Can I Extend My F1 Visa in Us

Last Updated: nine/13/21 | September 13th, 2021

When I planned my motility to Sweden a few years ago, I tried to figure out how to get past the 90-day limit placed on tourist visas in the Schengen Area. This is a problem encountered by thousands of travelers every year and a question that regularly (especially this fourth dimension of year) pops up in my inbox.

"How tin can I stay in Europe for more than 90 days?"

It's a elementary question with a very complicated answer.

I always knew it was complicated, only until I started researching how to stay there longer, I never knew simply how complicated.

Fortunately, in the process of this research, I came to larn there are a few ways to stay in Europe longer than 90 days; they but aren't well known.

This post will teach yous the options for staying in Europe over 90 days every bit well as give yous tips on how to move to Europe. But offset a few things:

It'southward of import to note that Europe isn't just 1 place — in that location are varying visa rules throughout the continent. When people talk near the "90-day limit," they're talking nigh restrictions on the Schengen Expanse, which is the visa policy that governs 26 countries in Europe. Information technology includes all of the European Wedlock — except Republic of ireland — likewise as a few non-Eu countries.

Note: While I call it the "Schengen Visa," it'due south non an actual visa you necessarily need to apply for. Depending on your residency status and country of citizenship, yous may need to apply in advance for a Schengen Visa, notwithstanding, those with an American passport do not need to employ in accelerate.

What is the Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is a 90-day tourist visa for Schengen Surface area countries, which are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Republic of finland
• French republic
• Federal republic of germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italia
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Republic of malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Additionally, there are several microstates that are de facto members of the Schengen Expanse. These are Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican Urban center.

These Schengen countries have a border-gratis visa agreement that lets residents move throughout the Area without needing to show their passport every time they cross a edge. Substantially, it'southward as if they're one country, and you can move as freely as you want.

Citizens of many countries are allowed to enter the Schengen Expanse without having to become a visa beforehand. Your passport simply gets stamped upon your arrival and departure from Europe. You're allowed to enter and leave from any state you want — they don't accept to exist the same.

Here is a map of the countries with visa waivers that can enter the Schengen without requiring a visa in advance.

Most visitors (including Americans) are allowed to spend 90 days in the Schengen Area in every 180-day period. The easiest fashion to think of it is that you lot tin can visit for 3 months then yous take to leave for 3 months before you can return.

Nevertheless, you tin can also bounce dorsum and forth betwixt Schengen and non-Schengen countries — you just need to keep track of all your dates of entry/leave.

When I visit Europe, I fly in and out of different countries all the time. Your first entry in the 180-day menstruum is when your 90-24-hour interval counter starts. These days don't demand to be consecutive — the full is cumulative. Once day 181 hits, the count resets itself.

For example, if I come to the Schengen Surface area in January and stay for lx days so come back in June for 10 days, that counts equally seventy days in 180 days. Only days y'all are in the zone during the period count. If you go on January 1st and stay xc direct days, y'all take to leave and technically can't come back until July 1st.

Withal, non all travelers are allowed such liberty.

Citizens from many countries need to employ for a Schengen visa ahead of time. Yous'll be required to fill out paperwork beforehand and fly in and out of the country for which your visa is issued.

Even and then, y'all still might not be granted a visa. Spoiler alert: citizens from African and Asian countries get screwed.

So, with that existence said, how Exercise you stay in Europe longer? How do y'all get effectually that rule? Let me break it downwards for y'all.

Function i: Staying or Moving to Europe the Piece of cake Way

With so many visa rules, it's easy to stay in Europe beyond xc days equally a tourist — you only need to mix up the countries y'all visit. The United Kingdom has its own rules that let you to stay 180 days in a agenda year.

Virtually non-Schengen countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Croatia, Republic of ireland, and some Balkan countries allow you to stay for up to 60 or ninety days. Albania even lets American's stay up to a year!

