Six month visa for EU successfully tested

[barryd]

I know this has been mentioned before but here is an actual step by step account from a fellow motorhomer who has done it. I suspect the first one!

It's not easy but it's possible. I wonder therefore if it's worth forming a lobby group to approach the French visa authority to highlight our plight and see if it can't be made simpler or at the very least make them aware that there are a fair few wealthy Brits with vans who want to spend months on end spending their money in France and the EU.

Long Term EU Visa for UK Motorhomers - DriverAbroad.com. - DriverAbroad.com.

Staying in EU For more than 90 days, Long Term Visa for UK passport, Long Term EU visa for motorhome, how to stay in EU for more than 90 days,

driverabroad.com

 

[Fisherman]

Barry I doubt if the French would be able to do anything unilaterally.
All members of the Schengen are bound by the conditions which apply to all member states. Whatever the French do would directly affect all countries within the Schengen.
The only way that the EU would agree to anything, would be if the UK government did likewise.
Here's hoping that things will improve in future.
Its a fact that we are no longer able to travel, work, and live within the EU, without restrictions, something we just have to get used to.

But looking at the hassle, cost, and having to hand over your passports then having to return to collect them seems excessive.
As for Spain charging £516, and France only £110, it looks like the French may have done in terms of easing these restrictions placed upon us, as much as they can.

Thanks for the post Barry.

 

[barryd]

Barry I doubt if the French would be able to do anything unilaterally.
All members of the Schengen are bound by the conditions which apply to all member states. Whatever the French do would directly affect all countries within the Schengen.
The only way that the EU would agree to anything, would be if the UK government did likewise.
Here's hoping that things will improve in future.
Its a fact that we are no longer able to travel, work, and live within the EU, without restrictions, something we just have to get used to.

But looking at the hassle, cost, and having to hand over your passports then having to return to collect them seems excessive.
As for Spain charging £516, and France only £110, it looks like the French may have done in terms of easing these restrictions placed upon us, as much as they can.

Thanks for the post Barry.

It's for a French visa for six months and the French can indeed issue this and the author has got one! Some on another forum are questioning how it will work if you travel outside of France but there is no doubt you can do it as he has! What they are questioning is if it allows you six months in schengen or just France? Either way it would suit me as I would just use up my 90 days in Italy, Austria etc then spend the last three months in France and Voila a six month summer Euro trip is possible again.

It's a complete PIA but I do wonder if the process could be simplified if a pressure group was formed to communicate with the French authorities. At the very least if they are aware that some of us want to make use of these visas purely to spend more time in their country spending our hard earned I can't see why they wouldn't embrace that for us.

 

[Fisherman]

It's for a French visa for six months and the French can indeed issue this and the author has got one! Some on another forum are questioning how it will work if you travel outside of France but there is no doubt you can do it as he has! What they are questioning is if it allows you six months in schengen or just France? Either way it would suit me as I would just use up my 90 days in Italy, Austria etc then spend the last three months in France and Voila a six month summer Euro trip is possible again.

It's a complete PIA but I do wonder if the process could be simplified if a pressure group was formed to communicate with the French authorities. At the very least if they are aware that some of us want to make use of these visas purely to spend more time in their country spending our hard earned I can't see why they wouldn't embrace that for us.

Barry there seems a lot of confusion over this.

But why would anyone pay the Spaniards £516 if the French visa at £110 gives you access to their country also.

I am sure I read somewhere that the visa extensions for up to a year are only valid in the country of issue.
If I am wrong I stand corrected Barry, and I hope that I am.

Its just a pity that we are in this position.

 

[Colinc]

From the EU official website .....

I have a valid long stay visa/residence permit for a country that is
part of the Schengen area. Do I need another visa to travel to other
Schengen states?

No. A long stay visa or a residence permit issued by a Schengen State allows you to
travel or stay in other Schengen States, while respecting the maximum duration of a
“short stay” (a stay of "90 days in any 180 day period").

 

[Colinc]

But within the EU there is no check on crossing borders. So "respecting" relies on you.

 

[Fisherman]

From the EU official website .....

I have a valid long stay visa/residence permit for a country that is
part of the Schengen area. Do I need another visa to travel to other
Schengen states?

