Don't forget that the Schengen visa is free for spouses and families of EU citizens and the documentary requirements are not so onerous. We generally found the German embassy to be the easiest because you used to be able to deposit the papers via the honorary consul in Basel and after the initial visa they gave 2 or 3 year visas. In Nov 2008 Schengen visas should not be required for B permit holders or C permit holders , not sure about L permits etc. ash