Use Travel Visa Before Using Student Visa? US to Europe

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In December I traveled to Belgium on a tourist visa and left after 89 days (So within the correct amount of days), I was getting my paperwork done while I was there so I could stay, but the coronavirus, unfortunately, stopped that. I got accepted into Leuven... My fiance is Belgian, and frankly I want to be with her as soon as possible.

My question is this, I can't fly back to the EU until June 11th, But after that time is up, Is it possible once I get my student visa that I fly to the EU, enter Belgium as a tourist (my studies don't start until late September), then around September when I can activate my student visa, fly or travel to London or something so I'm out of the Schengen area, and then re-enter the Schengen area as a student when it's in September and I'm going to start studies soon? I understand that upon arrival I must tell the nearest town hall to confirm I am there, so that means I must do it twice in a short amount of time.

Is this possible? And if not what about something similar to this? I just want to be there, let me know thank you.



Best Answer

Let's talk hypotheticals and say there was no pandemic, that's how I will approach this question as the pandemic introduces too much uncertainty.

On September 5 2019 I moved to Austria for PhD studies. My passport allows me to enter Schengen Area with no visa for 90 days. To stay and study, I needed a D-Visa and was issued one at the Austrian representation in my country. BUT, it was issued for the start of my studies (Sept. 20. 2019). Which meant that I would arrive in Austria without an as-of-yet valid visa and was entering using my visa-free tourist privileges. The Austrian consulate insisted there was no issue and that the border guards see that all the time.

Fast-forward to Vienna Airport: I land and walk toward border control, palms sweating like crazy, hand my passport over and he sees the visa which will be valid 15 days from then and asks me simple questions and lets me pass. I had no issues AND I did not leave when my visa became valid as there is no need to do so.

Since then, I have received a working permit and have left the Schengen Area once and reentered with absolutely no issues.

Short answer: As long as you do not overstay your 90 visa-free days before your visa comes into effect, there is no problem. If you ever hit 90 days before your visa is valid then you must leave.

This is not legal advice. I am simply sharing my own first-hand experience in a similar situation




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Can I travel to Europe with US student visa?

Talk to your DSO The DSO will verify your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. They must sign the Form I-20 so that you are eligible to travel. The signature is valid for 1 year, so once you have it, you can travel without needing another one.

Can you travel outside the US with a student visa?

While studying in the United States, you, as an international student holding F-1 visa, are allowed to travel internationally outside the U.S. and domestically within the U.S. It is important for you to acknowledge and comply to the U.S. immigration regulations, especially for traveling outside the country, in order to ...

Can you travel around Europe with a student visa?

Yes, you can, as also national visa of a Schengen State are valid Schengen-wide. So you can travel to other Schengen States. The maximum for such trips is 90 days within any given 180 days period.

Can international student apply for Schengen Visa from USA?

But can international student apply for Schengen visa from America? Actually, they can.



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