Visa Free Entry To Spain
 

I wanted to make sure I understand the requirements re: visits to Spain. Am I accurate to understand that as a US citizen I can visit Spain for 90 days (max), return to the US for 90 days and re-enter Spain again for another 90 days? My inquiry is beacause my son will be going to school in Marbella, Spain (lucky kid) and I want to be able to spend time with him rather than only for the EU visa free 90 days a year. Any suggestions would also be welcomed. Thanks for replies.

You don't have to return to the USA. You just have to be outside the Schengen Zone for at least 90 days after you've used your 90 days within it.

Get a visa - however will your son appreciate having you hang around all the time?

>>only for the EU visa free 90 days a year. <<

What >>EU visa<<? It is a Schengen visa and it doesn't matter if you spend the 90 days in one Schengen country (i.e. Spain) or in several countries -- it is still 90 days.

HOWEVER -- 90 days is not guaranteed. That is just the max one is allowed. If you stay in Spain 90 days and then come back 90 days later for another extended stay the immigration officers might (or might not) ask you more detailed questions and you will want to have your ducks in a row (like a return ticket, proof that you have connections back in the States like a joob or whatever.

Why do you ask us - we are not immigration lawyers?

With a son in a full-time school where, I assume, he has some kind of Schengen exemption, is it not possible that you as the legal parent and guardian can also get some kind of exemption from the 90-days-in/90-days-out rule?

Would not the school know about that since they probably have had to counsel many parents on just this same question?

Have you asked the school? They are MUCH more likely to have valid info for you than us Fodorites.

janisj: I read that visa free access is for a max of 90 days during a 180 day period not 1 year.

>> . . . like a job or whatever<<

And the parent/legal guardian issue -- I had assumed the son is a university (thus adult) student. If so, guardianship is irrelevant.

Hey michelhuebeli: Thanks for your rude comment "Why do you ask us - we are not immigration lawyers?" I was asking hoping others had experience in this area. The school will take care of my son's requirements. I would like to see my son from time to time and being there is cheaper and easier than traveling from the US. Also, I never asked or expressed info re: exemption did I?

"If you are a US citizen with a US passport traveling to the Schengen countries for tourism or business, you will not need a visa as long as you spend 90 days or less in these countries. Under this agreement, you can enter the Schengen area as long as your stay does not exceed 90 days within a 6 month period."

And your point is?

Yes -- you are 'allowed' up to 90 days. But it isn't your choice -- it is the immigration officer's. If s/he sees a pattern of multiple long stays all bets are off.

Thanks to all for the advise. My question has been answered.

The Schengen rule is that a US citizen can stay visa free for a total of 90 days within any 180 day period. Other than that, you can obtain a visa for any number of reasons. It's not that difficult, at least not at this time, but who knows what will happen with the current occupant in the WH.

It is vital to know that your arrival day is day 1, and the day you leave is also counted. If you were to leave on day 89, and try to return 90 days later you can only stay 1 day. The rule is 90days in any 180 days.
An immigration official may not be happy with you constantly returning and decide not to grant you the full 90 days.
Don't be tempted to overstay your 90 days either. You could face a ban from Schengen if you do.
Remember the day you leave counts as a Schengen day, so your 90 days away start the day after you leave and end the day before you return.

There is an online calculator you can use to be sure you stick to the rules.
I don't have the link now as I am on my phone but search for it.

Question:- Why are you sending your son off to school in Marbella where the majority of kids will be English-speaking ?

Tsk tsk Bedar, don't you start asking rude questions now, you hear? I got my comeuppance, just wait for yours...

No, Michel, my question is not rude. Perhaps this mother doesn't realize this. Then again, the boy may pick up some Arabic and Russian there, if not Spanish.

I think the OP doesn't understand that 90 days is 'allowed' but there is no guarantee of 90 days.

Twice I have been given less than the maximum -- once in the UK and once in Schengen - both for legit reasons.

Bedar, I trust that you sensed I was joking about your question being "rude"? Since my earlier question that also started with the word "Why" was considered "rude"...