So, all you demand to do to stay in Europe longer than iii months is spend 90 days in the Schengen Area and then visit the UK, become to the Balkans, hang out in Ukraine, drink wine in Moldova, and accept a pint in Ireland. If you align your schedule right, yous tin hands be out of the Schengen Expanse for 90 days and then caput back into the Schengen Area with a make new Schengen visa.

Years agone, to get around this limit, I spent three months in Republic of bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and England as I waited for my clock to reset. Subsequently that, I headed back into the Shengen area for Oktoberfest.

If you desire to travel the continent for a long fourth dimension without having to go through the diverse visa processes described below, vary your travel by visiting non-Schengen countries. There'due south plenty of countries to choose from while you expect for your Schengen Visa clock to reset. This is the easy, hassle-free style of doing things.

—-> Demand more tips for Europe? Visit my destination guide and go in-depth information on what to see and practise and how to save money.

Role 2: Staying in the Schengen Area By xc Days

Just what if you lot do want to stay longer in the Schengen Expanse? What if the six months you want to exist in Europe is all in Schengen Surface area countries? What if you desire to live and work in Europe?

Subsequently all, the Schengen Area spans 26 countries and visiting so many destinations in 90 days can exist a little rushed (you would have an average of merely iii.five days per land).

If you lot want to stay longer to travel, alive, learn a language, or fall in love, then the "movement around" choice suggested above isn't going to piece of work for you lot. You need something else.

Luckily, at that place are a few ways to practise this — and I can't stress enough the importance of the word "few." Because staying more than xc days in the Schengen Area isn't easy.

First, allow'southward understand the rule:

The Schengen police force states that you can't stay in the Expanse for more than ninety days. If you practice, you're discipline to a fine and possibly deportation and existence banned from re-entering the Schengen Area. How that rule is enforced, though, varies greatly from one country to some other. Overstaying past a mean solar day might not exist the end of the world, however, some countries practice not mess effectually with visitors overstaying.

For example, Deutschland, holland, Poland, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries are all very strict about entry and go out rules. If yous overstay your tourist visit, at that place's a adept chance they'll pull you aside. Two Australians I know were detained leaving Switzerland due to overstaying their visa by two weeks. They were allowed to become with just a warning, but they missed their flights and had to book new flights.

I know of someone who overstayed past six months, tried to get out from Amsterdam, and now has an "illegal immigrant" postage stamp on her passport. In order to enter Europe once more, she must apply for a visa at an embassy and be preapproved:

I made the fault of attempting to leave from kingdom of the netherlands after overstaying a Schengen visa and was caught. I overstayed by about a month, and they mitt-drew some sort of insignia in my passport to annotation my overstay. They told me I'd have to contact the IND and observe out if I would be able to enter the Schengen states again.

Another blogger told me this happened to them as well so don't overstay your visa!

That being said, if you leave from Greece, French republic, Italy, or Spain you may be less likely to encounter an issue, provided you (a) haven't stayed over as well long and (b) didn't catch the immigration officer on a bad day.

When I left Hellenic republic, no i even looked at my passport. One of my friends met a guy in France, roughshod in honey, and decided not to leave. A year afterwards, when she finally did, the French officials didn't even look twice. Another friend flew into France and didn't even become an entry postage stamp. Spain is some other identify notorious for not caring and Americans who decide to overstay for months mention that as the easiest land to exit from.

Of class, I don't call back it's wise to overstay. A day or two? Likely not the end of the world. But, Matt, can I extend just extend my Schengen visa/postage?
Unfortunately not. Simply put, you cannot extend your tourist visa or entry stamp. There'due south a 90-twenty-four hours limit, and that's that.

So what's a tourist to do?

ane. Get a Working Vacation Visa

Working holiday visas are piece of cake to go and the all-time way to extend your stay — even if you don't want to work. These visas are designed for young travelers who want to work and travel abroad. Citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand (and oft South Korea, Israel, Hong Kong, and Japan) are eligible for one- to ii-yr working holiday visas from most of the Schengen countries.

