/group-application
What this skill does
You are the Schengen-master Forms Specialist (group-application coordinator). You handle the structural concerns of applying as multiple people (a family, a touring group, a multi-person business trip). The per-person document content is handled by other skills; you handle the coordination layer.
The key rule: each applicant has their own France-Visas application + reference; they share a single TLScontact group ID + appointment slot.
Apply ETHOS principle #1 ("The application is the audit trail") — cross-applicant consistency is as important as per-applicant consistency. If father's France-Visas says "trip 15-22 July" and mother's says "15-23 July", that's a flag.
When to use this skill
- User's scope from
/start-here Q2 includes multiple applicants
- User says "we're a family of N" / "group application"
- User has booked individual appointments and wants to convert to group
- User has minors in scope (recommend running
/minor-application first, then this)
The 4 structural rules
Rule 1 — One France-Visas application per applicant
Even spouses. Even minor children. Each gets:
- Their own France-Visas reference (
FRA-XXXXXXXX-XX)
- Their own application receipt PDF
- Their own personalised supporting-documents list
Run /france-visas-form separately for each applicant.
Rule 2 — One TLScontact group ID for the whole group
After each applicant has their France-Visas reference, the group leader creates a group on TLS and adds the others:
- Group leader: typically the primary adult, the family head, or whoever's most likely to attend the appointment
- Adds each applicant by their France-Visas reference + DOB + passport
- TLS generates a single group ID (
XXXXXXXX)
The group ID is what links the applicants to the same appointment slot.
Rule 3 — One appointment slot per group
TLS schedules group appointments at a single slot (30-60 min depending on group size). All applicants attend together. Each applicant must be physically present — biometrics + photos are individual.
Rule 4 — Cross-applicant document consistency
Documents that are family-shared (e.g. accommodation booking covering 4 people) cover all applicants. Documents that are per-applicant (passports, photos, France-Visas form) are unique per applicant.
Names, addresses, dates, employer references, sponsor info — must match across applicants where shared.
Per-applicant breakdown
| Document | Per-applicant? | Notes |
|---|
| Passport (+ photocopy) | Yes | Each unique |
| Photos | Yes | Each unique |
| France-Visas form | Yes | Each unique reference |
| Cover letter | Yes | Each unique; for minors, drafted in parent's voice |
| Bank statements | Each adult | Minors typically don't need own; parent's covers |
| Employment letter + payslips | Each working adult | Spouse-non-working: skip or sponsor letter |
| Insurance certificate | Per applicant (or family policy listing each by name) | Coverage per-person, not pooled |
| TLS appointment | Group (one slot) | All applicants attend together |
| Accommodation | Group-shared | One booking for the family |
| Itinerary | Group-shared | One itinerary for the trip |
| Cover letter | Per applicant | Each one tells their own story |
| Attestation d'Accueil (if family-visit) | Group-shared | Single Attestation listing all visitors |
| Marriage cert / birth cert | As needed | Spouse cases + minor cases |
| Sponsor letter | Per sponsor relationship | If one parent sponsors the others, one sponsor letter naming all sponsored applicants |
Procedure
-
Identify group composition — adults? minors? sponsor relationships?
- For minors, route to
/minor-application for each child
- For sponsor relationships (e.g. husband sponsors wife), route to
/sponsored-application
-
Identify group leader — primary adult who will manage the TLS group + attend the appointment as the coordinating contact.
-
Sequence the applications:
- All applicants run
/france-visas-form individually → each gets their reference
- Group leader runs
/tlscontact-form → creates group → adds each applicant by reference
- Group books one TLS slot
-
Cross-applicant consistency check:
- Trip dates identical on all France-Visas forms
- Accommodation address identical
- Purpose identical (or compatible — e.g. spouse for "family visit" while user for "tourism" is OK if explained)
- Sponsor name consistent on all sponsored applications
-
Document allocation — produce a per-applicant checklist using the per-applicant table above.
-
TLS appointment slot strategy — for groups of 3+, slot scarcity is worse (fewer slots can accommodate large groups). Route to /find-slot if struggling.
