanted to put something in the blog but don't know where to start, a travel blog, a food blog perhaps. Then I have sunk into these thoughts.

I'll just leave it unedited with all those huge spacing to preserve the emotions I had at that point in time.

90 Seconds.


What's behind Mc Donald's Kitchen? How long does it takes to serve the meal? How do they retain freshness of food?



It takes around 90 seconds, on the average, for your food to be served from the time you've ordered. We'll of course it all depends on how many meals you've ordered.

1. Getting the order

Orders are taken from "Point-of-Sale" and will be passed to the kitchen – a systematic procedure to ensure that all orders are being served accurately and will meet the expected allocated time leading to a productive sale and of course, customer satisfaction.



You can also order directly from the kiosk...

2. Preparing

Each item in the menu are being cooked separately and each is set to have specific cooking time.


Staffs are so quick at wrapping burgers.

3. Serving

You can check the status of your order at their digital board.




But what's best about Mc Donald's is their commitment to serve fresh and clean  food at clean environment.

Separate Gloves for food to avoid cross-contamination: Blue for raw; clear for cooked and ready to eat food

Checking the oil status manually and their state of the art kitchen equipments that have indicator for oil change

Hand wash is a must

Storage

Big thanks to Mr. Ujjal & Ms. Lala of Al Mirqab Branch for accommodating us during the Kitchen Tour.

Photo by @bestlifeqatar

And yey! I've tried to swirl an ice cream!!  ❤️️

A post shared by Melody Mendoza (@ms.melodyrose) on Nov 16, 2017 at 6:25am PST

Send a private message to @mcdonaldsqatar to book your visit.

Watch how our work flows and join us behind the scenes! Book your kitchen visit today by sending us a private message. #KnockKnock

A post shared by McDonaldsQatar (@mcdonaldsqatar) on Apr 17, 2017 at 11:00pm PDT

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