Ok, anyone from the Pacific Northwest (Portland/Seattle) know how and where to begin the process for Visas good for a 4 month stay in Italy? Do we have to go to L.A. or San Francisco? Can it be done via the internet or in person? It will be me, my wife and my son (21). Do we each get the same kind of Visa? I plan on taking more Italian courses while I am there. What if we want to travel about Europe from time to time, would we need a different Visa? Thanks.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Dennis: go here and see the 2nd paragraph under "Entry/Exit Regulations" for instructions on how to start the application process
Posted by
Freedonia
15014 posts
I hate to correct Kent, but, there is no such thing as a Schengen visa for extended stays. You get an extended stay visa for the country you are applying to. It is not good in every Schengen country.
With the three of you, you'll have to prove that you have enough funds to support yourselves for that time period. If you are planning to take classes you may need a student visa. Your best bet is to ask your questions to your local Italian consulate which would be in San Francisco
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
It's okay, Frank--I learn something new most days. So I deleted the posts that had the incorrect info, and sent Dennis a PM suggesting he check out your correction of my wrong info.
The link I sent to Dennis (above post) did make it clear that he had to go to the Italian authorities to obtain the visa. I've also been exchanging PM's with Dennis and I think the question he had, that I was trying to respond to, is: if he gets the visa, and has stayed in Italy (let's say) for 95 days, and then wants to go to visit another Schengen country for (let's say) another 10 days, and then come back to Italy--is he okay doing that (assuming he gets the visa from the Italian authorities).
What I meant to say was that I thought he was okay doing that, that if he wanted to visit Germany for 10 days it wouldn't be a problem, even if he'd already been in Italy 95 days--my thinking was that there aren't any entry/exit controls among the Schengen zone countries.
Now I realize I don't know the answer to that question. It's interesting that they consolidated many things under the Schengen zone entry/exit regulations, but didn't make the visa applicable throughout the Zone. I guess the countries insisted on keeping control of some things.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
Dennis, this may be of help. I searched around the San Franciso consulate website and discovered that "all applicants may apply at one of the Honorary Vice Consulates and Honorary Consular Agencies operating in our consular district."
There aren't any in Washington State, but there IS one in Portland. I would get in touch with them to address your questions.
Portland
Honorary Vice Consulate
121 S.W. Salmon Street, Suite 1030
Portland, OR 97204
Honorary Vice Consul : Andrea BARTOLONI
Tel.: 503-287-2578
Fax: 503-227-0739
Studio legale: 503-225-0702
e-mail: ab@bartoloni.com