Six Months in Europe

Kiki,

I'm not sure it's going to be easy to "coordinate this with the Schengen fiascos" as you might think. The terms of the Schengen Visa for non-EU residents are quite specific and those who wish to stay longer than the 3-month period must spend a set time outside the Schengen zone before returning. A "weekend trip to Morocco or something" will not be adequate! As I understand the regulations, extensions to the 3-month limit are virtually NEVER granted!

There have been some good posts on the subject here in the last month or so by Kent and others. You may wish to do a search to get more specific details.

It would be a good idea to take the regulations seriously, as if you're caught you could be deported and banned from returning to Europe for a LONG time!

Good luck!

What Ken says is true, Kiki. Research this very carefully before you go or you may end up with problems. As you are students, you could try for a student visa, but these are not usually for a year, you may get 180 days unless you are enrolled in a school over there, but they have the advantage that it may well allow you to work when in the EU, which would ease your money requirements.

"We're definitely planning on staying over three months."I realize this is going to be disappointing, but what we've learned here after some lengthy discussions and research is:You can't legally stay in the Schengen zone (25 European conutries) more than 3 months in the 6 months following the date of first entry into the Schengen zone. A weekend trip to Morocco, or anywhere else, won't reset the clock.Here are the details: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=24928I wish we had better news for you. But 3 months is a nice vacation, and you can extend it with additional time in the UK.

After posting, I did do some lengthy research myself and realized what I didn't know before, which is that we cannot stay over three months in the Schengen zones. We will be applying for visas now though, so keep your fingers crossed that we can get them.

Thanks!
Kiki

It's really not the end of the world to have to get a visa. It's more work than traveling to a country that doesn't require a visa and you have to plan ahead. I've never had one turned down.

Check out the Visa. You will certainly be quizzed about your plans, where you may be staying, and you may have to show evidence of financial stability/support, and possibly even provide information on healthcare coverage. For a Schengen visa, you can apply to any of the member nations, you are supposed to apply to the country where you will primarily be residing and ideally your arrival country, but in practice, a visa from one is a visa to all. That of course begs the question "Is there a Schengen country that is more lenient or easier to work with in getting a Visa?" I don't know, but maybe worth checking out on other forums. Aside from that, you could plan a trip that works within the 90 days limit. Basically, if you could limit yourself to 90 days in the Schengen zone, spending the rest of the time outside of the zone, you will be fine. This is now more difficult since Poland, Chzech Rep., Switzerland and other countries recently joined the Schengen treaty, but that still leaves Ireland, Britain, Croatia, Turkey, Romania, and a few other Eastern and Balkan nations as options (plus Morocco and Tunisia). The 90 days in the Schengen countries can be broken up with trips to these other places and need not be consecutive.