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sillydoll said:South Africans also need a Schengen Visa to visit Europe and it is getting really tough to get the Visa.
We have to provide three months bank statements (originals), proof of residence, proof of financial support - up to 9 days: minimum amount is €561,60 More than 9 days: add €62,40 per day. Medical travel insurance of at least €30 000 and proof of accommodation for the entire period or a letter from a family member (stamped by the mayors office where they live!) or from the sporting organisation, business etc that has invited you, and proof of travel arrangements - original air ticket etc.
falcon269 said:India had a bit of its own problem getting some folks to return home!! Eventually there was a sunset on empire.
jl said:I sympathise with your dilemma cookie. I too am trying to research a Schengen Visa, as we are only allowed 90 days - at least we can get that much!. I am trying to plan a journey, involving a year of walking, and so well know the dilemma you are in. Yours is just a shorter time frame than mine, though it is with the same problems. Good luck. Janet
robertt said:Is there a non-Schengen nation close to Camino countries where one can spend some time, rather than going all the way back to Oz?
Rob
methodist.pilgrim.98 said:Canuck Land's End to John O Groats or in reverse?
Canuck said:We are rather looking at ''cherry picking'' our way.
Still looking at a series of different options i.e. Coast to Coast, Great Glen Way, Hadrian's Wall Path and visits along the way.
Suggestions???
nthnyds said:Hi, A Shengen Visa can be used for ALL of the countries in the Schengen agreement. You only need apply to ONE of those countries (I think there are 17 or 19)
So - if you have a friend in one of the other countries who can invite you to stay for a period of time, (you don't necessarily have to go there first), you can use the relevant Schengen Visa to go to Spain to walk. I think??
sillydoll said:South Africans also need a Schengen Visa to visit Europe and it is getting really tough to get the Visa.
We have to provide three months bank statements (originals), proof of residence, proof of financial support - up to 9 days: minimum amount is €561,60 More than 9 days: add €62,40 per day. Medical travel insurance of at least €30 000 and proof of accommodation for the entire period or a letter from a family member (stamped by the mayors office where they live!) or from the sporting organisation, business etc that has invited you, and proof of travel arrangements - original air ticket etc.
When registering at an albergue, pilgrims will be asked to present their credential to verify that they are walking or cycling the Camino. In addition, upon reaching Santiago de Compostela, at the Oficina de Acogida de Peregrinos (Pilgrims' Welcome Office, Rúa do Vilar 3/1, MapQuest map, Google Earth image and there are signs all over Santiago pointing to the office), pilgrims can present the stamped credential to confirm that they have walked at least the last 100 kilometers or cycled at least the last 200 kilometers, whereupon they receive a Compostela, a document that certifies their pilgrimage.
robertt said:Same with me, guys. I'd like to do a long one, but ninety days seems the limit. I've noticed that they fuss about it in Spain, but no-one seems to make an issue in France or Italy. Still, not worth the risk.
Is there a non-Schengen nation close to Camino countries where one can spend some time, rather than going all the way back to Oz?
Rob
Yodapsy said:My wife will need a Schengen Visa for the Camino. I am a U.S. Citizen as are my kids, so we will not need one. My wife is a Chinese citizen. She has been to the U.S. on a visa 10 times now and never overstayed her visa or broke any of the regulations for visa holders. Will this make it easier for her to get the Schengen visa? For those of you who have applied for the Schengen visa, was there anything that seemed to be helpful during the process? We live in Beijing, so I assume we will need to apply at the Spanish embassy here.
Citizens of all European Economic Area member states (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland are not only visa-exempt, but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries.enter France with my EU passport
It makes sense that you have not time restriction in the EU/Schengen countries. It is treaty law.
Can you apply for visas to cover longer stays than 90 days ?
When you overstay your Schengen limit and get caught, just tell the immigration people that you read here that someone got away with a violation. I am sure they will then let you go.
Or buy a whole lot of Hungarian government bonds, which might be cheaper in the long run.If you want to get around Schengen , you gotta marry a European and get legal residence.
Buen Camino!
Yes, it is best you play it by the book as you have indicated you would. Perhaps you could go to an Embassy near you and ask them --if there is one close to you??? Anyhow, I am not an expert on foreign travel so don't listen to me...Also...
