HeHateTweeter

I enjoyed reading the old and VERY informative thread - (not allowed to post the link from a new account) - and came away with a lot of knowledge and correction of some misconceptions I'd previously held.

That said, I'm seeking clarification on my DD's student visa case. The basics:

U.S. citizen
The university's study abroad office has managed all communication with the Italian consulate
Applied for an academic year in Italy --> late Aug - early May
Fall in Rome
Spring in Florence
Granted visa expiring 01 JAN 2023 and told she would need to apply for an extension while she is in Italy
Appointment for extension is not until 20 JAN 2023
Spring courses scheduled to start week of 09 JAN
Housing already approved

She entered the country on 28 AUG
She then received a summons from the consulate dated 03 SEP with the instructions and 20 JAN date of the appointment to request extension

Does the summons from the consulate mean she has a "provisional" or "temporary" extension of the soon-to-expire student visa?

OR would she be better served to leave Schengen by 31 DEC and then re-enter on 02 JAN at which point she would legally be visiting on a tourist visa? And if so, would she then need to apply for a new student visa?

She is currently visiting me in Denmark and is under the impression she needs to be in Florence no later than 31 DEC in order to have her status protected.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

KTtravel

I think she should contact the consulate office that summoned her and inquire. The Study Abroad office who arranged her program might also know what she should do.

tom_mn

Leaving is a fool’s errand since it won’t reset any time deadline related to Schengen stays.

Once your daughter’s study visa time expires she automatically begins the 90 days allowed to stay in the Schengen zone granted to any US citizen.

The whole Schengen stay thing is fluid and counter to a visa/entry system of an English-speaking country where status at arrival cannot be changed later. Schengen allows a person to enter under the 90 day visa waiver status, shift to student status, shift back to the 90 days status, then shift to student status again— all without leaving the country.

HeHateTweeter

Hi, and thank you for your reply. In reading Alec's older posts, he seemed to be very clear about student visas not automatically rolling into tourist visas. In all of the communication DD has had with the university office administering the program, they have also made it clear she needs to depart within 2 weeks after conclusion of her enrollment (which should be May 2023, not December 2022). The original visa issued by the Italian consulate in L.A. aligned with this counsel - the fall term officially ended 17 Dec and the visa expires 01 Jan - but there's no acknowledgment of her intent to continue studying in the spring. The semesters are being treated as separate ventures with respect to the visa process.

She spoke with the study abroad administering office in Florence who informed her the spring extension appointments are normally handled during the fall term, but told her as long as she's back in Italy before the visa expires and has the copy of her 20 JAN summons, she "should" be fine. The L.A. consulate's visa department (they issued the visa) is not answering any calls. Next call is to the Italian consulate here in CPH (closed for the day, will have to try again tomorrow).

tom_mn

Maybe Italy is different or things have changed.

Isn’t everything digital? Can you even see a visa length or expiration date? Where is the date printed that you are referring to? Isn’t there a residence card authorizing her stay entirely separate from a visa?

HeHateTweeter

The 01 JAN expiration date is on the printed on the physical visa sticker that was placed inside her passport. Upon arrival, she received a separate residence permit with the same expiration.

Nothing is digital. The original application was a physical package with hand-written forms that was delivered to the consulate. After approval, via FedEx they returned her passport with visa affixed. The appointments for extensions require fingerprinting and in-person interview. She received an update just now that the university office is in communication with the immigration office in Rome requesting that her scheduled appointment be moved to Florence. But for now, she has the appointment in Rome and is being advised by the university office to be sure she re-enters Italy no later than 01 JAN and to be sure she travels with all documentation just in case.

tom_mn

Interesting how different Schengen countries can be. Our experience was that although the passport was sent off it was returned with nothing affixed in the passport. The visa was just a means to a residence card which ultimately authorized the stay length and was used to justify staying over 90 days upon leaving Schengen—or it appeared to be that way.

HeHateTweeter

Follow-up:

There were several more calls and emails, but the end result was that she returned from Copenhagen to Italy on 31 DEC with two different sets of advice from the program administrator and the Italian Consulate:

1) check in with the national police when you get to Florence and present your papers
or
2) do not check in, just carry all your papers with you while moving about and be sure to keep the 20 JAN visa renewal appointment in Rome, as the appointment was not being moved to Florence

She reports the appointment lasted maybe 10 minutes and the visa renewal and extended residency permits were granted. Hers was a fringe case, but everything was done by the book so she was never out of compliance with immigration policy.

KTtravel

I am glad to hear all went well. I hope your daughter is having a wonderful time.