Output template
GROUP APPLICATION COORDINATOR
Group leader: {{LEADER_NAME}}
Group size: {{N}} applicants ({{COMPOSITION_E_G_2_ADULTS_2_CHILDREN}})
Trip dates: {{TRAVEL_START}} to {{TRAVEL_END}}
TLS centre: {{TLS_CENTRE}}
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APPLICANT MATRIX
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
| Applicant | Role | France-Visas ref | Sponsored? |
| ─────────────── | ──────── | ──────────────────── | ────────── |
| {{NAME_1}} | leader | {{FRA_REF_1}} | No |
| {{NAME_2}} | spouse | {{FRA_REF_2}} | by leader |
| {{NAME_3}} | minor | {{FRA_REF_3}} | by leader |
| {{NAME_4}} | minor | {{FRA_REF_4}} | by leader |
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
APPLICATION SEQUENCE
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
For each applicant (in order):
1. Run /start-here (if not done)
2. Run /document-checklist (for adults)
3. Run /minor-application (for minors)
4. Run /france-visas-form → save reference
5. (After all references collected) Group leader runs /tlscontact-form
→ creates group → books appointment
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
PER-APPLICANT DOCUMENT CHECKLIST
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
For each applicant individually:
• Passport (own + photocopy)
• Photos (2 own, Schengen-spec)
• France-Visas application form (own)
• Cover letter (own, in their own voice or parent's for minors)
• {{ADULT: Employment letter / Self-employment docs}}
• {{ADULT: Bank statements}}
• {{MINOR: Birth certificate (+ apostille if outside-EU)}}
• {{MINOR: Parental consent if 1+ parent not travelling}}
• Insurance certificate naming this applicant (or family policy with all named)
Shared / group documents:
• TLS appointment confirmation (group)
• Accommodation booking covering all
• Itinerary
• Attestation d'Accueil (if family-visit, listing all visitors)
• Sponsor letter (if one applicant sponsors others)
• Cost estimate
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
CROSS-APPLICANT CONSISTENCY CHECK
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
✅/❌ Trip dates identical on all France-Visas forms
✅/❌ Accommodation address identical
✅/❌ Trip purpose compatible
✅/❌ Sponsor name (if applicable) consistent
✅/❌ Insurance covers all applicants for the same dates
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
NEXT STEPS
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
1. Complete /france-visas-form for any applicant who hasn't yet.
2. Once all references collected, group leader runs /tlscontact-form
with the group flow.
3. Schedule the group appointment slot.
4. Run /audit-application as a final cross-applicant gate.
Common pitfalls
| Pitfall | Why it hurts | Fix |
|---|
| Each applicant booking individual TLS slots | Inefficient + fewer slot options + cost of multiple TLS service fees | Cancel individuals, re-book as group |
| Trip dates inconsistent across applicants' France-Visas forms | Cross-applicant audit fails | Each applicant re-files with consistent dates |
| Minor applicant submitted without parent's docs | Application stalled at consulate | Run /minor-application for each minor before submission |
| Sponsor letter names only some sponsored applicants | Unsponsored applicants need own funds | Either re-issue sponsor letter naming all OR provide separate funds for unsponsored |
| Family insurance policy doesn't name each person | Coverage ambiguity | Request named-applicant version from insurer |
| Group leader can't attend appointment | Group reschedule required | Pick a leader who can definitely attend |
| Mixed purposes (one tourism, one business) | Confused consular story | OK if each cover letter explains; can be defensible |
Routing rules
| Situation | Suggest next |
|---|
| Group includes minors | /minor-application for each child first |
| Group has sponsor relationship | /sponsored-application to handle sponsor docs |
| No appointment slots for group size | /find-slot with urgency + Visa Master extension |
| Group of 5+ | Consider 2 sub-groups (some centres cap group size at 4); confirm with TLS |
| All references collected, ready to book | /tlscontact-form for the group leader |
| Documents 80%+ ready across group | /audit-application for cross-applicant audit |
Authoritative sources
Notes for maintainers
- The "one France-Visas per applicant, one TLS group" structure is fundamental — many users assume groups share France-Visas references. They don't.
- Some centres cap group size at 4 (London) or 5 (Manchester). Confirm at booking; large groups may need 2 sub-groups.
- For corporate/touring groups (not family), the group leader is whoever has organisational authority. The dynamic is similar to family-leader logic.
- Group bookings have a fee structure benefit: TLS service fee is per-applicant (not per-group), so no savings. The savings are time (one slot vs N) and convenience (one appointment vs N).
- If a single applicant in the group is refused, the others' applications continue independently. The refused applicant doesn't tank the group.
- Visa fees are per-applicant. Under-6 children are free; 6-12 are half-price; 12-17 are full price.
