Overstaying a visa In France?

How to extend a visa while in france?

• I'm an american citizen with a valid U.S. passport until 2017. I am studying in Paris but unfortunately, I entered France with only a tourist visa, good for 3 months. (I was originally going to my university's campus in Germany, where it is possible to solicit a student visa once in Germany. From what i have read, French law does not allow one to extend a tourist visa into a long term/student visa while that person is in France) My question is, Would it be possible to set the application process and then leave France OR the Schenegan area?? Or would i HAVE to return to the U.S.??? And if i had to return, could I fly back to France as soon as the student visa was issued? I hope someone knowledgeable can answer this, im desperate!!! Thank you in advance! :))))

• Answer:

  As I understand it : You can normally only apply for a long stay visa from your country of residence You must have evidence of study It is not immediate, and should be applied for well in advance More : Long stay visa (D visa) Long stay visa are subject to regulations of the issuing state. They are not uniform Schengen visa, and come by many different names. A D-type visa is required for every stay longer than 90 days. D-type visa are not issued for purposes of tourism. Usually, D-type visa only allow the holder to reside in the issuing country. Permission to work or study has to be obtained separately, and is often a prerequisite to enter the visa application process. Typically, a D-type visa can only be applied for in the future holder's country of current residence. D-type visa only give access to the issuing country. The holder of a D-type visa is not allowed to travel around the Schengen area. Note that third-country nationals exempt from visa requirements can travel outside the country they hold a D-type visa for, but for maximally 90 days in a 180 days period. Combination visa (C+D) Combination visa are meant to give the holder of a D-type visa the possibility of moving through the Schengen area. Both parts are subject to the regulations described above. When the validity of the C-part starts, seems to depend on national regulations of the state issuing the D-part. In some cases, validity starts simultaneously with the validity of the D-part; in other cases, validity starts as soon as the holder enters another Schengen country; in still others, validity starts at the date of issuance. Make inquiries! A single transit in another Schengen state is included in the D-type visa itself. If additional transits are necessary, a combination visa is required