Visa Experience

Let's learn about the Schengen Zone today!!

So, let me tell you what my plan was this summer. My plan was to go to Spain, finish up my undergraduate degree, then after a month in Spain, head to Germany to stay with a friend who lives on one of the Air Force Bases (Ramstein). I would spend the month in Germany, relaxing, perhaps go up and see Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, etc. On August 22, I had a train booked from my friend's house to Amsterdam, where I would then go to Leiden for my orientation for Webster University's Global Master's of International Relations orientation. I was looking forward to a nice relaxing month, a nice relaxing train ride, and arriving at orientation one of the few people not completely jet lagged.

Well, that was the plan. But Schengen had other ideas. For those that are not aware, this is the Schengen Zone.

Schengen Zone - Also known as EUROPE

The Schengen Zone is a group of countries that have signed onto the Schengen Agreement. This agreement allows for free movement of people within the zone without internal border controls. So, you pass through customs when you enter one Schengen country, after that you will not see another border unless you leave the zone and return. There are 26 countries in the zone.

The rules for Americans in the zone are pretty simple. As an American you can travel to the zone, visa free, for 90 days in a 180 day period. So, every six months, your time "resets" and you get a fresh 90 days. If you are going to stay BEYOND 90 days you need a visa. If you get a visa in one Schengen country, you are legal in all Schengen countries.

Here is where the problem comes in. If you are going to stay in a single Schengen country for a year, let's say, it's pretty easy to get a visa. You go through that particular country and apply for a visa, no problem. But what if your TOTAL time in the zone exceeds the 90 days, but your time in any single country does not? Then it becomes a little bit harder.

See, each country will then tell you "you're less than 90 days you don't need a visa". So, the days of packing a backpack and spending a year in Europe have pretty much - died (if the economy hadn't killed that dream, this treaty did).

Now, this wasn't exactly the problem I ran into - though it came up a few times.

Webster University has 5 countries we visit: Austria, Thailand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands (China is the other option in Asia). Of those 5 countries, 3 of them are in the Schengen zone. We have 8 weeks in each country, so one way or another, we will fall into Schengen violation at some point in the program.

So, Webster University has an agreement with Switzerland, since we are not in any single Schengen country for more than 90 days on our program, it is difficult to get visas, but Switzerland worked with the program to grant visas for a less than 90 day program for us. They then strategically design the cohort routes so that we fall into violation while we are Switzerland, where we have a visa and permit.

Now, Webster University has obviously gone through a lot of trouble to help us stay current and legal on all our visas, but we are told that in the end it is our responsibility to stay on top of any visas for any countries we go to (in the program or on extra trips). Had I started the Webster program by flying over from the USA for orientation, I would have been fine with what Webster set up. But, I didn't. I was in Spain in July, a full 2 months before the program begins, which means, a full 2 months of my time in the Schengen Zone adding up.

See that map I posted above? It would have been nice if I had personally consulted it before I left for Spain. But unfortunately, I didn't think about the two programs as a single, seamless amount of time spent in Europe. Yes, it was silly and stupid, but somehow in my mind, I separated the two programs so well, that I forgot that the Schengen zone does not.

So, my clock began on June 28 when I got my passport stamped at the Frankfurt airport on the way to Spain. Which means my 6 month (180 day) period is up around December 25. It also meant that my 90 days was up September 26 (assuming I stayed in the zone the entire time). I don't leave for Bangkok until October 20. So, there was now a problem.

Thank GOODNESS the program director, Hannah, brought it to my attention toward the end of my time in Spain. When I got to Germany I called the Austrian embassy in Berlin.

This is where my real troubles began. I finally got someone on the phone that spoke English and explained my situation. I needed a visa for Austria so I wouldn't be in violation. Once I got past the "yes I know it's less than 90 days, but I still need it" part of the conversation, I was told this:

"We only work with German nationals here. You need to take care of this at your representation in your country."

"You mean the United States?"

"Yes, but we do not take any documents via fax, mail, or email, it needs to be done in person."

"In person would mean I have to return to the United States."

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"I don't normally do visas, the person who does is on holiday, he will be in Tuesday, you can call and ask, but you will probably have to return to the US." By the way, this was a Thursday, she just told me that maybe I could do it in Germany, but probably not, but I had to wait 5 days to know for sure, which means I am wasting time if do indeed have to return to the US.

So, at 10am German time, I now had to wait for the USA to wake up and the Austrian embassy in Washington DC to open. This meant 7 hours of pacing the house and freaking out.

