The consulate didn't give me the specifics of what documentation I need in terms having my return ticket checked. It's a ticketless ticket so is the piece of paper with the itinerary on it sufficient? Do they just look at that piece of paper or check it online?
Just an FYI: I did find out that you can't apply for a student visa until you get to Ireland.
Thanks for anyone who knows the answer to the above!
OK so here's what I'm thinking. Please tell me if I'll be in trouble here. I think I can just enter Ireland with my return ticket within 90 days and I'll tell them the truth that it's for a sabbatical, long vacation and music study at the school. I'll show a bank statement showing that I'm set financially for the 90 days. Meanwhile, my student visa will be in process - I shouldn't need it to enter, correct? Then I'll take the approved long stay student visa and my other documentation to the garda in Ireland to apply for the permission to remain beyond the 90 days.
I finally figured out from reading that Irish student visa thing for about the 10th time and deducing from the Irish consulate's answer that you can't pre-apply for permission to remain beyond the 90 days. And Americans can enter Ireland for under 90 days without any special visa. Am I correct here?
Is Ireland different than Schengen countries?
I have flown into the Schengen zone seven times (3 airports) and Passport Control has never asked to see my return ticket. The airline, of course, knew I had a return ticket.
Passport Control might have sometimes asked me how long I planned to stay.
Whoever told you to apply for a student visa once you get there is wrong. Here is Irish government webpage pertaining to student visas:
Irish Student Visas
For a tourist entering from the U.S., you will need a passport valid for at least six months after your proposed date of departure. No visa required. However, the immigration officer can ask you how long you plan to stay, how you plan to support yourself while in Ireland, etc.
Are you going to an acrredited music school or are you just going to study with individuals? How long will you be studying? The entire time or are just going a little bit and then traveling?
If it's an accredited school, then they should know the visa requirements.
It was the consulate that told me twice that you can't apply for a visa until you are in the country. "You must have a return ticket within 90 days of arrival and you must ask for permission to stay longer once you arrive in the country. You cannot seek this permission before arriving in Ireland". They said this even when I said it was a student visa. I'll ask again - the advice keeps being that the consulate always has the final word.
It is an accredited music school but I still would go with the consulate says but maybe I shouldn't? I hope to be there for 4 months - that's my problem, well not really a "problem" but a dilemna is that my ticket is for 4 months. I want to enter legally but with all the differing information I'm hesitant to change the ticket and find out I didn't need to.
I read it differently...
Decisions
* The processing times for Student Visa Applications vary depending on the volume of applications lodged, and the time it takes for an application to reach the Visa section in Dublin from the Embassy in which it was lodged
* You should allow as much time as possible when applying for a visa but a minimum time of 8 weeks is recommended
* The Visa Section will endeavour to have your application assessed as soon as possible
* Visa decisions are published weekly on our website, on the page called – Visa Decisions
You can check a decision by entering the Visa Reference Number that issues to you
The above states you need to allow 8 weeks for prcessing from the embassy you are applying from. That means you need to apply to the Irish Embassy in Washington.
Why don't you ask your school what students have done in the past. I've never seen so much confusion on getting a student visa. Then call the Irish Embassy in Washington and ask for the visa section. They would know more than the local consulate.
