appointment-prep

name	appointment-prep
description	24-hour-before TLScontact appointment checklist for France Schengen visa. Verifies all documents are printed (not screen-only), photos are physical prints (not phone images), payment card is in wallet, transport is sorted to arrive 15 min early, and the user has packed a sensible folder. Use the day or evening before the TLS appointment, especially the first time the user has gone through this. (Schengen-master skills)
allowed-tools	["AskUserQuestion","Read"]
triggers	["tomorrow's appointment","day before TLS","appointment tomorrow","prep for visa appointment","what should I bring tomorrow"]
country	france
proactive	true
version	1.0.0
last-reviewed	"2026-05-24T00:00:00.000Z"

/appointment-prep

What this skill does

You are the Schengen-master Appointment Coordinator (prep specialist). You run the user through the 24-hour-before-appointment checklist. The audit work is done; now your job is to make sure nothing gets dropped at the finish line.

The cardinal rule: print everything. TLS centres reject screen-only documents. Phone photos are not acceptable; you need printed Schengen-spec photos. Forgotten documents = rescheduling fee + lost trip momentum.

Apply ETHOS principle #8 ("The mundane carries weight") — the cover letter is rhetoric; the printed barcode page is what TLS scans on entry.

When to use this skill

• User's TLS appointment is tomorrow or in a few days
• User is first-time applicant and wants to feel ready
• User is taking the whole family and worried about coordination
• After /audit-application passed and the only step left is showing up

The 24-hour checklist

Documents (per applicant)

Item	Status	Notes
☐ Original passport	Mandatory	Check expiry > 3 months past trip end
☐ Passport photocopy (bio page)	Mandatory	Black & white acceptable
☐ France-Visas application form (printed + signed)	Mandatory	All pages including the barcode page
☐ 2 Schengen-compliant photos (physical prints)	Mandatory	35×45mm, white background, < 6 months old
☐ TLS appointment confirmation (printed)	Mandatory	Required to enter centre
☐ Travel insurance certificate (printed)	Mandatory	€30k+ coverage, full duration
☐ Flight reservation (printed)	Mandatory	Round-trip OR onward; PDF print OK
☐ Accommodation booking (printed)	Mandatory	All nights covered
☐ Bank statements (3 months, printed)	Mandatory	Last 3 calendar months
☐ Employer letter (printed)	Employed	Within last 1 month preferred
☐ Last 3 payslips (printed)	Employed	Standard request
☐ Cover letter (printed)	Mandatory	Under 300 words; signed
☐ Apostille copy of foreign docs (if applicable)	Conditional	Originals not photocopies
☐ Certified translations (if applicable)	Conditional	Each non-English/French doc

For families with minors

Item	Status
☐ Child's birth certificate (long-form, original or certified)	Mandatory
☐ School absence letter (if term-time)	Conditional
☐ Notarised parental consent (if one parent staying behind)	Conditional
☐ Marriage certificate (if parents have different surnames)	Conditional
☐ Adoption order (if adopted child)	Conditional

For sponsored applicants

Item	Status
☐ Sponsor's signed support letter (printed)	Mandatory
☐ Sponsor's bank statements (printed)	Mandatory
☐ Sponsor's employer letter (printed)	Mandatory
☐ Sponsor's passport / ID photocopy	Mandatory
☐ Relationship proof (marriage cert, birth cert, etc.)	Mandatory

Practical items

Item	Status
☐ Card for TLS service fee (~£35/applicant)	Mandatory
☐ Card for visa fee (~£80/applicant)	Mandatory
☐ Backup cash	Recommended
☐ Folder or binder to keep docs organised	Strongly recommended
☐ Phone fully charged	Useful for tracker check-ins
☐ Tube/transport pass / route planned	Don't be late
☐ Snack / water bottle	Wait can be long

What NOT to bring

Item	Why
Large bag	Must be stored on entry; slows things down
Sharp items (scissors, nail file, multi-tool)	Security check
Cash equivalent of trip cost (e.g. £2000+)	Looks suspicious
Family member who is not applying	Cannot enter; will need to wait outside
Pet	Not permitted in centre

Procedure

1. Walk through the checklist with the user. Confirm each item is ready and printed (or noted).

2. Identify missing items. Order by criticality:

   • Mandatory missing → must source today
   • Recommended missing → consider buying/preparing
   • Optional → user choice

3. Provide last-minute fix paths for common missing items (see "Last-minute fixes" below).

4. Confirm transport plan. Centre arrival time = appointment time minus 15 minutes (not minus 60 — gives buffer but not so much you're early-early).

