Questions Concerning Switzerland..

[kkengvibul]

hi people,

I am an exchange student in France right now and I have a 6 month student French visa. On the visa, it says +1 Schengen. What does this exactly mean?

I would like to travel to Switzerland by train, but there are some doubts. Switzerland is not part of the Schengen countries or even the European Union. Would it be possible for me to enter the country without a Swiss visa?

ps. some people say that i cant even enter other countries in the EU with the +1 Schengen visa. However, i've already been to Germany and Spain, facing absolutely no problems.

Can anyone help me on this? Will I get in trouble if i go to Switzerland?

thanks

[kayo]

Is there not an embassy or a representative of your student exchange course you can ask?

Oh, nayway, Switzerland IS a Schnegen signatory, althought they have not yet implemented it fully.

They are paranoid (more protective) than other countries with regards to illegal immigration.

Swiss join Schengen

Yet nonetheless, it IS a signatory country of the Shcngen agreements, since exactly two years ago (16th Oct 2004).

So maybe there is some flexibility. Maybe./....

have a look at the following underlined words for more info:

Schengen Visa's

Schengen Agreements

[kkengvibul]

Unfortunately, there's no representative that can give us advice (this is a university exchange program)

Switzerland has yet to implement the agreement, so it means that they might check our passports at the borders? Thats scary!

[kayo]

I know when I've driven across (I am e.u. so I don't care, but nonetheless, maybe relevant) I've never been stopped at a border. Only if I fly in as per normal, do they check passports.

Driving across, I've never been stopped once, since the early nineties. Althought the border checkpoints ARE manned, they often wave many many people through.

Nonethelss, I can not advise you to do this, or if you were caught, you would be breaking the law.

Or, perhaps can get away with saying, "sorry occifer, I thought switzerland signed Schengen on Oct 16th 2004"....

Or, Just don't get into any trouble whilst there.

Where are you in France? (i'm in the south)

[kkengvibul]

Well..the thing is I'll be going to Switzerland by train, not by car or plane. How can they check when we're on the train? Or do they check when we get to the train station in Switzerland?

I'm in Rouen (around 1-2 hrs north of Paris).

[vinny]

hi people,

I am an exchange student in France right now and I have a 6 month student French visa. On the visa, it says +1 Schengen. What does this exactly mean?

I would like to travel to Switzerland by train, but there are some doubts. Switzerland is not part of the Schengen countries or even the European Union. Would it be possible for me to enter the country without a Swiss visa?

ps. some people say that i cant even enter other countries in the EU with the +1 Schengen visa. However, i've already been to Germany and Spain, facing absolutely no problems.

Can anyone help me on this? Will I get in trouble if i go to Switzerland?

thanks

The +1 Schengen visa may mean that you only have a single entry Schengen visa. So, if you leave the Schengen area (i.e. going to Switzerland) then you may not be able to enter back into the Schengen area with the same visa again. You didn't leave the Schengen area when going to Germany or Spain.

See also Overview of ID and Visa provisions for entry into Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein

List 1: Nationality

The prerequisite for immigration into Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein is a valid* recognised (national) passport.

List of all countries with information about:

further documents accepted for immigration (other than a valid national passport) and additional information, as well as the visa provisions, if any, in notes V, V1 and V2.

If you are Thai,

Thailand V 13 38 39 40

in particular, 13:

13

Release from the obligation to hold a visa for holders of both a valid national passport and a Schengen visa valid for all Schengen States, provided the stay does not exceed 3 months and serves one of the following purposes: tourism; visit; theoretical education (instruction courses, technical courses which a Swiss company organises for its own personnel or for its foreign customers in connection with the purchase or supply of technical installations; theoretical courses which a Swiss company organises for its personnel working abroad); business; medical treatment and recuperation; participation in scientific, economic, cultural, religious or sport events; transportation of persons or goods to or through Switzerland effected by a driver in the service of a company seated abroad; temporary reporting for foreign media; gainful occupation without taking up an employment not exceeding 8 days within a calendar year, excluding any activities in the fields of both primary and auxiliary construction work and civil engineering, catering and hotel services, industrial and private cleaners, as well as surveillance and security services.

and Schengen visa:

Schengen visa, accepted for immigration into Switzerland without visa:

1)Schengen countries and associated countries:

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Spain.

2)Schengen visa:

The above-mentioned countries issue the Schengen visa in the form of a standardized visa (cf. remark on Iceland*). Under the heading "Valid for", the designation "Schengen countries" must be entered, otherwise it is a national visa.

*Iceland: outside the EU, Denmark issues the visa as the representative of this country: the stickers may thus be of the DK series, with the entry "ISL" under the heading "Remarks", or Schengen visas issued by Iceland.

!The United Kingdom also issues visas of the Schengen model. However, these are only valid for the United Kingdom.

3) A single-entry Schengen visa which has already been used is accepted for an entry into Switzerland without a Swiss visa provided the Schengen visa is valid and the foreigners’ departure from Switzerland towards a non-Schengen country is assured (and obviously provided that the usual entry requirements are met).

