Can I attend a conference on a tourist visa?



.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;







up vote
1
down vote

favorite












I plan to attend a conference in Austria in the second week of April and I would require a visa for that. However, visa appointments at the embassy are available only after the 10th of April which is obviously too late. My plan then is to apply for a Schengen tourist visa to visit a nearby country, spend a couple of days there and then travel to Austria for the conference on the same visa. Can anyone tell me if I am allowed to do that?



If it matters, I currently reside in the US on an F-1 student visa.







share|improve this question


















  • 2




    The title misses the main issue. The problem is not using a tourist visa, but using a visa from another state. You need a visa from your primary destination, which, by your description, seems to be Austria.
    – ugoren
    Mar 4 at 20:46






  • 1




    I plan to spend a greater number of days in the nearby country so would that not make it my primary destination?
    – john doe
    Mar 4 at 20:51






  • 2




    According to the rules, you're required to apply to "the Member State whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length or purpose of stay." You run the risk that they'll consider attending the conference to be the main purpose of your visit, regardless of the number of days involved, and require you to apply to Austria. They also might accept it, especially if your trip really is primarily a tourist trip.
    – Zach Lipton
    Mar 4 at 21:04










  • Thanks that's helpful.. so I presume not mentioning the conference at all would amount to lying and could potentially put me in trouble?
    – john doe
    Mar 6 at 11:17
















up vote
1
down vote

favorite












I plan to attend a conference in Austria in the second week of April and I would require a visa for that. However, visa appointments at the embassy are available only after the 10th of April which is obviously too late. My plan then is to apply for a Schengen tourist visa to visit a nearby country, spend a couple of days there and then travel to Austria for the conference on the same visa. Can anyone tell me if I am allowed to do that?



If it matters, I currently reside in the US on an F-1 student visa.







share|improve this question


















  • 2




    The title misses the main issue. The problem is not using a tourist visa, but using a visa from another state. You need a visa from your primary destination, which, by your description, seems to be Austria.
    – ugoren
    Mar 4 at 20:46






  • 1




    I plan to spend a greater number of days in the nearby country so would that not make it my primary destination?
    – john doe
    Mar 4 at 20:51






  • 2




    According to the rules, you're required to apply to "the Member State whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length or purpose of stay." You run the risk that they'll consider attending the conference to be the main purpose of your visit, regardless of the number of days involved, and require you to apply to Austria. They also might accept it, especially if your trip really is primarily a tourist trip.
    – Zach Lipton
    Mar 4 at 21:04










  • Thanks that's helpful.. so I presume not mentioning the conference at all would amount to lying and could potentially put me in trouble?
    – john doe
    Mar 6 at 11:17












up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











I plan to attend a conference in Austria in the second week of April and I would require a visa for that. However, visa appointments at the embassy are available only after the 10th of April which is obviously too late. My plan then is to apply for a Schengen tourist visa to visit a nearby country, spend a couple of days there and then travel to Austria for the conference on the same visa. Can anyone tell me if I am allowed to do that?



If it matters, I currently reside in the US on an F-1 student visa.







share|improve this question














I plan to attend a conference in Austria in the second week of April and I would require a visa for that. However, visa appointments at the embassy are available only after the 10th of April which is obviously too late. My plan then is to apply for a Schengen tourist visa to visit a nearby country, spend a couple of days there and then travel to Austria for the conference on the same visa. Can anyone tell me if I am allowed to do that?



If it matters, I currently reside in the US on an F-1 student visa.









share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Mar 4 at 22:01

























asked Mar 4 at 20:24









john doe

62




62







  • 2




    The title misses the main issue. The problem is not using a tourist visa, but using a visa from another state. You need a visa from your primary destination, which, by your description, seems to be Austria.
    – ugoren
    Mar 4 at 20:46






  • 1




    I plan to spend a greater number of days in the nearby country so would that not make it my primary destination?
    – john doe
    Mar 4 at 20:51






  • 2




    According to the rules, you're required to apply to "the Member State whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length or purpose of stay." You run the risk that they'll consider attending the conference to be the main purpose of your visit, regardless of the number of days involved, and require you to apply to Austria. They also might accept it, especially if your trip really is primarily a tourist trip.
    – Zach Lipton
    Mar 4 at 21:04










  • Thanks that's helpful.. so I presume not mentioning the conference at all would amount to lying and could potentially put me in trouble?
    – john doe
    Mar 6 at 11:17












  • 2




    The title misses the main issue. The problem is not using a tourist visa, but using a visa from another state. You need a visa from your primary destination, which, by your description, seems to be Austria.
    – ugoren
    Mar 4 at 20:46






  • 1




    I plan to spend a greater number of days in the nearby country so would that not make it my primary destination?
    – john doe
    Mar 4 at 20:51






  • 2




    According to the rules, you're required to apply to "the Member State whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length or purpose of stay." You run the risk that they'll consider attending the conference to be the main purpose of your visit, regardless of the number of days involved, and require you to apply to Austria. They also might accept it, especially if your trip really is primarily a tourist trip.
    – Zach Lipton
    Mar 4 at 21:04










  • Thanks that's helpful.. so I presume not mentioning the conference at all would amount to lying and could potentially put me in trouble?
    – john doe
    Mar 6 at 11:17







