Travel Visa Questions
 

So i am fully aware of the rules and regulations of the Schengen Area for Americans (90 Days in 6 Month period). I have done my research on this topic a lot because it is potentially a be a big adjustment to my travels.

My question is that if i can acquire a travel visa for somewhere like France or Spain, for staying outside the 90 day regulations, that visa only allows stay in that individual country outside the 90 day rule RIght??? I had a conversation with a young lady and she said that if you get like a 180 day travel visa for an individual country (in the Schengen Area) that as Americans we are still free to travel within any of the other 26 countries for that whole 180 days (such as being out of the individual country for over 90 days and not be penalized?

P.S. I am aware of the areas outside of the Schengen Area that i am allowed to travel more freely without the 90 day thing hanging over my head, but i would rather not worry at all about outstaying my welcome.

If you get a visa for a Schengen country, allowing you to stay more than 90 days, then you can travel within the Schengen zone for the duration of your visa. It's not a one country visa. You apply to the country where you'll spend the most time.

Correct. If you get a 6 month visa for any Schengen member then you can stay in the Schengen zone for 6 months. You'l have to enter the Schengen zone via that country (and possibly leave from it as well but I am not 100% sure on that).

Yes, but have you looked into the difficulties/process of actually getting this type of visa?

I realistically havent put a bunch into it because I was under the impression that it was for individual countries, but from the research i did read it said it France is not too hard for Americans. Especially if you can prove that you have funds to pay without a worry of you being a burden on their economy. But like i said not a bunch of time into it, yet

Money and medical coverage.

If you decide to try for a longer term visa make sure it is a multiple entry visa, so you can leave the zone and re-enter on the same visa. Often a single entry visa is issued, which would mean no trip to London for instance.

Adrienne makes a good point about money and healthcare. You must be able to prove you have sufficient funds, and sufficient healthcare insurance for the duration of your stay. Funds may not be a problem, but healthcare insurance could be.

I think you should ask the visa department of the embassy of the country you would stay longest in, e.g. France.

Without no more legal background than Wikipedia, I read that Schengen only regulates short stays up to 90 days. Anything above that is in the domain of the Schengen member states.

What exists, though, is the combination of those national visa with Schengen short stay privileges "on top".
For example, you'd get a 1yr visa from and for France + Schengen. Your 365 days in France will not be accounted towards the well known 90/180 day limitations.
So you could visit all Schengen countries without further visa proceedings, but not stay there for longer than 90 days altogether.