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kdynamic

Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:52 am Post subject: A few visa questions |
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I did a search on the web and on this site but am still left with a few questions. I know this is an English teaching forum and this is a bit off topic, but I am hoping some of you might know the answers or can point me to a more appropriate forum.
Background: I have a US passport, a bachelor's degree, and don't really need to work for a while (though it would be nice if I could).
1) If I go to Spain as a visitor, my understanding is that I can stay 3 months. Is is common for people to leave and come back and stay another 3 months, or will they detain you if you come in and out to get a backdoor visa extension?
2) If I go as a visitor, and then sign up at a school to learn Spanish, can I switch to a student visa? All the information I see says you must be enrolled "full time" but how is full time defined? Will I need to go to my home country to process the new visa? Or leave Spain at all?
3) Are people allowed to work at all on a student visa? part time?
Lastly, do the answers to the above apply equally to other EU countries, or will it vary?
Thank you!
(In case anyone is curious, the reason I am asking is because my boyfriend is going to get a job in the EU - perhaps Spain - and I am trying to figure out how I can go with him. He's not an EU citizen but will get a visa through his employment). |
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jonniboy
Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Panama City, Panama
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Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 11:55 am Post subject: Re: A few visa questions |
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kdynamic wrote: |
If I go to Spain as a visitor, my understanding is that I can stay 3 months. Is is common for people to leave and come back and stay another 3 months, or will they detain you if you come in and out to get a backdoor visa extension? |
Google the Schengen agreement which Spain falls under. It's set up specifically to prevent people doing the "visa shuffle" as your Schengen visa states that you can only spend 90 days out of every 180 in the entire Schengen zone. That means if you stay there 90 days then, in order to keep to the rules, you'd need to leave for 90 days before reentering.
In practice you'd probably be fine overstaying your visa in Spain provided you don't attempt any holidays outside the area. |
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spiral78

Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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You might check the opportunities for visas under your boyfriend's company. Probably you'd have to be married, but some international companies have special deals with government to cover spouses of their staff. This is how I gained legal work in the Netherlands, though my US passport absolutely excluded me from working there. |
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kdynamic

Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 562 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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unfortunately, getting married really isnt an option right now. And I don't really need a work visa. Does anyone know about student visas? Can I get one if I am already in the country? |
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