French Student Visa and traveling in the Schengen Zone?

[mehlenbach]

Hi,
I will involved in a study abroad program going from September 2010 to July 2011 in France, and would like to do some traveling outside of France as well, while I am there. I know that I am (very) early, but I am currently trying to decide on the best course of action (and as we all know, doing things properly usually does take some planning).

First of all, is it likely that I will be able to obtain a visa beyond these dates (perhaps a 12-month visa)? I have read that a person who has a residence permit from one Schengen Zone country has the ability to travel within it. However, if I am not staying for more than 12 months or more in France, I will be ineligible to recieve a residence permit (carte de séjour).

Secondly, if that falls through...I am a non-visa national, and do not normally need a visa to visit any country in the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days in a period of 180 days. Will my time in France on a student visa count towards those 90 days?

If they do, would it be possible for me to travel within the Schengen Zone for 90 days before arriving in France? Or do I forfeit being able to travel in the Schengen Zone all together by receiving a student visa, as I've read elsewhere on this forum?

Thank you in advance!

[Prawo]

Your French carte de séjour will entitle you for a stay of 90 days during its validity in the other Schengen states (in a period of 6 months).

After its expiration you will be entitled for a 90 days stay as usual.

In fact you can stay continuously when you leave the Schengen area twice on a row, as the 90 days start counting again as of the return date from the first trip.

Outside Schengen rules of the country concerned apply.

[mehlenbach]

But what happens if I get a Long-Stay Visa for less than 12 months?? The French no longer issue the carte de séjour for stays of under twelve months. Apparently the student visa acts as the carte de séjour while in France, but would that also work in say Germany or Italy?

Does what you said still apply, then?

[Prawo]

That would be than the D-type visa. And this qualifies only for one entry (transit) in the Schengen area.

As a non visa national you however can still use the right to travel within Schengen as the days spend in France will not be deducted.

The rest I told remains the same.

[mehlenbach]

Thank you!

[86ti]

But what happens if I get a Long-Stay Visa for less than 12 months??

That would be than the D-type visa.

Couldn't it be a D+C or do the French not do that?