I have a question

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

That is unfortunately not true . The French consulate asked my friend in 2002 (married to FR citizen) to apply and obtain a long stay visa in order to immigrate to France. Go to a French consulate and ask. You will get your answer.

The French Ministry for Foreign Affairs website is wrong?

Official website vs hearsay? Hmm that's a tough one.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

This has totally confused the issue -- of course you need a visa to go and live in an EU country with your EU spouse.

But the Shenghen visa, which was mentioned upthread, has absolutely nothing to do with it if you are a US national.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Based on the information that I have in France (I don’t know about other EU countries), USC must apply for a “long stay” visa at the Consulate if he or she plans on coming for other purposes than tourism and/or stay in France for more than 90 days. American passport holders are all required to obtain a visa to spend more than 3 months in France.

Unless, of course, their spouse happens to be a French national. Check it out!

That is unfortunately not true . The French consulate asked my friend in 2002 (married to FR citizen) to apply and obtain a long stay visa in order to immigrate to France. Go to a French consulate and ask. You will get your answer.

Back your statements up. Geez. Show me where a USC spouse of a EU citizen that wants to live and work in an EU country needs a Schengen Visa. Some link to some official site pointing that out. Some people.

[Satisfaction 1]

PS: I even went to the Embassy in NYC with her that day to inquire, and I even helped her fill in the forms.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This has totally confused the issue -- of course you need a visa to go and live in an EU country with your EU spouse.

But the Schengen visa, which was mentioned upthread, has absolutely nothing to do with it if you are a US national.

Right. There is no Schengen Visa involved in any of this if the EU citizen spouse is a USC. A residency permit or work visa, sure. That is indeed needed. There was no dispute on that part as far as I remember. For the most part, the residency permit can be applied for post entry on the VWP. At least that is what the Consular websites say. But I'm sure they got it all wrong, too...

Edited April 20, 2006 by ET-US2004

[Satisfaction 1]

I can only speak of my experience when I went to the French embassy in NYC with my friend. I assume that the reason why they requested her to obtain a long stay visa was because of the length of time it would take her to obtain residency once in France. It clearly stated "Schengen Visa" on the forms I helped her filled out.

Again, I believe that the best advise is to go in person at the consulate and inquire.

[Mand 1]

Just my 2 cents...I have Irish born friends who live and work in Spain, France, Italy and Denmark and they never needed a Schengen visa, just a regular work permit.

[Sister Fracas 5]

This has totally confused the issue -- of course you need a visa to go and live in an EU country with your EU spouse.

But the Schengen visa, which was mentioned upthread, has absolutely nothing to do with it if you are a US national.

Right. There is no Schengen Visa involved in any of this if the EU citizen spouse is a USC. A residency permit or work visa, sure. That is indeed needed. There was no dispute on that part as far as I remember. For the most part, the residency permit can be applied for post entry on the VWP. At least that is what the Consular websites say. But I'm sure they got it all wrong, too...

Well I don't see the US on this list of fees for Schengen applicants...hmmm

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This has totally confused the issue -- of course you need a visa to go and live in an EU country with your EU spouse.

But the Schengen visa, which was mentioned upthread, has absolutely nothing to do with it if you are a US national.

Right. There is no Schengen Visa involved in any of this if the EU citizen spouse is a USC. A residency permit or work visa, sure. That is indeed needed. There was no dispute on that part as far as I remember. For the most part, the residency permit can be applied for post entry on the VWP. At least that is what the Consular websites say. But I'm sure they got it all wrong, too...

Well I don't see the US on this list of fees for Schengen applicants...hmmm

That list is bogus. They have the right ones at the Consulate in NYC. Go and see yourself.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Please mommy make it stop

[Sister Fracas 5]

That list is bogus. They have the right ones at the Consulate in NYC. Go and see yourself.

awreet!

Please mommy make it stop

men in your head talking to you again???

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Please mommy make it stop

men in your head talking to you again???

You his mommy, fances?

[Sister Fracas 5]

Please mommy make it stop

men in your head talking to you again???

You his mommy, fances?

eeep! *runs*

[Satisfaction 1]

Sice this is Spain that this is all about, here it is:

Residence visa to reunite a family with a Spaniard or a Citizen of the European Union

NO APPLICATION WILL BE RECEIVED WITHOUT PRIOR APPOINTMENT!!!

This Consulate General in Boston has jurisdiction over the following States: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine. If your permanent residence is in one of these States you must apply at this Consulate. If your permanent residence is in another State contact the Consulate that has jurisdiction over your State. See web site http://www.spainemb.org)

This visa can be applied for by the spouse, children under 18 years of age, and parents who are economically dependent of either a Spanish citizen or a citizen of the European Union permanently residing in Spain.

To apply for this visa, the following requirements must be submitted in person:

ORIGINAL AND ONE PHOTOCOPY OF EACH DOCUMENT:

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA

Passport of each of the applicants, valid for a minimum of 6 months (with 1 photocopy of the information, photo page and page of last renovation).

Passport of Spanish citizen or foreigner (E.U. member) permanently residing in Spain.

Residency card if the applicant is not a US citizen (or visa for the US).

4 recent pictures per person, passport size.

Original marriage certificate. .(If it is not from Spain, it should be legalized by the Apostille*). In the case of the spouse of a Spanish citizen, the original Spanish family book (libro de familia).

For the children, original birth certificate.(If it is not from Spain, it should be legalized by the Apostille*). In the case of children of a Spanish citizen, the original Spanish family book (libro de familia).

For parents, birth certificate of the Spanish citizen or foreigner (E.U. member) permanently residing in Spain, in which the full name of the applicant appears.

If the applicant is the spouse, child under 18 years of age, or parent of a Spanish citizen you must submit an official certificate of residence in Spain called "certificado de empadronamiento", or official certificate of change of residence of the Spanish citizen issued by a Consulate of Spain.

If the applicant is a spouse, child under 18 years of age, or parent of a foreigner (E.U. member) permanently residing in Spain, you must submit the original residence permit in Spain or a notarized photocopy of this, and official certificate of residence in Spain.

Be advised that special conditions for certain cases may apply.

*APOSTILLE: THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. William Francis Galvin, Secretary of State; Public Records Division, Room 1719; McCormack Building, 1 Ashburton Place, Boston MA 02108. Tel: (617) 7272836.

If further information is needed, E-mail this Consulate General at:

conspbos@mail.mae.es

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.spainconsul-ny.org/Boston/english/BIreagrupec.htm

[desert_fox 32]

Actually I was only interested on how the EU nations treated each other.

I have no intent of moving to Spain. I dont think I could afford it. And it seems the further north you go the more expensive it gets, and then you get to Oslo.

and...I think that ET has always given excellent advice and always seem to be right on, except for his polictical thinking of course. Satisfaction knows the system also.

Somnehow this thread got off track. See if I ever ask a simple question again.

Edited April 20, 2006 by desert_fox