U.S. Citizen Student Visa for Study Abroad in France and UK?
I am a U.S. Citizen who will be studying abroad in France through the EAP program at UCLA. I will be studying abroad in Paris for Spring 2010 semester at Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po). Then for summer 2010 quarter (2 months) I will study at Cambridge University in London. After that, I will return to France for Study Abroad at the UC Center Paris for Fall 2010 semester. Is it possible for me to spend the whole year in France and UK without having to return to the U.S. for a student visa? The French Consulate in Los Angeles says that I have to appear in person to apply for the student visa in France, but I will be attending two different universities with a 2 month break in between. I need the acceptance letters from the French universities, which I will not get for the Fall Semester 2010 one until I am already in France. Can I apply for student visa in the UK with American citizenship? Is there a plan I can make that won't require me to have to come back to the U.S.? I would hate to have to fly back to California and then leave back to Europe immediately...
Studying Abroad - 1 Answers
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Unfortunately, you have a problem. You are not allowed to switch from a tourist visa status (which is what you have going on your regular passport) to a student visa anywhere within the EU, so that rules out getting one in the UK. You will definitely need to apply for your French visa before you leave for France. Will the university not give you any kind of proof of enrollment, admission or evidence that you have a place there? What about your own university? Someone has to, otherwise it not only doesn't make sense but you have quite a problem on your hands. If all else fails, and you absolutely can't get one, I guess your only other option is to leave the EU/EEA and apply for one from there, but this doesn't mean you have to go all the way back to the US, it could be somewhere else in Europe, generally all embassies and consulates address you according to the appropriate rules for your nationality regardless of the country you're applying in. This might be time consuming, but it beats a transatlantic flight. Good luck.
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