Traveling Italy on US passport--I know 90 days is limit but...?

Question

how long does one have to be gone from the country to return? do I have to go back to the US or can I just go somewhere in Europe? Also, if I wanted a visa, what are the requirements if I'm not going to school or working? How long does it generally take to get a visa? Thanks!

Answer 1

See site below and read under "entry requirements".  There is a link there to the Italian Embassy I checked the embassy website to see if you could apply for a visa for a longer visit for the purpose of tourism, and it says there is no such visa.  You will need to contact the visa division at the embassy to ask your questions and see if you may apply for an extension of time.  The website just does not address these questions.  Edit:...Just saw other answer...glad she had more info...hope that helps you.

Answer 2

You have to be gone for 90 days from the Schengen states to be allowed to return. Just leaving Italy is not enough. About the only countries in Western Europe that is not part of Schengen are the UK and Ireland. If you do not wish to go back to the USA you would have to spent 90 days there. Or in Russia, Ukraine, Morocco, Turkey, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Ag...

You don't need a visa if you travel to Italy as a tourist on a US passport. But if you intend to stay for longer in Italy than 90 days (because you like it there) you need to apply for a residency permit at the embassy or the consulate in the USA before you leave.

You can find more information about visa and residency permits here:

http://www.esteri.it/visti/index_eng.asp

It generally takes a few weeks to get this residency permit from the embassy. I would apply at least 2 months in advance.

Answer 3

Take a train, to swizterland and come back! ;)

Answer 4

It's very simple, you can spend 90 days out of every 180 days in the Schengen Zone.  So, if you spend 90 days in Schengen countries, you will need to leave for another 90 and go to a non-Schengen country, for instance to the UK, for 3 months.

As you're travelling on a US passport there is no need to get a visa beforehand.  You will automatically be allowed into Europe, but your passport will be scanned on entry and details entered into a database.  

There is no way to extend a Schengen visa.