Best way to leave EU with expired visa
I came to Frankfurt about 5 months ago with a tourist visa that is already expired. I decided to stay more time because I met a very special person (my current girlfriend) and I had hoped to find a way to legalize my situation here but I found out that is not possible so I decided to go back to my country Colombia with her and plan to come back legal.
I know that in the airport they will let me go out, but I am afraid to get a ban for the next months/years and I really would like to minimize that. I have talked with a lawyer and he told me that Frankfurt is very strict about this issue and I can get a penal infraction. He recommend me to flight out by Madrid because there, it is only an administrative procedure. So my current plan is to rent a car with my girlfriend and drive to Spain for 16 hours and leave EU.
It is worth to do this? I am trying to minimize the possibilities to get a ban.
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What happens if my Schengen visa expires?
Authorities will also punish you whether your overstay beyond your Schengen Visa's validity was intentional or unintentional. You could receive a fine, immediate deportation or even get banned from entering the Schengen Area for a period.What happens if you overstay 90 days in Europe?
The Schengen law states that you can't stay in the Area for more than 90 days. If you do, you're subject to a fine and possibly deportation and being banned from re-entering the Schengen Area.How long can I live in the EU without a visa?
How long can I stay without a visa in the Schengen area? You can stay 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area.Can I exit from any Schengen country?
As a general rule, you may cross any Schengen border with visa issued by any Schengen country. However, you should try and stick to your itinerary as filed when applying for your Schengen Visa.Overstaying in the Schengen Zone - How to Extend Your Stay in Europe UPDATED
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Images: Julia Filirovska, Kelly, Yehor Andrukhovych, Francesco Ungaro