No. A long stay visa or a residence permit issued by a Schengen State allows you to
travel or stay in other Schengen States, while respecting the maximum duration of a
“short stay” (a stay of "90 days in any 180 day period").

So therefore Colin apply to the cheapest country for your visa, looks like Spain won’t be doing much business at £516 then.

 

[Colinc]

So therefore Colin apply to the cheapest country for your visa, looks like Spain won’t be doing much business at £516 then.

Very true. Although if Spanish police thought or could prove you had been there for more than 90 days then they may deport you. So best to get it where you actually plan to be. Despite the extra cost.

BTW I'm in the "residence card" bit as I have one for Greece. But the same rules apply in theory. But days aren't counted.

In practice the long visa (or residence card) gives a lot of flexibility. Greece too is giving visas - a very log term one if you retire there and can show sufficient finance.

 

[Moped]

Nice to know it’s possible but what a palava!

Wouldn’t be so bad if it gave you licence to do 180 day trips for the duration of your passport, which it does not.

Just curious but how would this affect the remaining 180 days after you return to the U.K.?

Would you have to wait 90 days before your next 90 day visa free visit?

And how frequently can you apply for these 180 day visas? I presume you are permitted one application annually.

And if you do make a visa free 90 day trip, how does this affect your subsequent ability to apply for 180 day tourist visa?

 

[Colinc]

Nice to know it’s possible but what a palava!

Wouldn’t be so bad if it gave you licence to do 180 day trips for the duration of your passport, which it does not.

Just curious but how would this affect the remaining 180 days after you return to the U.K.?

Would you have to wait 90 days before your next 90 day visa free visit?

And how frequently can you apply for these 180 day visas? I presume you are permitted one application annually.

And if you do make a visa free 90 day trip, how does this affect your subsequent ability to apply for 180 day tourist visa?

You are asking good questions but on grey area of law. In fact laws as much of this is set by each EU state. I believe you can apply for more than one visa - nothing to say you can’t - so you could get 6 months France followed by 6 months Spain, and so so on. Lots of faff and expensive, but legal.

Visa or residence card stays in the country issuing those don’t count in any 90 day calculation for all the other countries. So your time there is like time back in the UK. And if you have visa or residence card they don’t stamp your passport - so currently no way for them to check compliance with that. And even with the new computer system (delayed again) they won’t log travel within Schenan. They may be able to check car from numberplate recognition but that doesn’t check people.

The restriction on 90 days in a country actually applies to all EU citizens - including us when we were still in EU. The law says if you are in any EU country other than your passport country for more than three months you have to obtain a residence card in that country. Very few countries enforce this. In fact when we first applied in Greece after having been there for 3 months the police originally refused to give us a card, despite that law. So it is all very grey. May well get clarified over coming years.

 

[rugbyken]

.
The only way that the EU would agree to anything, would be if the UK government did likewise.
Here's hoping that things will improve in future.
Its a fact that we are no longer able to travel, work, and live within the EU, without restrictions, something we just have to get used to.

as i understand it the uk already allows EU citizens 6 months access ie 180 in 365 surely that’s all we want ?

 

[RV12FUN]

You are asking good questions but on grey area of law. In fact laws as much of this is set by each EU state. I believe you can apply for more than one visa - nothing to say you can’t - so you could get 6 months France followed by 6 months Spain, and so so on. Lots of faff and expensive, but legal.

Visa or residence card stays in the country issuing those don’t count in any 90 day calculation for all the other countries. So your time there is like time back in the UK. And if you have visa or residence card they don’t stamp your passport - so currently no way for them to check compliance with that. And even with the new computer system (delayed again) they won’t log travel within Schenan. They may be able to check car from numberplate recognition but that doesn’t check people.

The restriction on 90 days in a country actually applies to all EU citizens - including us when we were still in EU. The law says if you are in any EU country other than your passport country for more than three months you have to obtain a residence card in that country. Very few countries enforce this. In fact when we first applied in Greece after having been there for 3 months the police originally refused to give us a card, despite that law. So it is all very grey. May well get clarified over coming years.