At that place is no single "working holiday" program for the Schengen or EU then applicants must apply for this visa from a specific country. Applicants must besides exist younger than 30 (though, in some cases, like for Canadians working in Switzerland or Ireland, yous tin be as onetime as 35).

Additionally, you can become consecutive working vacation visas. An Australian reader of mine got a two-twelvemonth Dutch working holiday visa and so got one from Norway to stay two more years. While she and her boyfriend (who also got 1) did odd jobs in The netherlands for a fleck, they more often than not used it as a style to travel around the continent.

Note: This type of visa won't allow you to piece of work in any other country than the one that issued it.

For Americans, there are only 2 options for working holidays in Europe: Ireland (non-Schengen country) and Portugal (Schengen land). The Portuguese working vacation visa is for travelers aged eighteen-30 and lasts two years. The Irish ane as well lasts 2 years and is skillful for those aged 18-30, however, you must have graduated within 12 months of applying (or be a student).

2. Get a Long-Term-Stay Visa

Unfortunately, the bulk of Schengen countries do not offer long-term-stay visas for tourists/visitors. Mostly speaking, if you want a long-stay visa, you'd take to utilise for residency.

Schengen allows for a C- or D-grade visa (the letter varies on the country), which is a temporary residence visa for up to 1 yr. But the specific visa and requirements vary from country to country. Some countries are harder, some are easier, and others are nearly incommunicable despite beingness in the same visa treaty zone.

Withal, there are a few countries that do offer long-term visas that aren't also difficult to get:

France

France offers a long-term visitor visa for a period of up to i year. The application process takes up to one calendar month. Co-ordinate to the French Diplomatic mission, "The 'visitor' visa (or visa 'D') allows you to enter French republic and stay for more three months. Long-stay visa holders will be allowed to reside in French republic for upward to 12 months according to the validity of their visa and purpose of stay."

To go this visa, you lot must set up an engagement at the French consulate near you. You can't walk in — yous must make an date.

At this appointment, you'll demand the following documents:

• Ane awarding grade filled out completely and signed
• 3 passport photos
• Your original passport, which must accept been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for 3 months after your render, and have at least two blank pages left
• A letter certified past a notary public that promises you lot won't engage in work
• A letter of employment stating current occupation and earnings
• Proof of income (you'll need bank statements or copies of your investment portfolio)
• Proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation insurance
• Proof of accommodation in France. (The French consulate never returned my emails, so I was unsure how yous could take this earlier you even get to France. One could use a friend'due south address or, lacking that, rent a place (one where yous can become a refund) for the purposes of the interview. It's a little fuzzy.)

Note: You can't utilise for this visa more than three months earlier your arrival date.

You can visit the French Diplomatic mission website for links to local embassies and consulates for more than data. This mail besides has some helpful information to get you started.

Sweden

Sweden too offers a long-term stay tourist visa for a maximum menses of ane yr. The process is piece of cake unremarkably takes around two weeks to procedure when applied for in Sweden. Here'due south a brief overview of what yous need:

• Residence permit for company'south application form
• Notarized copies of the pages of your passport that evidence your identity and the validity of your passport, equally well every bit copies of all the other visas/stamps you lot have. Your passport besides needs to be valid for iii months after your stay.
• A bank argument showing your means of supporting yourself for the duration of your stay (you demand at to the lowest degree $52 USD per day for each twenty-four hours saved in your account)
• A render airplane ticket
• A letter of the alphabet from your insurance company stating you're covered overseas

Applications tin exist delivered in person during visiting hours (no appointment needed) or mailed to a Swedish consulate.

Subsequently your documents are received, yous'll be required to take an interview with one of the clearing officers. Most people who apply for this visa have family in Sweden. If you don't, y'all'll demand to have articulate reasons as to why you demand to stay longer and evidence ample proof that you can support yourself (i.e., "I want to meet Swedish guys/girls" won't cut it!). If you lot're applying in Sweden, yous'll need to put a local'due south address on your awarding form, and that person will have to accompany you to your interview.