At least in Canada ...Immigration is a tricky thing. They can be untouchable after they make a decision. And often (and this comes with experience) an immigration officer is having a bad day and decides he doesn't like the look of you and detains you. There is not a thing one can do after that except be deported or fight...often taking many months and with the end result being 50/50: they might let you in but they might ship you home and never let you back. That immigration officer will be supported by immigration law to the end of it. His word is law literally until it gets seen by a judge. It's not like 'oh maybe he made a mistake'. Once the decision is made it stays till its seen by a judge.
I would hate to be in a situation and be on the receiving end of another countries immigration law. It can be a bad thing to get sent home from a country. It limits you for ever after. I agree that probably one would go uncaught most of the time but there is the chance if one were caught that there would be a severe penalty. I would not want to NOT be able to go back to the Camino or any other place in Europe if I wanted. That would be just tragic.
Pattii, I know your plans are in flux and you are investigating many possibilities, but I'm sure you know the unemployment situation in Spain:
Unemployment rate (July 2013) 26.26%
Youth unemployment rate (July 2013) 56.1%
I'd say the odds of getting a job, even with university degrees, are pretty dismal.
I'll bet interest in how you get on, though, with your immigration plans otherwise. Good luck!
Yes I think so. I am planning to get to the specific Embassy's and find out which it would be better to apply for. I have around a year...if I had go later for good reasons say getting a living visa I would be willing to do so.Yes, it is best you play it by the book as you have indicated you would. Perhaps you could go to an Embassy near you and ask them --if there is one close to you??? Anyhow, I am not an expert on foreign travel so don't listen to me...
Italy does.how many EUcountries offer this option
Hi Falcon, I'm curious about this as my wife tried to get citizenship there because her mother was born in Italy, but for the period of my wife's birth at the end of WW2, it had to be your Father who was born in Italy! Your mother didn't count, apparently.Italy does.
Hi Lynnejohn, I just want to warn you that the process with the Irish embassy in New York took 2 years for me. Before I could get an Irish passport, I had to get my Irish citizenship, which required me to register my father's "foreign" birth in the US. It was a long process, but fairly straightforward. If you decide to do it I'd be happy to tell you the specifics of how I got it done. Feel free to contact me.Ah, I see. Wise to be cautious about all of the rules.... I have friends who were put on the no-fly list through no fault of their own, and now they can't get off.
I'm fascinated by this topic since jmcorrigan's post, where I learned that I can get an Irish passport! My grandparents were born in Ireland... so it's there if I need it, I guess. I wonder how many EUcountries offer this option. In any case, half the fun of your next adventure is in the planning. So have fun!
Huh? When did that happen? Sheesh. No one tells me anything......Its too bad it took till the 20th century for men to realize that they wouldn't be around if not for us...lol
This might only apply to North (& South?) Americans and/or Aussies, as we do not have to apply for visas. But...
On the one hand, I've been told umpteen times (and have checked consular sites online) that I am entitled to stay in a EU country / Schengen territory for up to 90 days... ONLY. Maximum. Strictly enforced. Only very narrow exceptions. Don't even think about overstaying, you'll be fined, jailed, etc etc.
On the other hand, I know many people who have stayed and traveled around Europe for many more months than the officially-allotted time 90-day period, up to 6 months in some cases (possibly more in others), with no questioning at all upon their departure.
Is this a case of stating "official" policy vs what actually happens on the ground, once we land in, and then depart from, EU/Schengen states?
The obvious answer is you're missing your oranges and your apples.
Schengen treaty while it covers mainly EU countries doesn't cover all EU countries. It also includes some non EU countries. Then of course you have the fact that Europe is bigger then the EU. So it's very easy to be legally 365/24/7 in Europe. It'll mean moving around. You won't be able to work etc. But a long vacation is possible if you are willing to follow the various rules.
It's been mentioned that nobody bothers checking passports between Schengen countries. Border controls aren't really legal between the various members of the treaty. If you're legally in one country you can travel legal between them.
Now if they feel you look funny they can still stop you. Just not at the border. Yesterday I saw an Ukranine kid on a bike stopped by a pair of German patrol officers. They wanted to see it papers. So it happens.
If you're 60 taking a cab to the airport not likely. If you're a 20 something looking for working carrying a backpack more often.
Hi PattiBasically...when it comes to visa's and immigration one is always better to follow the rules. Yes I know there is a big chance nothing would happen but murphy's law always seems to find me when I don't play by the rules. I just think either changing plans or getting a visa are the only two alternatives...at least for me.
