Schengen visa query

[jessie]

Hi, I am a SouthAfrican, married to a UK national. I have ILR in the UK but want to stay in France as my husband has a job for the summer. I have a schengen visa, C type, multiple entries, and 90 days stay, valid for a year. I cannot find out whether that is 90 days stay per entry or 90 days in the year. Is there anyway I can extend my visa, or is there another type of visa to get? I would like to be able to work if possible. Would greatly appreciate any advice.

[John]

I cannot find out whether that is 90 days stay per entry or 90 days in the year.

It is 90 days per stay. But do appreciate that it is max 90 days in the Schengen area .... not just in France.

[smalldog]

As the spouse of an EU citizen you have the right to accompany your husband to France for as long as he is working there. You also have an automatic right to work there -- however, an employer may require you to apply for a French residence card (carte de sejour) as proof of your right to work.

[JAJ]

Hi, I am a SouthAfrican, married to a UK national. I have ILR in the UK but want to stay in France as my husband has a job for the summer. I have a schengen visa, C type, multiple entries, and 90 days stay, valid for a year. I cannot find out whether that is 90 days stay per entry or 90 days in the year. Is there anyway I can extend my visa, or is there another type of visa to get? I would like to be able to work if possible. Would greatly appreciate any advice.

Bear in mind that time spent in France may impact upon your eligibility for naturalisation in the UK. How far are you away from being able to apply for British citizenship?

If you got a British passport, you could visit/work/live in France no problem. However as an ILR holder you could even lose your status if you spent too long in France.

[jessie]

I was eligable for naturalization 4 years ago, however could not at that time have dual nationality, as was not prepared to give up my SA passport. I will have to live in the UK for 3 years before I can be naturalized now. Unfortunately I was out of the UK for longer than the allowed time to still qualify. And as it is not exceptional circumstances, I can't apply for a waiver. So I have to do what I can with my SA passport.

[jessie]

As the spouse of an EU citizen you have the right to accompany your husband to France for as long as he is working there. You also have an automatic right to work there -- however, an employer may require you to apply for a French residence card (carte de sejour) as proof of your right to work.

As I am already in France, how do I go about this, I have about a month left on my visa. If need be, I can go back to the UK and then come back.

[smalldog]

As I understand it, you should apply for a carte de sejour no later than 3 months after you arrived in France. Some information here (in French):

http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/part ... rance&l=N8

and here (in English):

http://riviera.angloinfo.com/countries/ ... idency.asp

[Dawie]

was eligable for naturalization 4 years ago, however could not at that time have dual nationality, as was not prepared to give up my SA passport

Jessie, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you have been ill-informed. At no stage in the last 30 years have South African citizens ever not been able to have dual citizenship. 4 years ago you could have quite easily have naturalised as a British citizen and kept your South African citizenship by simply obtaining a letter of permission from the South African embassy in London.