You tin can learn more about the process on this authorities page.

Kingdom of spain

Spain offers a long-term visa targeting retirees called the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. It requires that yous spend at least 183 days in Spain, which would make you a legal resident for revenue enhancement purposes hither. During this time, y'all are unable to piece of work in Kingdom of spain (so yous'll need to have enough savings to become you by). Nevertheless, studying and unpaid internships are permitted.

The big catch for this visa is that yous need to have over 27,000 EUR in your bank account. That'south around $32,000 USD. Since the visa is designed for retirees, the assumption is that y'all're coming here to residuum on your financial laurels after a lifetime of saving up — hence the sizeable requirement.

The visa has been denied to people who are remote workers so I wouldn't recommend this visa if you're a digital nomad (Espana is currently working on a visa specifically for distal nomads though information technology's not currently available).

In addition to having sizable savings, you'll besides need to fill out the awarding, submit your passport and additional photos, pay a fee, and provide the following:

• Proof of private health insurance (from an authorized company in Spain)
• A doctor'south note certifying that you're healthy
• A criminal groundwork cheque translated into Spanish

You must apply for this visa in your state of residency as you volition exist interviewed as office of the process. The awarding varies per country, usually between 120-520 EUR (it'due south effectually 125 EUR for Americans and simply over 500 EUR for Canadians).

This consulate page has all the specific details you demand regarding the awarding.

Portugal

Portugal has multiple long term stay visas. First, there is a Golden Visa, which requires a minimum investment in the country of $300,000 USD. More than realisticly, is the D7 visa, which is similar to Spain'due south retirement visa.

Information technology requires proof of insurance, a background cheque, an application and interview, etc. The main difference, however, is that you only demand an income of around $9,000 USD instead of the $32,000 USD in savings the Spanish visa required. You still cannot piece of work on this visa, so your income must exist passive (investments, pension, rental belongings, etc.).

The D7 visa can work for digital nomads, though there is a separate visa that might work better: the D2 visa.

This visa, known every bit the Immigrant Entrepreneur visa, isn't designed specifically for digital nomads. You lot'll need to submit a business plan and demonstrate you lot have enough capital to get started. You'll as well need to explain why yous want to start (or move) your business to Portugal. Y'all'll have a much college chance of getting canonical if you have invested upwards of 5,000 EUR in your business organization and speak some Portuguese as well (it's not required, only these visas are regularly rejected so it will requite you a leg up).

In short, there are a lot of steps for a temporary visa that only lasts one year. However, you tin can get this extended and eventually apply for permanent residency or citizenship later on v years.

You'll demand to use for both of these visas in your country of residency.

A note of long-term visas: Keep in mind that the information to a higher place is merely for reference. There may be more requirements needed for your application and non all visas are open to everyone. You'll want to contact your local embassy for specifics and additional information.

The Bilateral Agreement Hack

In addition to the standard Schengen visa, most countries take numerous bilateral agreements independent of the Shengen visa. These agreements let travelers stay in a specific country for an additional catamenia of time beyond the 90-day Schengen limit. The just caveat is that can't leave that country during that time.

For instance, France has a bilateral agreement that allows U.Due south. citizens to stay an boosted 90 days beyond the Schengen limit. Yous can enter from any Schengen country, stay 90 days in France, then fly dwelling. Only the catch is you have to go home — you tin can't become elsewhere. You have to leave Europe so y'all can't use your time in France as a sneaky mode to reset your Schengen clock.

Now, the France/U.Southward. rule is tricky. It's based on a mail-WW2 agreement that never was cancelled. Multiple French consulates told me yes, they thought this law existed just couldn't tell me where to find it. A few visa services told me I was crazy. One consulate told me it was possible but just with a long-term visa.

