WHV / Re-entering same country once visa expires

Dear Aussiemum,

Best option is to simply contact the French Embassy in Australia. They'll have the most relevant info for you.

thanks waxyburshes....embassy has been very helpful in regards to studying in Paris, french exam that must be passed etc. Unfortunately the embassy doesn't handle anything visa related - you have to direct all visa related ? to the Consulate and I'm sorry to say they're not as helpful. I tried to get some answers to questions before my daughter got her WHV without success and actually emailed regarding student visas a few weeks ago with no response.....hence my trying here before giving them another shot!

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<hr>Unfortunately the embassy doesn't handle anything visa related <hr></blockquote>

Really? That's what embassies do. They should give you the official version which should be more reliable than anything you will get on here.

Can't speak about France, but usually you can go straight from a WHV to student visa as long as you leave the country. The 90 day rule applies to tourist visits.

As I understand Schengen, her time in France on her WHV counts as time in Schengen. So the last 3 months of her WHV preclude here from going anywhere else in the Schengen countries until 90 days later. In other words she has done her 90 in 180. Some people do seem to believe that this is not the case and she could then carry on to spend 90 days in other Schengen countries as if she had never started her 90 days but what the Schengen rules say is '90 days from your first entry into any Schengen country'. I interpret that as her having to leave for 90 days from France before re-entering.

#3 yes you would think so...but have in black and white from the embassy in Canberra that anything visa related must be directed to the consulate in Sydndy (in correspondence re studying in France - woman couldn't have been more helpful).

#4 have wondered about that. have been somewhat distracted by other things for the last week and must try the consulate again.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

oops....should proof read first!!

Even if the Schlengen days do work out, I would advise against trying to enter on a tourist visa to be a student. I don't know how france is about this, but due to a misunderstanding of the rules, I tried to do this in England and was promptly deported. I then had to get a student visa from home as quickly as I could and buy a ticket back to the UK to avoid missing too much school. It is a very unhappy business.

Perhaps you'd have more luck on the phone with the consulate. I know it is inconvient because of time differences and being put on hold, but it is harder for them to brush you off.

chickpeana, #7...def not thinking of doing that....it was more as a fill in idea before coming home, applying for student visa and going back for start of european school year. Here in Aus school starts up in Feb, uni in March (which my daughter is enrolled for). So was just pondering the possibility of her staying on there a little longer as a tourist, then heading home rather than coming back beg Feb with about 6 mths to fill in.
No way, no how thinking of bending any rules!

Not sure I understand. She has a WHV which ends in Feb 2008. Then she wants to study in Paris. Beginning when? You suggest that she is enrolled in university at home to begin in March so it would appear that she doesn't have much time to study in France.

You indicate that she needs to come home to get the student visa sorted out. I don't understand why she can't go to the UK and arrange to get a French student visa at the consulate there.

If the WHV counts as time spent in Schengen, then she would have to spend 3 months in a non Schengen country and could not pop over to France during that period.

Ruth