2




2




The title misses the main issue. The problem is not using a tourist visa, but using a visa from another state. You need a visa from your primary destination, which, by your description, seems to be Austria.
– ugoren
Mar 4 at 20:46




The title misses the main issue. The problem is not using a tourist visa, but using a visa from another state. You need a visa from your primary destination, which, by your description, seems to be Austria.
– ugoren
Mar 4 at 20:46




1




1




I plan to spend a greater number of days in the nearby country so would that not make it my primary destination?
– john doe
Mar 4 at 20:51




I plan to spend a greater number of days in the nearby country so would that not make it my primary destination?
– john doe
Mar 4 at 20:51




2




2




According to the rules, you're required to apply to "the Member State whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length or purpose of stay." You run the risk that they'll consider attending the conference to be the main purpose of your visit, regardless of the number of days involved, and require you to apply to Austria. They also might accept it, especially if your trip really is primarily a tourist trip.
– Zach Lipton
Mar 4 at 21:04




According to the rules, you're required to apply to "the Member State whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length or purpose of stay." You run the risk that they'll consider attending the conference to be the main purpose of your visit, regardless of the number of days involved, and require you to apply to Austria. They also might accept it, especially if your trip really is primarily a tourist trip.
– Zach Lipton
Mar 4 at 21:04












Thanks that's helpful.. so I presume not mentioning the conference at all would amount to lying and could potentially put me in trouble?
– john doe
Mar 6 at 11:17




Thanks that's helpful.. so I presume not mentioning the conference at all would amount to lying and could potentially put me in trouble?
– john doe
Mar 6 at 11:17










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
1
down vote













This is absolutely possible; you just have to convince the officer in your application that the majority of the time will be spent in your landing country and not Austria.



There are no visa controls / checks within the Schengen zone. You may be subject to a random ID check though - but this will not invalidate your visit as you are absolutely allowed to roam within the Schengen zone.






share|improve this answer




















    Your Answer







    StackExchange.ready(function()
    var channelOptions =
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "273"
    ;
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
    createEditor();
    );

    else
    createEditor();

    );

    function createEditor()
    StackExchange.prepareEditor(
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: false,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    );



    );













     

    draft saved


    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function ()
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2ftravel.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f110694%2fcan-i-attend-a-conference-on-a-tourist-visa%23new-answer', 'question_page');

    );

    Post as a guest






























    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes








    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    1
    down vote













    This is absolutely possible; you just have to convince the officer in your application that the majority of the time will be spent in your landing country and not Austria.



    There are no visa controls / checks within the Schengen zone. You may be subject to a random ID check though - but this will not invalidate your visit as you are absolutely allowed to roam within the Schengen zone.






    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      1
      down vote













      This is absolutely possible; you just have to convince the officer in your application that the majority of the time will be spent in your landing country and not Austria.



      There are no visa controls / checks within the Schengen zone. You may be subject to a random ID check though - but this will not invalidate your visit as you are absolutely allowed to roam within the Schengen zone.






      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        1
        down vote










        up vote
        1
        down vote









        This is absolutely possible; you just have to convince the officer in your application that the majority of the time will be spent in your landing country and not Austria.



        There are no visa controls / checks within the Schengen zone. You may be subject to a random ID check though - but this will not invalidate your visit as you are absolutely allowed to roam within the Schengen zone.






        share|improve this answer












        This is absolutely possible; you just have to convince the officer in your application that the majority of the time will be spent in your landing country and not Austria.



        There are no visa controls / checks within the Schengen zone. You may be subject to a random ID check though - but this will not invalidate your visit as you are absolutely allowed to roam within the Schengen zone.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Mar 5 at 4:46









        Burhan Khalid

        34.3k363139




        34.3k363139



























             

            draft saved


            draft discarded















































             


            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2ftravel.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f110694%2fcan-i-attend-a-conference-on-a-tourist-visa%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest














































































            Popular posts from this blog

            𛂒𛀶,𛀽𛀑𛂀𛃧𛂓𛀙𛃆𛃑𛃷𛂟𛁡𛀢𛀟𛁤𛂽𛁕𛁪𛂟𛂯,𛁞𛂧𛀴𛁄𛁠𛁼𛂿𛀤 𛂘,𛁺𛂾𛃭𛃭𛃵𛀺,𛂣𛃍𛂖𛃶 𛀸𛃀𛂖𛁶𛁏𛁚 𛂢𛂞 𛁰𛂆𛀔,𛁸𛀽𛁓𛃋𛂇𛃧𛀧𛃣𛂐𛃇,𛂂𛃻𛃲𛁬𛃞𛀧𛃃𛀅 𛂭𛁠𛁡𛃇𛀷𛃓𛁥,𛁙𛁘𛁞𛃸𛁸𛃣𛁜,𛂛,𛃿,𛁯𛂘𛂌𛃛𛁱𛃌𛂈𛂇 𛁊𛃲,𛀕𛃴𛀜 𛀶𛂆𛀶𛃟𛂉𛀣,𛂐𛁞𛁾 𛁷𛂑𛁳𛂯𛀬𛃅,𛃶𛁼

            Edmonton

            Crossroads (UK TV series)