Job Discussion Forums

[EmmaWhite22]

Hi all!

I'm a 24 year old American teacher moving from California to Madrid. I already have a job lined up in an International School that employs Americans, usually without work permits (like how my situation will be!) I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me about the best way to keep my head down and avoid running into situations in Spain where I could risk being punished/deported.
Obviously I will tell people who ask that I am a tourist, I have a return ticket to the U.S. already. I also, having taught for two years in Europe under a similar-but-slightly-more-legal situation, have found that traveling through UK airports is where people seem more likely to drill you on your documentation. I do plan to travel a fair bit while I'm there, however (I know Americans need to travel out of a Shengen country (sp?) every three months to keep their travel visa valid) and am slightly concerned I know the exact rules regarding this.
If anyone else has other experiences, thoughts, or opinions on this, I would love to hear them!

Thanks,
Emma

[spiral78]

Why won't a valid International school get you a visa? Sounds shady...
hopefully other conditions (pay, etc.) will be as they should.

Anyway, you've got a few easy travel options outside the Schengen zone. Dubrovnik or Split, Croatia, are really nice destinations with decent airports to which lots of discount airlines fly - and you can be sure to get stamps there. Turkey and North Africa also have some great holiday destinations where you can be sure to get a stamp.

You're slightly unlucky in terms of Schengen zone timing, as the zone has just expanded to include Poland, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Hungary, Estonia, and other new EU member countries.

[spiral78]

Oh, by the way -you technically have to spend 90 days outside Schengen to keep your visa valid after every 90 days inside. A weekend hop isn't really going to keep you kosher these days...

Google 'Schengen' or see the weblink in the Czech Rep forum for details.

[jonniboy]

As Spiral says it's not just as simple as hopping away for a long weekend every three months. Schengen is specifically designed to stop people doing "visa hops." Your Schengen visa states that you can only spend 90 days out of every 180 in the zone. Basically that means that if you stay 90 days and then leave, you need to stay away for at least three months.

Bluntly that means that to reduce your risks you should forget about three month exits, since they will only increase your chances of getting caught and deported. Also avoid UK and Ireland completely. For me I would say that the new countries joining is a blessing for you as you can see more countries without having your passport inspected at a Schengen border. Also be advised that for most of the countries that have joined this month, passport inspections still apply at airports. In Riga for example I know that the reason for this is that there are no seperate departure lounges so that passport inspections are necessary for all travellers.

[spiral78]

Still true in Prague, as well - passport control won't end for a few more months.

Also, word on the street is that more random checks will be done to ensure that people aren't overstaying. Of course, since North Americans are still eligible for work permits in the Czech Rep and other 'new' EU member countries, the option still exists for them to work/live legally, without the stress of being illegal.

[EmmaWhite22]

Thanks for the info guys.
The school offered to get me a work permit, but I believe it's a lengthy process and I'm only working there through the end of June.

Has anyone ever heard of/known of anyone who's been deported or fined for overstaying a visa? If someone asks me and I've overstayed, is it best just to play dumb and say I didn't know? I also feel like I've heard of people who travel in Europe for 6 months and more, is this something people could do in the past but not now? Or has it always been illegal?

Thanks guys,
Emma

[Insubordination]

I'm not sure whether it's always been illegal to travel more than that in Schengen. All my Aussie friends do.

Do you really think they'll implement it? It doesn't sound economically wise. Tourism is a huge industry. Less controlled borders would help the industry but if a tourist is restricted to 90 days in Schengen and can't go back for 3 months, they will take their tourist $$ to other regions after that period ("Our visa's up, we haven't seen Germany or Sweden yet but we're not allowed to stay longer without getting in legal. Screw this, let's go to Asia.") Can't see how the EU would allow that with all the businesses that would be affected.

I can't think of many Aussie/Kiwi/Yank/Canuck/S.Af students/gap year/backpackers who spend fewer than 90 days in Schengen. Even though they don't seem like it, backpackers are the lifeblood of the tourism industry. 180 days seems more appropriate.

Surely there are other ways to stop illegal workers.

[spiral78]

It HAS BEEN implemented. There's no question. Economics nothwithstanding.

In the past, the Schengen zone was smaller than now - easier to exit. And there was no requirement to stay out for 90 days, as there is now - you could just go for a weekend, get a stamp, and be fine.

OP, if you're going to be there for six months, I'd take the school up on the offer to get you a visa. Even if there isn't time to actually get it, the fact that paperwork has been filed on your behalf is likely to make any interested authorities much less inclined to throw the book at you.

In new Schengen countries, at least up to now, the fact that paperwork is officially pending has been cause to let people be, so long as they aren't visibly involved in criminal behavior.