NinaSearching

Okay, I am embarrassed to be asking this, but here goes:

I learned today that I have been operating under erroneous advice regarding the 90-day limit on staying in the Schengen area. (Basically, was initially told that I could stay in each country up to 90 days, but learned today that it's actually the entire area. Kicking myself for not having verified this on my own, but that's water under the bridge.)

Soo ... at this point I'm trying to figure out a way to abide by the letter and spirit of the law. Any feedback folks have to offer on the following (possible) plan would be greatly appreciated:

Arrived Amsterdam January 2
January 2 - February 17: Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany
February 17 - February 22: UK
February 22 - March 19: Netherlands
March 19 - March 31: Cyprus
March 31 - April 12: Netherlands, France
April 12 - April 22: Cyprus
April 22 - April 24: Netherlands
Depart Amsterdam April 24

By my calculations, that's 89 days in the Schengen area (47 + 26 + 13 + 3).

Am I correct in thinking that my 5 days in UK and then 2 trips to Cyprus would "stop the clock"? It's not Schengen yet, right?

I should note, I am a US citizen (US passport), so it's not a matter of my visa expiring.

Also ... (just to add another wrinkle) ... I was in Poland last October 21-28, so I'm wondering if those days will be counted in my 180-day window? (Please please please I hope not.)

Any other feedback / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

PalenQ

The answer to this seems to be what those in the know have writ here before - the 90 days is counted within an overall time frame that is larger - thus going to a non-Schengen country to re-start the clock won't work unless staying a long long time. I could be wrong but this is what many have said.

NinaSearching

Thx, PalenQ.

I don't necessarily want to re-start the clock so much as just pause it. If the actual number of days in Schengen area is 89, does it matter whether the start/end dates are 113 days apart?

PalenQ

I think it is in a 180-day period. But I should not have responded as just saying what I think I remember being said many times - anti-productive to go to a non-Schengen country to skirt the 90 day rule.

I'll be interested to hear someone who is more sure of what they speak!

kybourbon

You can only stay 90 days total within a 180 day period. There is no clock restart until after 180 days are up. The UK allows a longer stay. Cyprus was going to join as some point, but perhaps didn't yet?

J62

Nina is not trying to spend more than 90d in the Schengen zone - she's just planning to spend 113 total days in Europe.

Your math is correct. By leaving the Schengen zone to UK or Cyprus you are pausing the clock that was counting actual days within the Schengen area.

By your count you will have spent a total of 89 days in the Schengen area, which is perfectly fine. Have a great 113 days in Europe, 89 of which are within Schengen zone and fully legit.

glenmd

According to http://www.visitcyprus.com/, Cyprus is still not included in the Schengen zone, so that part is ok.

glenmd

... but the week in Poland in October is a problem, as I understand it anyway.

J62

I missed the part about Poland. Oct 21 to Apr 24 is 185 days. By my count you should add 3 days to your in-Schengen zone total, 10/26 to 10/28, which would bring your total to 92 in the 180d window.

Not fully legit, but not something I would necessarily fret about. I guess they could flag you upon entry into AMS on 4/22, but that would mean there would need to be a schengen wide computer database that tracked your coming and going, and kept a tally.

J62

It also means that as of about April 7 or 8 you will also have reached your 90d out of 180d limit...you scofflaw.

NinaSearching

Thx so much for yall's help.

The Poland thing is a problem I have to figure out a way to spend less of March here in NL. Hmmm ... I can probably tack on a couple more days in Cyprus, and maybe one quick trip somewhere else.

Arrived Amsterdam January 2
January 2 - February 17: Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany
February 17 - February 22: UK
February 22 - March 10: Netherlands
March 10 - March 14: non-Schengen (Ireland? Turkey?)
March 14 - March 18: Netherlands
March 18 - April 1: Cyprus
April 1 - April 11: Netherlands, France
April 11 - April 22: Cyprus
April 22 - April 24: Netherlands
Depart Amsterdam April 24

That should make it okay to come back in April, I think (?) My mother's already booked a ticket to visit (flying into AMS and out of CDG, April 2-11), so I need to be able to be here for that. Otherwise I would just leave at the end of March and not come back til my flight home.