I have been doing some research into Ireland and Scotland...both are great hiking locations and Ireland does have a connection to the Camino...and even pilgrimages of their own.
Hi PattiThe country I want to spend most time in is Spain. There are other ways of staying in Spain...specifically on a resident/non working visa for religious or other specific reasons. It is the country you are staying primarily in that you apply for an extended visa but do it as a temporary non working resident. You cannot be out of Canada for longer than 180 days from what I understand and because I am Canadian...temporary resident visa's are available but they say they are better applied for if and when you know you are going to stay and can be applied for while in the country of choice. I have family in one of the Schengen countries and if I wanted to apply for an extended stay I could.
My plan was to of course stay in Spain for an extended period but I decided that my first trip over I would avoid the visa and inquire once I am there what to do about the "special circumstance" visa as I will have already walked the Camino and worked at an albergue when I apply as the idea is to work(lightly writen as I am not expecting pay) on the Camino. I also have a degree in theology so this helps me tremendously with the application.
The idea is that this visa is not a free for all. That is understood by me at least. I know that when dealing with special circumstances there are many countries that will allow you to stay as long as you are not working. I have an income that remains mine no matter where I go so technically I never have to work outside my own country. I am not a normal circumstance...
However I do think I am going to only do 90 days there and the other 90 in other countries outside the Schengen countries this time around. Then I am going to apply for the special visa that you can get through Spain to stay for religious reasons. I am also going to apply to see if I can find a way to stay in Sweden/Norway which is where my family is...that would give me access to the Schengen countries as well.
For me its about my pension. I have to be in Canada for at least a couple weeks every 180 days. But I do have family and friends here so its not hard to do that.Hi Patti
Sounds like you have everything under control and you understand the Spanish visa landscape better than most.
One minor point: you can stay out of Canada longer than 180 days. There is nothing stopping from doing so, except that most public provincial health care plans will not let stay out of province for more than 6 months. Rev Canada will tax you were ever you are as long as you remain Canadian for tax purposes. BC just extended its out of province health care to 7 months and if need be you can ask for a special 2 year coverage ( only good every five years).
When I'm researching something specific to another country I use the applicable country code with google e.g. for Spain, rather than using google.com, use google.es and for France use google.frEveryone says its easy to find European sites on google but I find it a little harder...not sure if its that I'm not looking in the right places. But I am going to investigate further. I am making an appointment to see someone in the Spanish consulate in my city very soon.
Ok, you can stay in Denmarck 90 more. I am not passing by Denmark. Has anyone find out how to ask for a longterm visa in any EU country?
jpierre
I am an American and I have a long stay French visa because I live here 8 months of the year. All I can tell you is the process is a total pain in the "a" I have to renew my visa every year by presenting the identical information I presented the year before at the sous prefecture in Bayonne every February. It costs me about 100 Euros every year. I applied for my first long stay visa at the French Consulate in Miami and if my memory serves me well the first "carte" cost me around 200USD and took 2 trips to the consulate over a several week process. I hope that helps.Ok, you can stay in Denmarck 90 more. I am not passing by Denmark. Has anyone find out how to ask for a longterm visa in any EU country?
jpierre
Ok, you can stay in Denmarck 90 more. I am not passing by Denmark. Has anyone find out how to ask for a longterm visa in any EU country?
jpierre
From the same website you posted referring to the bilateral agreement between Denmark and Canada (and various other countries)
http://canada.um.dk/en/travel-and-residence/visas/bilateral-visa-agreements/
What i can tell you is if you have an irish grandparent you qualify for a EU passport and you can stay then in any of the 27 EU states for as long as you want! Hows them for apples!This might only apply to North (& South?) Americans and/or Aussies, as we do not have to apply for visas. But...
On the one hand, I've been told umpteen times (and have checked consular sites online) that I am entitled to stay in a EU country / Schengen territory for up to 90 days... ONLY. Maximum. Strictly enforced. Only very narrow exceptions. Don't even think about overstaying, you'll be fined, jailed, etc etc.
On the other hand, I know many people who have stayed and traveled around Europe for many more months than the officially-allotted time 90-day period, up to 6 months in some cases (possibly more in others), with no questioning at all upon their departure.
Is this a case of stating "official" policy vs what actually happens on the ground, once we land in, and then depart from, EU/Schengen states?
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