pansophist:


Yes, it covers short trips that last for at least 90 days.

When one applies as a family member, there is no such requirement to show that you are coming back, or health insurance, or bank statement, employment documents, or landed properties, etc. The visa is also issued free of charge.

Asking for the above documents contradicts the very essence of such rights. Since no one will ask you any questions if you visit Spain for example, your family member has such a right.

But for such a right to be activated, she has to be a wife, or you prove you have lived together for about six months (Sweden and Netherlands consider it as sufficient proof of a marriage-like relationship).

yeah, unfortunatelly those 45 days over last 2 years, also require us to have known each other for 2 years, which we haven't yet

pansophist:


If you see nothing in the way of marrying her, then do it. Then she can easily come. Otherwise, sadly, the embassy will not give a Nigerian a visa. It's like an unspoken rule right now. If you are applying for a Schengen visa from Nigeria, you are wasting your time. But there is an easier way for her to visit you.

If you can prove that you guys have been in constant communication via electronic messaging such as WhatsApp, and can also prove that you have met each other at least thrice, and spent at least 45 days together within the past two years, then she can apply for a Schengen visa to Belgium under Directive 2004/58/EC.

But in that case, you will have to exercise your right to freedom of movement to Belgium, and then your family member, who is your Nigerian girlfriend, can be a beneficiary of it. Then she will benefit from a special family procedure that is free of charge and a right to a visa.

Or just marry her if the above seems stressful. In any case, you must prove that you guys are cohabitant, married, have a child together, or have a serious relationship. If you can explain to me the intensity of your relationship, I can see how to advise you further.

I don't see anything in our way to get married, but this might be cultural difference, but I would not feel 100% OK with marrying someone I was physically only couple weeks. Thought it crossed my mind many times, however I'm not sure, if it would be helpful due to Slovak laws as it could take up to a year for it to be recognized here.

HOWEVER, the directive you mentioned is actually really really good idea if it applies to tourist visits too. As such visit that would prove that there is no "risk of her not returning to home" in subsequent requests, if we obey the law. That should give us enough time to find out what this relationship really is.

I will find out more, thanks!

pansophist:


No, I don't. I was just shocked that a country that is in the EU, in NATO, in Schengen, and a high youth mobility stares so much at black men in the street. But staring is not a negative experience, just an inconvenience.

A Nigerian guy has a negative experience though. So this Nigerian guy and my Slovak friend fell in love. She was his first love, a Christian, unspoiled, 22-year-old girl but her father refused to get married.

Her father is a typical old-school man who doesn't speak English. When I visited, he was kind, welcoming, and a wonderful guy, but when it was to marry her daughter and take her out of Slovakia, he refused vehemently.

And they ended up breaking up.

About the stares - I thought as much. Its probably like me when I was in Nigeria, but it was more just glances and not staring which I totally understood.
As for the father, this is such common trope here. Sorry about your friend.

pansophist:


Yes, sadly, that's the reality of Nigerian passport holders.

Also, the burden falls more on you to prove your love with actions because you are better off, either by passing through the financial, emotional physical burden of visiting Nigeria or marrying her to make it easy to bring it over when you are not even sure if you want to be together.

Lots of relationships have broken off that way. Because after the love and glory of a relationship, you can't ignore the economic foundation of it. And when you are in a relationship with someone in a lower financial/economic/national bracket than you, then the person that is better off has more burden to carry.

My advice would be to come to visit, it is easier for you. Every country in the world doesn't need a visa to visit the Benin Republic, so apply for an e-visa and come, and she can cross over the border to meet you even without a passport.

Or, pass through the stress of applying for a visa and come visit. The Nigerian embassy in Budapest has territorial competence for applicants applying from Slovakia unless you don't live in Slovakia.

You have to pay the price for what you want. If she is important to you, then come and visit her. Above all, I wish you all the best.

I mentioned in later post, that I have already visited in December. It was trough Austria embassy though. As for any kind of financial bracket, I don't necessary believe in that or was I ever raised in such spirit. Trough some luck I was able to minimize my expenses last year, while having flexible work schedule. So while not being exactly rich, I can throw in helping hand to her if needed, but I'm in no way sugar daddy , also she is too proud to live like that.

Her Schengen Visa were declined unfortunately, so by traveling to foreign country, I'm also trying to improve her travel history for the future. However its proving to be very hard, as the list of requirements is so long for Nigerians, and almost impossible to do, unless you have really good corporate job, which she doesn't

pansophist:


We got a Slovakian here? wow.

I have a very good friend (an ex-classmate) who lives in a small village just like a twenty mins ride from Kosice. I visited her and her family a few times.

When I do, her mother will load my bags with halusky, parenica, cabbage, potatoes, fermented vegetables, etc. They have a farm and live a kind of farmer's life.

They almost gave me a live chicken to take back home, mehn, I rejected it. Thats jail. You are allowed to eat chickens in western Europe, but you can't kill it yourself. Slovakia is free in that aspect.

Slovakia is a beautiful man. The mountains, foods, and culture. I hope it remains that way.

Haha, thats lovely to hear, also like that you know halusky and parenica

Slovaks are very friendly to people they consider their family and friends.
But, can I ask something ? did you have any negative experience traveling/staying there ?

Localboy48:


Have you met the said girlfriend physically?

Of course, I visited Nigeria in December. Met her family and friends in Anambra state.

Localboy48:


Which country are you from?

Slovakia, not sure if that helps the discussion.

Also, noticed that Kenya is on the list, I believe you need an e-visa there.

pansophist:
Unless you live in the West as a Nigerian, visiting most of the non-ecowas visa-free countries requires a transit visa, which means that it's technically not free.

So apart from other African (Ecowas) countries, Nigerians practically have no visa-free country. Now add the rising cost of travel when converted to naira, and then you realize how unfortunate the situation is.

This is so sad, I have a GF from Nigeria, I really would like to take her for holiday, but literally there is no country she can go that would be outside od Ecowas. At least without needing months of preparation.

stevolinkon40:


Offer letter requires you to respond, accepting the offer. Then you get an employment contract stating your hours of work, pay rate and probation period and others. In most case, you will have all the information already on the offer letter but you need an employment letter or reference letter from work for visa purposes.

Thank you so much for response. Indeed all the information was already included in in Offer Letter, however employer of my friend is pretending there is no "Employment Contract"/"Employment Letter" and that there is nothing they can do ("Reference Letter"/"Employment Confirmation" ). Which makes me feel like they are trying to hide something.
(For example officially they allow only 5 vacation days a year which is less than federal minimum I think)

What you said makes sense, but was giving them benefit of the doubt as I'm not local and there is only limited amount of resources for me online.

My friend is attempting to get tourist Visa to a Schengen country, one of the requirements is proof of employment.
He have tried with Offer Letter but it got rejected, when asked at workplace nobody seems to have Employment Contract either.
When asked directly his boss, he is being told that there is only offer letter.

Are they trying to gaslight him or is it common practice to only get an offer letter ?

Work is long term, full time, already there for 2 years +
Thanks