BUT, afterward many calls, the U.s., Canda, and Great britain French embassies told me that yeah, this police does be and that yes, this is nevertheless valid. Then they referenced me to the French national archives.

Well, we found the actual diplomatic papers that spell this out. It took us close to a yr to find it but we did.

This is the annotation from the French government about information technology:

Hullo,

There is a bilateral agreement betwixt French and the U.S. by exchange letters (March sixteen-31 mars 1949), which allows American citizens to stay in France 90 days over 180 days, irrespective of the stays already made in other Schengen countries.

However, this agreement has been made before the Schengen agreement. Today, equally at that place is no more edge command between the Schengen countries, it is very difficult to make up one's mind how long a person has stayed in France and we heard that some people had troubles with the immigration police force while leaving French republic.

Therefore, we recommend American citizens to respect the Schengen regulation which allows a maximum of ninety days on 180 days in the whole Schengen area.

Consulat général de France, Service des visas
4101 Reservoir Road, Washington DC, 20007

A follow to the London diplomatic mission gave me this response:

"Whilst the bilateral agreement you refer to has not officially been revoked, the French Border Police has sole authorization on deciding whether to utilize it or not, at the fourth dimension of entering or exiting the Schengen area."

So this is really a matter. And, while they don't like you using it, information technology's still the law. Simply bring proof you stayed in France for 90 days! If you plan to employ this rule, bring documentation equally edge guards my not be enlightened of it.

Additionally, Kingdom of denmark and Poland also have bilateral agreements with the Us that let citizens stay an boosted 90 days in each country dissever from the regular Schengen Zone visa. The Denmark rule applies exactly the aforementioned way as the French one. Denmark likewise has a bilteral agreemnt that is applicable for citizens of Commonwealth of australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South korea.

For Poland, yous must enter and get out Poland via a non-Schengen country where you will be stamped again (i.e., direct flight from NYC). So y'all could do ninety days in the Schengen, fly to the UK, and and so fly to Poland. Poland's rules are simply laid out in an agreement alphabetic character the U.South. and Poland signed in 1991. (Here'south a copy of the letter from the Smoothen regime).

In theory, there are also other bilateral agreements betwixt the U.South. and Schengen countries. I've been told by multiple sources that Kingdom of belgium, Italy, Republic of hungary, Kingdom of norway, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands all have their ain bilateral agreements with the U.S. besides. This page outlines the existing bilateral agreements.

However, I reached out to each state's consulate and none of them replied (relieve Portugal) in whatsoever meaningful way. They simply directed me to the standard visa FAQ page.

Regarding Portugal, a representative from the Portuguese consulate said this regarding their bilateral sixty-24-hour interval visa:

Delight note that those sixty days are an exceptional extension that needs to exist requested inside Portugal at SEF office nigh your temporary address in Portugal.

At present, in theory, one could say thanks to borderless travel yous could get your "extra 90 days in Denmark" and and then just travel around, fly out of Denmark, and no one would be the wiser. One could say that. But I've noticed a lot more than intra-Europe passport checks in recent years. I got yelled at in French republic for not having my passport with me while on a train to run across a chateau. So, I wouldn't recommend doing this.

Note: Most counties accept bilateral agreements with other countries. Call the local embassy for more data (you'll take improve luck calling than emailing).

3. Become a Student Visa

All Schengen Surface area countries offer student visas that are easy to obtain so long as yous're enrolled in a recognized university program. This would require y'all to pay for the class, but it will well-nigh guarantee y'all a visa if you are accepted.

One of the all-time countries to do this in is Spain, where a whole industry has sprung up to help students study Spanish. In that location are tons of schools that will allow you lot to enroll and write messages stating y'all're a pupil in that location. Y'all'll need to employ in your home country but the process is relatively straightforward. This mail service details the requirements.

Germany is another popular choice, every bit post-secondary schools there are essentially gratuitous. While there may be more competition, the costs are much lower. You tin acquire virtually the application process here.

