Schengen Question - Tourist into Student
 

Hi everyone,

Sorry about the schengen post but I have read all the FAQs and stories and none seem to apply to me.

My dilemma is this:

I have a spanish student 'D' visa that is valid until 20 July 2014. Prior to arriving in spain, I did some travelling in the EU. My schengen entry stamp is from Vilnius on 27/12. However, when I flew to Spain to begin studying, there was no border control (I flew in from Germany). This means that I have NO exit stamp, or stamp on my spanish visa, no one scanned my passport.

I have since been to the spanish immigration office to ask about whether I need a stamp on my visa to show the date that I arrived. The lady said no - because it has the dates I am allowed to stay written on it.

These are my questions:
Because I have a schengen tourist entry stamp, but no exit stamp - does this mean my 90 days is 'still running' even though I am legally in Spain as a student and not a tourist. When I try to travel to other EU countries in July - will they think I have been illegally staying in the EU on a tourist visa for 6+ months. Or will they see my visa and understand what I have been doing if I can sit down and show them the flights that I took and all of my university documents. I am concerned because there is literally nothing to indicate that I was actually in Spain.

Additionally, my spanish student visa does not expire until 20 July. I finish classes on June 15. Is this valid for me to travel around the EU with? Or do I need to leave the Schengen area and reenter as a tourist. I will not be staying in Europe after July 20 so there is no question of me overstaying my visa.

Any advice will be much appreciated. My main concern really is whether my 90 days is still tallying up because there is nothing official to signify that I have ceased being a tourist and have commenced studying.

Thank you

you are fine until july 2015. You do know that in Spain you must now apply for the student residency card.. the visa in your passport is only the first step

Lincasanova, thank you very much for your reply. It's very reassuring!
I am aware of the student residency cards but my visa is limited to 'hasta 180 dias' - I'm actually not allowed to apply for a student residency card. (Well...I think, anyway. Unless they've changed it).

Since you have a visa I wouldn't worry about it, just have all your documentation ready once you start moving around after June 15, including the documentation of your flight home.

One time I was in the schengen zone for just under 3 months (4 days under to be exact) and was flying from Spain to Paris to get my flight home. The airline person asked for my visa and I whipped out my credit card. She was not amused and wanted to see my return ticket home. So they DO ask. Just have it ready.

If you continue to worry, you could take a short hop to England or Croatia for the weekend to get your exit stamp before the 90 days is up.

Enjoy your studies in Spain.

oh. sorry..

Wow.. Rialtogirl.. what city was that from and from which airline?

Probably easier to fly to the UK. There are plenty of cheap flights from quite a few airports to quite a few in the UK. Apart from the national carriers (BA and Iberia) offering cheaper fares if you book well in advance, look up companies like Easyjet, Monarch and Ryanair, which are often cheaper but may fly from secondary airports further away from the city you are in/want to go to.

lin... it was from Vigo to Paris on Air Europa.

That person was really doing his/her job.. just don´t see it that often.

Nope you don't... thank goodness I had my return ticket e-ticket printout handy! If I hadn't had that piece of paper I would have been in a real pickle.