I see lots of posts on staying in a country as a tourist after the expiration of a student visa. This is the opposite.
I will be studying in Spain from August 2016 through July 2017. I carry a US passport, and my Spanish student visa process is underway.
However, I would like to arrive in Spain in July 2016 to vacation with my family before school begins. So I have two options:
- Ensure my student visa begins in July rather than August
- Travel in July as a tourist, leave the Schengen area, and return after the August start date of my student visa
I am having trouble with #1 because one of the health/medical insurance visa requirement (must be covered for duration of stay). I am covered through my school (and have the appropriate documentation) for the months of my program, but not for July. And it's been difficult to find appropriate coverage for one month only.
So moving on to #2. My plan would be to enter Spain as a tourist and have onward travel plans to UK/Morocco. I would stay in Spain for two weeks, fly outside the Schengen area, spend a weekend there, and re-enter Spain on my student visa, which would be valid by that point.
Questions: Any ideas on #1? Do you see any potential issues with #2?