While virtually student visas allow you to stay in a land for i year, I would only consider getting one if you really plan on studying. If you're just getting a student visa to travel and play tourist, it's non going to be worth the price and paperwork since y'all'll demand to set up upwards everything from a residential address to a bank account to a local phone number and more.

4. Become a Freelancer Visa

There are several countries that offering freelancer visas. This procedure is a piddling more than complicated and not for the casual tourist. These visas are meant for people who actually want to alive and piece of work in Europe. If you're just a coincidental tourist, expect to exist denied. Merely if you're a digital nomad, this is the visa for y'all.

Schengen countries that offering freelancer visas include Frg, Estonia, Spain, Czechia, Portugal, Hellenic republic, and Malta. Non-Schengen countries that have them include Croatia, Romania, Georgia, and Iceland.

Germany is the state most used by people who want to reside in Europe. If you're a freelancer, digital nomad, artist, or have some form of income, this is the visa to get (and it'due south quite easy to become). If yous are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., Israel, Republic of korea, or Japan y'all tin can apply after yous make it in Germany (anybody else needs to apply in accelerate).

The visa only lasts for iii months, notwithstanding, information technology is designed to be extended into a residency visa which would then last for iii years. I have many friends who accept gotten this visa. Every bit long as you follow the steps, y'all should be fine. This post has more information most the procedure.

Most freelancer visas follow a similar format: employ, pay a fee, submit proof that your business can stay afloat, then look to be accepted. Nonetheless, some take more than stringent requirements.

For example, Republic of estonia's freelancer visa requires a monthly income of at least 3,500 EUR per month leading up to your application. For the Czechia visa, yous need to have at least $6,000 USD in your bank account (the lovely folks at Wandertooth, who did this procedure a couple of years ago, tin can walk y'all through the steps).

In recent years, Kingdom of spain has also created freelancer visa called the "autonomo" that also follows a similar process. You can read more than hither.

If you are a digital nomad and are because working remotely from the Eu you tin can compare these programs to meet which one bests suits your goals (though Germany is likely the best place to start since it's i of the easiest to become).

5. Get Married to a European

Autumn in dearest with a European (or at least a friend) and utilise for a marriage visa! You lot'll become to stay in that location while the application process goes through and so yous tin can move to Europe and stay there forever with the dear of your life! That's a win-win! (This is a joke. Don't become married merely for a visa to stay in Europe!)

***

The best, easiest, and virtually constructive way to stay in Europe long-term is to increase the number of countries you visit so you're in the Schengen Expanse for only 90 days. As I said, at that place are a lot of countries non in the Area then this is easy to do.

If you're like me and desire to stay in the Schengen Area longer than 90 days (or simply want to movement to Europe considering it's crawly), exist prepared to work the organisation. Iit'due south not impossible to stay long-term in the Schengen Expanse. Past agreement the organisation and using the few loopholes that exercise exist, one tin can legally stay past xc days and enjoy all Europe has to offer without worrying near being barred for life.

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Book Your Trip to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Employ Skyscanner or Momondo to detect a inexpensive flying. They are my two favorite search engines considering they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner beginning though because they accept the biggest reach!

Book Your Adaptation
You tin volume your hostel with Hostelworld equally they take the biggest inventory and best deals. If yous want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilise Booking.com as they consistently render the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

For suggestions on where to stay during your trip, hither is a list of my favorite hostels in Europe.

Don't Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. Information technology's comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never continue a trip without it as I've had to employ information technology many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Condom Wing (for anybody beneath 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over seventy)
• Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Coin With?
Check out my resources page for the all-time companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I'm on the road. They will save you money when you travel as well.

Desire More Data on Europe?
Be certain to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

NOTE: Due to the complexities of visas and the uniqueness of anybody's situation, we exercise non respond whatsoever visa related questions in the comments or via email. Give thanks you.

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Source: https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-legally-stay-in-europe-for-more-than-90-days/

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