Edited October 15, 2006 by vinny

[vinny]

See also The Schengen Acquis (Official document listing all related agreements)

1.3. ‘NUMBER OF ENTRIES’ heading

This heading shows the number of times the visa holder may enter the territory for which the visa is valid; in other words, this shall mean the number of periods of stay which may be divided over the entire period of validity, see 1.4.

The number of entries may be one, two or more. This number is written to the right hand-side of the pre-printed part, using ‘01’, ‘02’ or the abbreviation ‘MULT’, where the visa authorises more than two entries.

For a transit visa, only one or two entries may be authorised (‘01’ or ‘02’ shall be written). More than two entries (‘MULT’) shall only be authorised in exceptional cases.

The visa shall expire when the total number of exits made by the holder equals the number of authorised entries, even if the holder has not used up the number of days authorised by the visa.

[kayo]

Good luck.

Let us know how you get on.

kayo

[kkengvibul]

In fact, on my visa it says that Number of Entries is MULT(iple). This probably makes it better huh? If I'm correct, i would still be able to come back to France (a Schengen country) from Switzerland right?

ps. thanks for all the great help!

[Axel]

Switzerland does accept Schengen-visa as long as it is 6-months' multiple.

How can they check when we're on the train?

Errh, they ask for your passport.

OK, no joking, Swiss immigration officers do enter the trains in the last station in France and check passports of travellers before the train reaches the first station in Switzerland.

Edited October 15, 2006 by Axel

[kkengvibul]

My visa is a 6 month multiple visa.....

So does this now mean I can go to Switzerland without having any problems?

[Axel]

You can go to Switzerland and will not have any problems.

Since you have a valid Schengen visa

No separate visa for Switzerland is required provided the following conditions are fulfilled:

1) Passport holder must have a valid, unrestricted, single/multi-entry Schengen visa

2) The trip is intended for either the following purpose:

- tourism

- visit

- business

- medical treatment & cure

- participation in science, cultural, religious or sports activities

- temporary coverage by media

- company training

- transport of goods/persons in or through Switzerland (transit) by a driver of foreign

registered company

3) Max. period of stay: up to 3 months depend on Schengen visa's validity and total stay

[kkengvibul]

I'm sorry but I've made a mistake.

My passport actually says +1 TRANSIT Schengen. (A Type D Visa).......Does this make any difference?

(sorry for all the questions!)

thanks again,

kkengvibul

[kkengvibul]

I found this on the internet:

Transit Schengen visas are visas that allow the holder to pass through one or more Schengen member states on the way to a country outside the Schengen Space.

Validity: 1 to 5 days Numbers of entries authorized: 1 or multiple.

Now i wonder what the +1 (on my visa) means?

If it means i can only transit once, why do i have Multiple entries visa? I am very confused.

I'll only spend around 2-3 days in Switzerland, which is within the valid number of days.

Edited October 15, 2006 by kkengvibul

[vinny]

Perhaps it would be helpful if you could write down all the fields as they appear in your visa.

Edited October 15, 2006 by vinny

[kkengvibul]

France (+1 Transit Schengen)

Valid from 2 Sept 2006 to 2 March 2007

Type of Visa: D

Number of Entries: MULT

Duration of Stay: XXX

Issued in: Bangkok

Remarks: Etudiant (student)

That is what it says on my visa.

[tchk]

hi people,

I am an exchange student in France right now and I have a 6 month student French visa. On the visa, it says +1 Schengen. What does this exactly mean?

I would like to travel to Switzerland by train, but there are some doubts. Switzerland is not part of the Schengen countries or even the European Union. Would it be possible for me to enter the country without a Swiss visa?

ps. some people say that i cant even enter other countries in the EU with the +1 Schengen visa. However, i've already been to Germany and Spain, facing absolutely no problems.

Can anyone help me on this? Will I get in trouble if i go to Switzerland?

thanks

Hi kkengvibul,

This is where you find the answer to your question:

http://www.eda.admin.ch/paris_emb/f/home/c.../cons_visa.html

Conditions for entering Switzerland for non-Schengen nationals traveling on a Schengen visa are as follows:

"Ressortissants étrangers au bénéfice d'un visa des Etats de Schengen

L'obligation du visa suisse a été levée en faveur des ressortissants des pays mentionnés ci-dessous s'ils sont titulaires d'un passeport diplomatique, de service, spécial ou ordinaire et d'un visa des Etats de Schengen à entrées multiples valable.

* Arabie Saoudite

* Bahreïn

* Emirats Arabes Unis

* Koweït

* Oman

* Qatar

* Thaïlande"

I am sure you know enough French by know to understand that you are safe. Bon voyage!

[vinny]

The "Type D" had led me to suspect that your visa is a national visa for France and not actually a Schengen visa. Your visa details seems to confirm my suspicions. Unfortunately, provision 13 and Schengen visa may not be applicable (see section 2).

Which type of Thai passport (ordinary/service/official/diplomatic) do you hold? Holders of service/official/diplomatic Thai passports may be exempted from Swiss visa requirements.

I suggest that you make further enquires at the Swiss Embassy in Paris.