Hi,
I am an Australian citizen planning to study in France later this year and I have just received my student visa, though I am a little confused as to what travel I am able to undertake within the Schengen zone.
The details of the visa are as follows:
Valid: France (+1 transit Schengen)
Type: D
No. of entries: Multi
Duration of stay: XXX
Remarks: Student
Disponse Temporaire de carte de sejour
[url]My questions are as follows:[/url]
Firstly, my visa is valid for 4 months from mid August to Mid december, however i will be arriving in London a month before this and was hoping to travel through several Schengen states (excluding France) before returning to london and then entering France from there... is this possible? I am an Australian citizen so normally i would not need a separate visa for this, but the + 1 transit has got me worried.
Secondly, I have gathered from other posts that I should be able to leave and re-enter France during my stay (to both Schengen and non-Schengen countries) so i hope this is correct... however, am i still able to travel to Schengen states AFTER my student visa has expired? And do i need to be out of france by then? Can my normal 90 days visa-free travel commence then or does it not apply on the back of a student visa? The problem is my student visa expires 3 weeks before my flight home and i had planned to spend this time roaming Europe...
Any assistance would be greatly, greatly appreciated!!