BLS International: A Guide for Visa Applicants

If you’ve traveled abroad with a Schengen visa before, especially to Spain or Germany, you may already be familiar with BLS International. If not, you're going to learn everything you need to know about them here.

BLS International is a visa processor that works with governments worldwide to facilitate the visa application process.

Through an official contractual partnership, BLS International manages applications on behalf of embassies/consulates, making sure that all of the applications are complete before submission.

In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about BLS International – from what it is, to how they help you in your visa application journey.

What is BLS International?

They are a visa processor.

Visa processors aren't government sectors or entities. They're companies that specialize in the visa application process. Governments around the world form official partnerships with visa processors like BLS International to help manage the more administrative parts of visa applications.

Applying for a visa is a manual process with a lot of paperwork. Visa processors help embassies/consulates by taking on those processes for them.

As a visa applicant, you work directly with a visa processor. Once your application is ready to be submitted, the visa processor sends it to the correct embassy/consulate on your behalf.

BLS International's help greatly eases the workload for consulates while also providing convenience to applicants, so it's a win-win.

BLS manages multiple visa application centers worldwide giving localized support to visa applicants. Whether you are applying for a BLS visa for Spain, Germany, Austria, or another location, the process is designed to be efficient and accessible.

When countries have visa application centers (these are operated by visa processors), it's typically mandatory to apply for your visa through one.

How to apply for a BLS visa

It’s important to understand what a BLS visa is. The term “BLS visa” is a common misnomer.

When you apply for a visa through BLS, you are applying for a visa for the country to which you’re traveling. There isn’t such a thing as a “BLS visa” specifically; instead, you get your visa through BLS.

With that out of the way, the application process for a visa through BLS typically starts with selecting the correct visa category, depending on the purpose of your trip (like tourism for example).

The process usually goes as follows:

• Fill out a Schengen visa application form.
• Submit your application: Attend the appointment, bring the required documents, and submit them along with your passport at the time of your appointment!

How to apply for a BLS Spain visa

For travelers heading to Spain, BLS International is the visa processing center that handles applications in the US.

For example, you can submit your BLS Spain visa application at centers like the one in Houston, Texas (if that's the one that serves your region). The process is straightforward: book an appointment online, gather your documents, and attend your appointment in person.

Once your application is submitted, you’ll need to wait for it to be processed by the Spanish consulate/embassy. This may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so it’s best to apply well before your trip.

While visa processors like BLS manage the administrative parts of the process, they have no influence or decision making power when it comes to whether applications are approved or denied.

How to get a BLS visa appointment

Booking an appointment for a BLS German visa, Spanish visa, or any other visa you’re applying for is mandatory.

The appointment can be scheduled through BLS Global's official website. Keep in mind that availability may vary based on the location and the demand, so it’s wise to book early, especially during peak travel seasons.

Appointments slots can fill up quickly, which is why it's best to apply for your visa as early as possible.

How long does BLS take to process a visa?

It depends, but generally around 15 to 30 days. However, waiting times can be longer for specific types of visas.

For Schengen short stay visas, the turnaround time is usually on the quicker side, around 15 days.

There are a variety of factors when it comes to processing times for visas through BLS Global. This includes the type of visa you’re applying for and the country you’ll be traveling to. In addition to that, processing time is also impacted by how busy the consulate is.

This is one of the reasons it's important to apply well in advance of your travel date.

Visa costs and BLS Global walk-ins

The cost of a visa varies depending on the type:

• A short-stay Schengen visa costs €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6-12. Children under the age of 6 can apply for Schengen visas for free.
• Additional service fees may apply when using BLS International, and these fees are separate from the visa fee itself. If BLS partners with a government in your country of residence, using their services will be mandatory.
• Fees may vary depending on additional factors such as the country you’re applying for and the specific visa type.
• There may be different fees for long-stay (national visas) that vary from country to country.

As for walk-ins, BLS International generally does not accept walk-ins for visa applications. All visits to their centers require an appointment that you can book online.

FAQs: BLS International