Approval of GER longstay visa: entering GER without it
 

I study in the Netherlands so I have a Schengen visa. This semester, I am studying abroad in Germany for 6 months, and have applied for the long stay (i think that's what its called) visa a few weeks ago. It hasn't been approved yet, and the embassy hasn't been able to give me a specific tieframe for this.
The problem is that I"m scheduled to start a course on the 17th, and I'm very sure my visa won't arrive by then.

My question is: Do you think I can enter germany on my schengen visa and wait there while my longstay visa gets approved? I could then fly back to the Netherlands to pick it up. Is this allowed?

How long is your Schengen visa good for? Can't you enter any Schengen country while it is still valid?

I can enter germany- but since I'll be there for a semester, I've applied for a visa. Is anyone aware of a clause that states I cannot enter the country on an existing visa while the new visa is being processed?

as far as I can tell, nothing bars you from entry. You likely could get your student visa shipped to you in Germany because the site I read said some nationalities could apply from within the country. But the trouble is, as Janis points out, we don't know when your Schengen expires. It's got to cover you until you receive the study visa. It seems like it could be an academic risk to start a semester that you don't know you can finish, but that's a decision you'd have to make, I guess.


Why not ask the embassy? The must have gotten this question before, and they'd be more reliable than us.

>> . . . but since I'll be there for a semester, <<

You indicated the new visa will be ready relatively soon. You can go to Germany if your current visa is still valid. No, you can't stay for your whole course on the current visa. If the new one doesn't come through, then you would have to give up the course and leave Schengen. But as long as the current visa is valid you can go anywhere in Schengen.