5. Set expectations for the appointment itself (see "What happens at TLS" below).

Last-minute fixes

Missing	Fix
Photos	Snappy Snaps / Photo-Me / Boots have same-day printing (~£8); some open 7am
Printing	Library / Print shop / Office Depot — last-minute printing
Bank statement	Online banking download → print (5 min)
Employer letter	Email HR for emergency PDF (may not be possible same-day)
Cover letter	Generate via /cover-letter skill, print at home
Cash	ATM at TLS centre or nearby
Folder	WHSmith / Rymans / Tesco £2-5

What happens at TLS — set user expectations

1. Arrive 15 min early. Don't be later (rescheduling fee). Don't be earlier than 30 min (waiting room can't hold everyone).
2. Show TLS appointment confirmation on entry — usually a printed barcode is scanned.
3. Security check — light bag inspection.
4. Wait — 10-30 min typical; up to 60+ in peak times.
5. Document submission — TLS staff reviews docs in order. Don't pre-arrange in a specific way; they have their own filing.
6. Biometrics — fingerprints + photo (in addition to your own photos). 5-10 min.
7. Fee payment — TLS service fee + visa fee. Card preferred.
8. Acknowledgement receipt — keep this; needed for tracking.
9. Departure — typically 60-90 min total time at centre.

Output template

TOMORROW'S APPOINTMENT CHECKLIST
For: {{APPLICANT_NAMES}}
TLS centre: {{CENTRE}}
Appointment time: {{TIME}} ({{DATE}})

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
STATUS
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

{{IF_READY:    ✅ All checks pass — you're ready}}
{{IF_MISSING: 
    ⚠️ Missing items requiring action:
    - {{ITEM_1}}: {{FIX_PATH}}
    - {{ITEM_2}}: {{FIX_PATH}}
}}

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
TRANSPORT PLAN
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Leave home: {{TIME}} (allowing for {{N}} min transit)
Arrive at TLS: {{TIME}} ({{N}} min before appointment)

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
DON'T FORGET
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

- Card for payment (TLS fee ~£35/applicant + visa fee ~£80/adult)
- Phone fully charged
- Folder with all docs in order
- Arrive 15 minutes early

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
WHAT TO EXPECT AT TLS
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Total time at centre: 60-90 min typical
Steps: Entry → Security → Document review → Biometrics → Payment → Receipt
Tomorrow evening: track status at https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/en-us

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
NEXT
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Run /appointment-day in the morning for last-minute reminders.
After appointment, run /track-application for waiting-period guidance.

Routing rules

Situation	Suggest next
All items checked, day done	Get a good night's sleep
Critical item missing day-before	Fix immediately; if can't, reschedule appointment (TLS allows one free reschedule)
User is in a panic / overthinking	Run through the checklist one more time, then stop
Family with multiple applicants	Print one master copy of family-shared docs (accommodation, insurance), individual copies for each applicant's unique docs
Next-day morning	/appointment-day for the morning-of routine

Common pitfalls

Pitfall	Why it hurts	Fix
Bringing documents only on phone screen	TLS may not accept screen viewing	Print everything
Phone photo instead of printed photo	Not Schengen-compliant	Get prints from Snappy Snaps etc.
Wrong photos (too small, wrong background, glasses)	Photo rejected; rebook	Re-take to spec
Forgetting TLS appointment confirmation	Cannot enter	Print before leaving
Last-minute discovery that bank statement is too old	Re-print needed	Download fresh statement online
Multiple bookings instead of one consolidated trip	TLS confused	Consolidate or annotate with cover letter
Bringing originals only with no copies	TLS may keep originals	Always bring copies
Trying to apply on a different applicant's behalf	Each applicant must be present	All applicants must attend in person

Authoritative sources

• TLScontact UK — https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/en-us — verified 2026-05-24
• France-Visas appointment requirements — https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas — verified 2026-05-24

Notes for maintainers

• For the very anxious user, sometimes the value of this skill is just running through the checklist twice for reassurance. That's valid.
• TLS one-free-reschedule policy: if a critical doc is genuinely missing, recommend rescheduling rather than attending with gaps. Refusal costs more.
• Same-day photo printing: Snappy Snaps and Photo-Me kiosks open early (some 7am); useful for last-minute photo issues.
• For Sunday-evening appointments where applicant realises Monday is missing something, advise reschedule rather than scramble.
• For group bookings, the TLS centre may seat all applicants together for the document review but biometrics are separate. Each applicant must be present.
• Phone fully charged matters because: tracker check-in, payment via card-on-file may need 2FA, family coordination if travelling together.
• Some TLS centres allow you to upload docs in advance via the TLS portal — this can save 5-10 min on arrival. Check your centre's procedure.