Hello,

I am wondering if anyone knows from experience what documents I need to bring to my application appointment to make traveling to Italy before my visa starts OKAY?
Here's where I am at....

Next month, July 2 to be exact I am applying for a Spain Student Visa and have gathered all of the necessary documents as specified on the Chicago Spanish Consulate website. My program begins October 2nd so I can enter Spain 10 days before- September 22. However, I have plans to travel to Italy August 6th to visit my boyfriend. What do I need to do for this to work? Right now I just have plane tickets specifying when I will enter Italy and when I will enter Spain. Do I need a notarized letter from boyfriend with an apostille hague on it that confirms when and where I am staying?

Also Can I just travel from Italy to Spain and have my visa be valid? Can I just go to a local government office and have my visa acknowledged or do I need to leave and go to the UK for like a day and then enter to Spain to initiate the visa ?

Thank you for your time

Siena

There should be no problem traveling to Italy while on your student visa. There should be no restrictions.

Robert2016- I am wondering about traveling before my visa starts.

You have a total of 90 days within the 180 day period once you enter the Schengen zone. There are no exceptions to this rule. Italy is in the Schengen zone.

This is outside the conditions df your student visa.

As I wrote on your other thread, there is nothing to stop you arriving earlier in Italy and being ed on 90-in-180 days Schengen stay. What you should do is to leave Italy and Schengen (such as for UK) and re-enter Spain on or after the start of your Type D study visa, so you get Schengen entry stamp, which they will look for when applying for your residence card in Spain (which is required for anyone staying longer than 3 months). It may be possible by showing alternative evidence such as transport ticket to show the date you entered Spain (as there is no border formalities within Schengen), but having a definite entry stamp will make your life much easier and avoid the possible hassle at Spanish foreigner's office or police station.

Alec- You have been incredibly helpful. Thank you so much. I was able to email the Chicago consulate and they informed me that I don't need to show proof of my flights indicating when i will enter and leave the country during my visa. Just have to indicate the dates on my application. So I have time once I get to Europe to purchase the smartest ticket in and out of EU before my program begins in Spain.

Discussing on this thread has given me more confidence and nice release of my questions and anxiety of wanting everything to be perfect. THANK YOUUUUU!

So....I was approved for my visa!!!! Hooray hozaah!

Update- Alec you were right I did not need to present any documents in order to travel to Italy as a tourist before my VIsa begins. I can enter Spain as a tourist before my visa begins because I am still in the Schengen zone. Turns out I do not need to leave the Schengen zone to activate my visa. I can simply go to the local police station and say I want to begin on my visa and they will stamp it and thats it.

Thanks to everyone for your input, it made preparing much easier.

Yes, but have evidence of entering Spain in the form of boarding pass, e-ticket receipt etc.

Good call Alec. Thanks!