Extended 6 month visa

I used to do it all the time. My old passport has numerous visas. As I recall they were for visits up to six months and good for five years. Things may have changed since then. The schengen 90 day visa-waiver has worked well enough that I haven't applied for a Visa since then. We went to St. Petersburg, Russia last year but hired a guide so we could skip the visa ($100+ for the visa vs. $300 for guide, driver and all admissions and no visa). The hassle is sending your passport away to get stamped. I'm not sure if you have consulates in Columbia. If you're lucky, you can visit a consulate instead of mailing your passport to them. The issues that come up are whether you can support yourself during your stay and whether your stay will conform to the limits of your visa. Fortunately, I never had problems with those.

Not a U.S. citizen, so I've applied for a Schengen visa before. While my visa was only for my 3-week trip and not 6 months, I feel like the length of stay is less relevant as long as you can demonstrate that you have the means to support yourself. The main thing they want to know is that you a) don't intend to stay any longer than your visa allows, and b) that you will not rely on public funding while you are there. Do your research. Make sure you include as much detail as you can about how much your stay will cost and how you are going to pay for it. It would help to have an employer who is aware of your trip and expects you to come back at a certain time. As far as mailing your passport -- unless you live within an hour or two of a consulate/embassy, it's not worth it, so you will have to mail your passport in. Yes, it's nervewrecking, but if it's any comfort, I had my passport back with a shiny visa in it within a week of mailing it out.

So basically what I'm hearing is that if you have a guaranteed income stream, and aren't on Interpol's wanted list, it should be a sure thing? I'm trying to get a feel for the process (and the hoops that have to be jumped thru, if any) for a retired US citizen (SSI, pension, med insurance) in 2011, post-Schengen. And maybe no one here has done that.

Probably not many have done it. I think you to gone on the Italian web site and see if any information for an Extend Stay Visa. When we got a student visa for our son for a study abroad program there were a lot of hoops -- he had send copies of bank statements, our bank statements, etc. showing sufficient funds to cover his period of stay, copy of insurance policy, a health record showing no medical problems, and some statements about what he was doing. The cost then was $45, ten years ago, and about 8 weeks. I assume it would be similar for you.

Only the Department of State can accurately answer questions regarding this. I suggest you contact them.

Retired isn't bad. It shows you have a steady income without needing to work during your stay. The other big question is about your intention of returning home prior to your visa expiring. I'm not sure how they handle that. If you own a home in Columbia, that may be all they need.

Elaine: I just listened to a podcast about this issue. It's at http://www.eyeonitaly.com, their January 10 episode. I believe you have to apply through an Italian consulate. Contact info here: http://www.immihelp.com/visas/schengenvisa/italian-consulates-usa.html.

Are you thinking of retiring there?

Elaine, I don't see where you want to spend six months (although both Laurel and Frank refer to Italy). And the country is important: the EU regulations, including the Schengen agreement (Article 18 of the Schengen Convention), explicitly put visas over three months (and immigration) into the national realm. That is one of the areas in which national interests are still much stronger than the will to build a unified Europe. The policies and regulations regarding long visits/short residency vary considerably between the EU nations. "Trying to get a feel for the process" is almost impossible in the abstract.

I've been seriously considering retirement in Germany (where I was born), but since I can't get my German citizenship back (I had to be naturalized in order to serve in the US armed forces), I'd have to go the long way around, as it were. I've been corresponding with an expat who lives in Köln who tells me that if one were to be granted an extended stay visa and live in Germany, one MUST have health insurance, which may be a problem for me due to my Alzheimer's Dementia. As I said, I'm only considering it right now and taking a look at all the specifics. Bill

My mother has recently started to discuss an extended visit to Austria.....(Not sure how Italy came up). Spending a year in Austria was a dream for her and my stepdad - he was Viennese, but he developed Alzheimers, so it never happened. She has niece in Vienna that she is very fond of. Barbara is going thru a difficult time right now with a divorce; at the same time my mother is beginning to question how many more years she has left for European travel. She is 82, her health is very good now, but she is realistic. She is getting ready to relocate from Cape Cod to SC sometime in 2011 or 12 (assuming she can sell the house - real estate market on the Cape is very bad). But now, it just seems like the planets are re-aligning and we are thinking that maybe this is something she should do now. She would apply to the Austrian consulate for a 6 month visa: I doubt the need to contact the US State department. I was hoping someone here might have gone thru this process sometime in the past year or so. I know some of the areas we need to anticipate: proof of steady income, medical insurance, no warrants etc. I'm just trying to get a feel for the "hassle" factor, length of processing time, any unanticipated roadblocks, those kind of things.
I have heard horror stories about getting a visa for Russia - but this is Austria so I'm not expecting a nightmare., but would like the chance to talk with someone who has been thru the process with a Schengen member country. This is still in the "talking" stage but trying to get ducks in a row.

Not sure why I assumed Italy. Following Frank's lead, I guess. :-) I would think the country-specific process would best be explored through the appropriate embassy in any case.

Well, I have to tell y'all ("y'all" :)) that since living here (in the US) since 1960, I have been very VERY fortunate to have succeeded as much as I have, but I am still a "German Boy", and I will be till I die. So while I still have some brain left to enjoy it, I would VERY MUCH like to visit the Schwarzwald again, take a trip on the Rhein, down the "Romantic Road", visit Austria and of course, be with my German family and friends! In short, come back "home". :) I sometimes liken myself to a child from a mixed marriage: neither German nor American to others, but totally German to myself. Thanks Bill

What a nice story. I did some research to help. To clarify, US/Foreign consulates and embassies are within the Department of State's responsibility. It looks like it would be no problem for her to stay up to six months in Austria, but would need an entry permit. I found the following on the Austrian Embassy's website: The following overview should give you an idea whether you will need an entry permit (visa) or a residence permit to enter Austria. U.S. citizens do not need an entry permit (visa) to stay in Austria as either tourists or on a business trip for a period of up to three months. (If you enter Austria under the Visa Waiver Program, you are not allowed to take up any employment there.) If you answer yes to one of the following questions, you will most likely need an entry permit (visa) to enter Austria. Do you pass through Austria in (airport) transit? Do you intend to temporarily visit Austria as a tourist or to see friends or relatives who live in Austria? Are you on a (short-term) business trip to Austria? Will you take part in a conference or a seminar in Austria? Will you attend a German language course (up to six months)? Do you plan to study or to do an internship in Austria for up to six months? Will you be working as a guest professor at an Austrian university for one semester? B) Residence Permit A residence permit is issued to foreign nationals who plan to stay in Austria for more than six months. Embassy of Austria Consular Section 3524 International Court, NW Washington, D.C., 20008 Consulate Office Hours: Monday through Friday,10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (except Austrian and U.S. holidays ) E-mail: [email protected]
Tel.: +1-202-895 6700