I am an Indian holding a valid passport with a valid F1 (student) visa. I want to travel to Europe for my break. Can I travel there without applying for a Schengen visa? I have heard that US visa holders don't need a visa to travel to Europe. If so, is it applicable for F1 visa holders as well?
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Possible duplicate of travel.stackexchange.com/questions/30569/…– JonathanReez ♦Commented Feb 22, 2018 at 20:08
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How is it a duplicate? That question is about transiting, while the OP wants to visit Europe.– Zach LiptonCommented Feb 22, 2018 at 20:49
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4 Answers
No. You will need a Schengen visa.
Holders of US visas are exempt, in certain cases, from the need to obtain a Schengen transit visa (see Do I need a visa to transit (or layover) in the Schengen area?) if they don't need to enter the Schengen area and simply need to change planes once within the zone, but that exemption does not extend to visitor visas.
answered Feb 21, 2018 at 22:00
I have heard that US visa holders don't need a visa to travel in Europe
Whoever told you that is wrong
To enter the Schengen Area, you must have a Schengen visa, and holding another country's visa, even from a non-Schengen EU country, does not exempt you.
answered Feb 21, 2018 at 23:44
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9Whoever told him that might have been right, but the message imprecisely stated or misunderstood, if "travel in Europe" was used in a context where it meant "transit through a European airport."– phoogCommented Feb 22, 2018 at 5:56
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US passport holders don't need a visa to my understanding. Commented Feb 22, 2018 at 16:53
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@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen Not for visits, no, and for e.g. Germany not even for residence– CrazydreCommented Feb 22, 2018 at 16:56
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@Coke That may have been the source of confusion here Commented Feb 22, 2018 at 16:58
You cannot travel Europe with US visa but it will ease the process of getting Schengen visa for you.
As others have pointed out, you do need a Schengen VISA. You might have either misheard the person who told you, or they might have misspoke - what's true is that US Passport holders don't need a VISA to visit most (all?) Schengen nations.