My conversation with the visa lady in the US went very similar. You need to come to the United States.

Holy balls.

Okay, so now I should also mention, all the paperwork for my Swiss visa and permit, Hannah and I had been trying to figure out the best way for me to submit that from abroad. Since I hadn't had a chance to mail it yet, I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone on this trip and take care of Austria and Switzerland at the same time. For Switzerland I had to file in Atlanta (local consulate to my permanent address). So I asked the lady at the Austrian embassy if I can apply for the visa at the honorary consulate in Atlanta. Her answer: "You can, but it will take a minimum of 15 days. If you come to DC we can process it in 3-5 days."

So that did it. I was getting on a plane the next day to fly to Washington DC and wait for a visa. I would then fly to Augusta so that I could drive to Atlanta and take care of my Swiss permit. Beautiful.

The scary part was booking the flight. Considering I was looking for a flight for the next day I was bracing myself for an absolutely horrendous price. But SkyScanner.com saved my wallet! I managed to book a round-trip ticket for just $1300. I am sure the Barclay's credit card division was glad to see me back (especially considering what they are dealing with -_-) My family in DC was absolutely amazing and jumped to my rescue with a place to crash! I am so blessed to have a large extended family that we are all still close to and incredibly grateful for the help they gave me in this situation.

I left all of my luggage at my friend's house in Germany and took about 3 days worth of clothes. I even left my cameras! I was heartbroken to leave Germany. I had really been looking forward to seeing more of the country, but I guess fate had other plans.

Friday evening I arrived in DC and Saturday and Sunday I spent time with family and gathered all my documents for the visa. Monday morning, as soon as the embassy opened I was in line to submit my paperwork.

"We can't give you a student visa, it's less than 90 days" said the lady behind the window. I was surprised I didn't break down into tears and beg for mercy, but I held myself and explained again, and showed her my passport with the June 28 stamp on it. She finally shifts through papers quietly and then says "I can issue a tourist visa." Luckily, a tourist visa is also cheaper (though nothing about this ordeal made this a cheap visa).

I ended up having to email her my travel itinerary (it wasn't needed for the student visa, but it was for the tourist visa). On Wednesday, I received an email response from the embassy "Your visa is processed and ready for pick up." Now I was impressed! That was incredibly fast turn around on that!

YAY!!

I got on a plane and flew back to Augusta and prepared my documents for Switzerland. I drove up to the Swiss consulate (which closes at 11:30 in the morning, since the drive from Augusta to Atlanta is about 2 hours I left at oh-god:30 in the morning). I parked and got out of the car and started laughing hysterically. I had forgotten to bring *money* for the visa. It just seemed so incredibly hysterical to me. I was so over this process at that point.

I managed to find a bank, got money. I walked to the consulate only to realize I did not have my photos either! You have got to be kidding me right?! The Swiss representatives told me that there was a FedEx across the street where I could get photos. Thank goodness.

Supposedly, the Swiss authorities were supposed to send emails to all representation in the USA letting them know we were coming and what the process is. Of course, when I mentioned that there should have been an email he says "We haven't gotten an email." Luckily he added, "But I know the program." I had like 8 copies of everything and wasn't sure how many copies of each item he needed, he was incredibly helpful though "I'll take two of those, four of those, three of those". He also said "I don't know why they keep applying for the visa, you don't need a Schengen visa since it's less than 90 days." Yes, I have heard this story before, can you just humor me and take it anyway?

He was super friendly and helpful though, we talked about the weather in Geneva, since I will be there in January. He laughed and said "It's much colder than Georgia." I told him I was from Minnesota, and he said that it would be a lot like being on Lake Superior in the winter (goodie). If everyone in Switzerland is as cool as this guy was, I will thoroughly enjoy the country.

So, time to get back to Frankfurt get get my stuff. My nice relaxing month turned into two weeks of planes, trains, and automobiles.

Sunday the 19th I flew from Augusta to DC. Monday the 20th I flew from DC to Charlotte (yes, I went from Augusta to DC to go to Charlotte) and then connected to Frankfurt. I arrived early morning the 21st and took a shuttle from Frankfurt back to my friend's house to repack my luggage. Then, as was initially planned, on the morning of the 22nd I took a train from her house to Amsterdam.

Only, instead of showing up relaxed and jet-lagged, I was coming off of four solid days of travelling and probably the most stressful 2 weeks in a long time.

Lesson learned: When it comes to travelling - expect that nothing will happen according to plan.