I'm trying to figure out if I am able to go to Spain in August before my work visa starts in late September. I am doing the Auxiliar de Conversacion program where I am basically a language assistant in a Spanish school. My work visa is a year long and was supposed to begin in August, but now it was changed to late September.
I am basically asking because I know that I can enter Spain for 90 days without a visa because there is some rule regarding the Schengen zone. I heard though that if I were to stay there even after my visa began but I never get it stamped at customs, I would technically not be in Spain illegally.
Does this mean that I need to leave the Schengen Area/zone before my visa date and then come back once it has begun so it is stamped by Spanish customs? I was considering flying to Morocco or England since those two aren't part of the zone. This might seem like a lot to go through but my girlfriend lives in Spain and we're doing long distance so I am really trying to move in with her once August begins.
Also, question regarding COVID-19: I'm an American and not a resident of the EU, therefore I am not an essential traveler (as of now with the international travel restrictions). Do you think they would allow me to enter the country in August before my Spanish work visa has begun? Or would they turn me away (I don't know if they actually do this to Americans flying in).
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source https://www.reddit.com/r/immigration/comments/gv2sj7/entering_eu_before_visa_date_begins/