Trixie_b

Hi Everyone, I have a USC friend who wants to go and live in France for 6 months. She's leaving in less than a month.
On questioning her on her visa, she says she doesn't have one, but realizes that she can only stay in France for 3 months, then needs to be elsewhere outside of the European union for a month before she can go back to France for another 3 months...

She seems to think she could go to the UK for that time........

I'm not sure what the rules are - do any of you know?

If she needs to get out of the EU, I think she could also go to the Canary Islands too.

Any info you could give would be great. Thanks in advance.

Jerseygirl

Maybe best asking on UKYankee forum.

materialcontroller

I don't think she needs to leave the EU after 3 months, only the Schengen area (of which France is a part). The UK is not part of Schengen, so her plan may just work.

RoadWarriorFromLP

Schengen has a 90-out-of-180-days rule. Given that, a trip to the UK or anywhere else isn't going to reset the clock back to zero.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_4361.html

In practice, overstaying may not be a big deal. If she behaves herself and avoids working illegally, then it may not matter.

Trixie_b

Thanks guys, very helpful!

materialcontroller

Why would a trip to the UK for 90 days or so (as per the OP's original plan), not reset the 90 day clock within the Schengen Area?

robin1234

The original plan says to go to the UK for a month, not 90 days..

RoadWarriorFromLP

I'm curious to know where this idea came from. There's nothing in the rules that suggests that being away for a month is going to help.

I do hope that the OP's friend is flying into the UK, and not into Schengen. If she lands in France, then someone may notice that her return date makes her a candidate for an overstay.

Trixie_b

I did speak to her about visa's and if she had it pinned down month ago, and the subject came up again at the weekend.

The only thing I know is that she does have a return ticket, because it was cheaper than a one way, and I have no idea when that return is scheduled for - a month / a week ????

Personally, I think it's a case of "it's only little ole me, I'm sure that they're not that particular about me staying a bit longer". I forwarded her the link provided in this thread and also a link which said that it's virtually impossible to change status once inside France.

Cardienscarf

There's no telling some people though. I've been trying to explain to a friend's daughter who is a USC, living in Europe with her European husband and daughter, that they can't just up sticks and move to the US without the appropriate visas. So far, it's fallen on deaf ears. Some people appear to think that, because they don't agree with the rules, the rules won't apply to them.

RoadWarriorFromLP

I don't know whether it's a matter of not agreeing, so much as it is a matter of not knowing. It seems that the OP's friend hasn't done any research at all and is just assuming that there are no potential issues.

Trixie_b

Perhaps it is that... I sort of see it as "Well I'm not a terrorist, and becasue I'm a decent person, they wont really mind if I stay a bit longer" - What people don't realize is that immigration isn't about individuals, and if you break the rules, the consequences could impact the rest if your life.

This friend LOVES France. If she doesn't get this done properly, she may be banned from visiting for 10 years....

RoadWarriorFromLP

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that she doesn't have much international travel experience.

Border control officials are paid to keep people out. If she sends up too many red flags, then she increases the risk of getting more scrutiny.

RoadWarriorFromLP

"I really like France, therefore France must really like me!"

Englishmum

TBH I've seen Hollywood movies eg. 'Under the Tuscan Sun' where the actress Diane Lane plays an American woman who just happens to go on a short holiday in Italy, falls in love with a 'fixer-upper' property in Tuscany, buys it and proceeds to renovate it. No mention of visas whatsoever......

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/under_the_tuscan_sun/

Maybe your friend should consider spending 3 months in France then 3 months in Quebec, Canada?