Hi, I am really hoping someone can help me out on here as I've been looking for answers everywhere and I just seem to become more and more confused with more and more question. Help before my head explodes! OK, I actually have a few questions so please bear with me. I am an American citizen and passport holder getting ready to apply for the Austrian visa type D in order to stay with my girlfriend in Vienna Austria. She is a German citizen living in the city and she will be requesting the electronic liability form saying she will be financially responsible for me during my time there. We plan on requesting the maximum 6 months the visa D could be given. I have been told that I will need to show I have a round trip flight reserved when applying. Does anyone know how you can reserve a flight without paying for it?! Seems foolish to pay for the flight when there is a chance I could be denied. My second issue is that I was told that it was allowed to use the 3 month tourist visa that the Shengen countries extend to American tourists after the visa D expired allowing me to stay in the country longer. My question is when I reserve my flights originally for the application for the Visa D, should I reserve a round trip 9 months from beginning to end or should I initially reserve tickets for the maximum stay on the Visa D and then adjust the reservation once I have been approved? Again, thank you to anyone who can provide me some helpful information. Best!
Posted by
OP
New York
8 posts
I will do that. Thanks for the information.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
If it were me, I think I would make the reservation for the 90 days that the Schengen agreement allows, then move it if/when the visa is allowed. That way, if the visa is not allowed for some reason, you would be set for your return home. If the visa is allowed, you could then move it to the six month point or beyond. I think their concern is that you show an intention to return home, no matter when it is. Ninety days would comply with the existing law.
Posted by
NYC
922 posts
Nancy's suggestion would be a very good one if the OP wasn't posting as 'BrokeTraveler'. :) I recently had the unfortunate need to change my itinerary for an upcoming trip, due to circumstances entirely beyond my control. The price tag for the change was $275 for the change fee plus the difference between the original fare and the new fare on the day the change was made. The total was close to $500, on top of what I had already paid when the original booking was made. If you can manage it, book a ticket that can be changed without penalty, should the need arise. Or, somehow try to calculate whether the price of a changeable ticket would be more or less than the penalty plus potential additional fare on a non-changeable ticket. But I don't know how to actually do that because airline fares change constantly, and possibly not to one's advantage as the travel date approaches.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
44 posts
You might try posting this question on the talk forum of www.slowtrav.com You could also search that board for information as this is a much talked about issue there.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
The only tickets that can be changed without penalty are full-price ones - certainly not affordable for a "broke" budget. The OP is already considering staying nine months if the visa is approved, so he would be changing the ticket even if he bought it for six months out. There is no cheap or easy way to do this, since it all hinges on the visa. Even with a change fee, you could presumably change the ticket at any point that the price was advantageous, once the visa question is settled. It wouldn't have to be last minute.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33991 posts
I expect that very few of us here know all the ins and outs of an Austrian Type D Visa. I would be surprised if the Austrian authorities would allow piggybacking of the visa and visa waiver programme on the same trip without returning first to the OP's home. You need to talk to professionals in that line, the consequences for not doing so could be severe. You first questioning might be worthwhile at the Austrian Consulate in New York. You seem to be well placed to do that.
Posted by
OP
New York
8 posts
Hello Hello, Thank you all for your responses to my visa questions. I have spoken to the consulate in NYC and my girlfriend has spoken with another couple who is in a similar situation as her and I and we all have received the impression that piggybacking of the visas is definitely allowed. The flight reservations/ticketing information has yet to be resolved, but hopefully I can get that all squared away as soon as possible. I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed everything goes smoothly. I'll let you all know things go and if I discover any new information that I am sure others would want to know. Best!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23642 posts
I think Nancy hit it but we missed it. Buy a full fare, fully refundable round trip tickets that matches the visa requirements. Once the visa is approved, then cancel the ticket and get a full refund. Then buy a discounted ticket, non-refundable ticket that matches your travel needs. That is a no cost solutions. You need a little up front funding but if you cannot fund the full price ticket, maybe you should not be going.