None of these are laws, just acts and statutes, there is a difference. Knowledge is what’s needed and a work around is obtained. The description of how would take me hours to type but it can and is being do.

 

[Annsman]

No there isn’t! All are enforceable by any agency given the power by Parliament. I don’t know where you got that information from. But there isn’t a single instance, in any court in the UK, where those definitions have been successfully challenged.

 

[Fisherman]

as i understand it the uk already allows EU citizens 6 months access ie 180 in 365 surely that’s all we want ?

The EU allow citizens outwith the EU 90 days access. This applies to all other countries outwith the EU.
If they decided to allow us 180 days then this would have to apply to all other countries, not just the UK.
To give an example, I cannot see them allow us 6 months access and then denying US citizens the same rights.
The US currently allow EU citizens to remain for 6 months, but US citizens are also only allowed 90 days in the EU.
So we are no different from any other country outwith the EU, or the single market.

 

[2cv]

The EU allow citizens outwith the EU 90 days access. This applies to all other countries outwith the EU.
If they decided to allow us 180 days then this would have to apply to all other countries, not just the UK.
To give an example, I cannot see them allow us 6 months access and then denying US citizens the same rights.
The US currently allow EU citizens to remain for 6 months, but US citizens are also only allowed 90 days in the EU.
So we are no different from any other country outwith the EU, or the single market.

Actually it’s only 90 days in the US using the visa waiver program.

 

[barryd]

I am seeing more and more posts on FB now where Brit motorhomers have successfully obtained this six month French Visa. Complete PIA but its doable. The latest one I saw they didnt have to make a repeat journey to collect their passports / documents either.

 

[Fisherman]

Actually it’s only 90 days in the US using the visa waiver program.

Sorry Bill but not according to what I am reading.

I can also be extended up to 10 years in certain circumstances.
And if it’s for business it’s 12 months.



Aliens can only stay on a tourist visa in the United States for a maximum period of up to 180 days or 6 months. Note that: In some cases, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will establish a specific time of stay in the country, so it can be a period shorter than 6 months.30 Jan 2022

• 
  
• B2 Visa – visitor for pleasure, tourism, visiting friends or relatives
  Such type of visa is normally issued up from a period of 1 month to 10 years. The visitor will be allowed to stay up to 6 months each entry, but can apply to extend the stay in the U.S. even longer.

How Long Will Your U.S. Visa Allow You to Stay in the U.S.

Each category of non-immigrant U.S. visa or temporary U.S. visa has its own rule on how long a foreigner is permitted to stay in the U.S. soil.

www.siam-legal.com

 

[witzend]

as i understand it the uk already allows EU citizens 6 months access ie 180 in 365 surely that’s all we want ?

180 days at a time is ok its just waiting 180 before you can return

 

[witzend]

I know this has been mentioned before but here is an actual step by step account from a fellow motorhomer who has done it. I suspect the first one!
It's not easy but it's possible. I wonder therefore if it's worth forming a lobby group to approach the French visa authority

How'd we go about forming a lobby group would a web site be in your domain ?

 

[2cv]

Sorry Bill but not according to what I am reading.

I can also be extended up to 10 years in certain circumstances.
And if it’s for business it’s 12 months.



Aliens can only stay on a tourist visa in the United States for a maximum period of up to 180 days or 6 months. Note that: In some cases, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will establish a specific time of stay in the country, so it can be a period shorter than 6 months.30 Jan 2022

• 
  
• B2 Visa – visitor for pleasure, tourism, visiting friends or relatives
  Such type of visa is normally issued up from a period of 1 month to 10 years. The visitor will be allowed to stay up to 6 months each entry, but can apply to extend the stay in the U.S. even longer.

How Long Will Your U.S. Visa Allow You to Stay in the U.S.

Each category of non-immigrant U.S. visa or temporary U.S. visa has its own rule on how long a foreigner is permitted to stay in the U.S. soil.

www.siam-legal.com

That’s right if you get a visa but that is quite a lot of hassle involving visiting the US embassy with costs involved. For the equivalent of just going to Europe EU citizens and UK citizens use the visa waiver programme which just involves getting an ESTA online but only gives 90 days at a time.