Multiple Entry Schengen visa

Hi,

I live in UK (not a British citizen though) and am planning multiple trips to Europe from April to September during 2010 summers.

My Travel Plans are:

28th Apr to 02 Apr: UK to Italy
03 Apr to 05 Apr: Italy to Greece
28 July to 07 Aug: UK to France
08 Aug to 10 Aug: France to Switzerland

Can you please tell me whether a multiple entry visa Italy entitle me for travel during July-Aug?

If not, can I take a multiple entry visa to France? I am ready to take a flight to France and then to Italy for my trip on 28th Apr. That way I will travel to issuing nation (but not stay there) before entering to any other Schengen Country.

Will be thankful if you can please suggest me the options available.

Cheers

1410.priyanka wrote:28th Apr to 02 Apr: UK to Italy
03 Apr to 05 Apr: Italy to Greece
28 July to 07 Aug: UK to France
08 Aug to 10 Aug: France to Switzerland

Can you please tell me whether a multiple entry visa Italy entitle me for travel during July-Aug?

Of course. A Schengen visa generally entitles the holder to enter any Schengen member state (though each member state can exclude the traveller from entering their territory) within the period of validness and no longer stays of more than 90 days/6 months. You will have to apply to the country where you stay longest or to the country which you will enter first if you can't determine the longest stay. You will also have to explain why you need to enter the Schengen zone twice.

1410.priyanka, given your list of countries, I think you could well apply to the French Consulate for your Schengen visa. After all you are spending more days in France than other countries, so could argue that it is the Main Destination.

But as regards your question :-

Can you please tell me whether a multiple entry visa Italy entitle me for travel during July-Aug?

-: surely the answer must be ..... as long as the validity of the visa is long enough. That is, if Italy issues you only with a 3-month visa, clearly that is a problem.

86ti, Thanks for you reply. My confusion is because of my travel plans. Even if I apply to French visa, I wont be travelling to france initially (ie it will not be first destination) though I may stay longest over there (hopefully since I will be hiking Montblanc that is across three countries)

Thanks for your reply. I will go ahead with French Visa..

1410.priyanka, the rule is ..... apply to the country that is the main destination, and if there is no main destination, then apply to the country you are going to enter first.

So by definition the rule permits a person to first enter a country that is not going to be their main destination, who would then later travel to the country that actually is their main destination.

Thanks John. Your response is very helpful.