I am currently living in Spain with my family for one year. We are from the U.S. My husband has a VISA, but my three young daughters (6,4 and 1) and I do not have our VISA’s yet.  (My husband is a professor and is here for a sabbatical.) I would like to know if I can travel by air with my family within the Schengen countries without this VISA.  It will be a hardship for me to return to the US to try to get the VISA.

I am wondering what kind of passport control I will have to go through as I travel between Spain and Germany or Italy via air. I don’t mind being “illegal”, but also don’t want to put myself in a bad situation since I am the caregiver for my children.

cpodney - 23 October 2007 11:58 PM

I am wondering what kind of passport control I will have to go through as I travel between Spain and Germany or Italy via air.

None. You can fly between those countries without any passport or visa control. Your passport will only be checked when you exit Schengen, even if it is to another European country. Example, Spain to UK = Passport Control.

Adrian - 24 October 2007 02:49 AM

cpodney - 23 October 2007 11:58 PM

I am wondering what kind of passport control I will have to go through as I travel between Spain and Germany or Italy via air.

None. You can fly between those countries without any passport or visa control. Your passport will only be checked when you exit Schengen, even if it is to another European country. Example, Spain to UK = Passport Control.

Sorry, not true. Your passport will be checked. Even having a Spanish nie, still this has to be valid till 3 months after your flight.

vetlel - 24 October 2007 10:58 AM

Adrian - 24 October 2007 02:49 AM

cpodney - 23 October 2007 11:58 PM

I am wondering what kind of passport control I will have to go through as I travel between Spain and Germany or Italy via air.

None. You can fly between those countries without any passport or visa control. Your passport will only be checked when you exit Schengen, even if it is to another European country. Example, Spain to UK = Passport Control.

Sorry, not true. Your passport will be checked. Even having a Spanish nie, still this has to be valid till 3 months after your flight.

You are wrong.

The only people that will look at your passport is the airline, for identification purposes.

But it will NOT BE CHECKED by Immigration or Passport Control. There is none. I flew from Malaga to Frankfurt and did not have to pass through any passport control.

EVERY time i flew from Barcelona, I had to show my passport to (yes your right) the airline people, at check in, and before entering the airplane. And in between those two where they check your hand luggage.
Besides, even if it is only the airline people, they won?t let you fly… Had it happen with my GF, because her spanish nie was about to expire

Mind, I fly on average twice a month. This is not based on the odd travel.

I was advised by the oficina de extranjeros to NOT travel outside of Spain until I had my residency card in my posession next month, especially to Germany or France. I too am from the states and my 90 day expired 2 months ago. I was told my solicitude for the residence card was insufficient for immigration/customs purposes outside of Spain. So if I were you, I’d stay put. Have you applied for a Visa based on that of your husband’s?