Hey everybody, I'm in a huge pickle.
I'm a 19 y/o US citizen. I am an unpaid helper/good friend of two bands, my father's (US citizen) and a smaller band based in Switzerland. I recently looked over the dates I'll be in the Schengen area/Germany, and it appears my tour dates plus music study in Berlin go way over the allotted 90 days for the Schengen visa. If anybody knows someone who can advise me on this, I'd be willing to set up a meeting as well.
I'll provide some information so you guys can make a judgement on what route I should go for.
- The work/help I provide for the bands all together is loading / unloading into the venue + setting up gear, managing merchandise, social media content creation, video/photography, backup singing and bartending onstage. I know that's a lot, but I can provide a buttload of proof to officials because crazily enough, it is true.
- I am not paid for this work because I am young and building my exposure + I just love to travel with my father. I don't want to request payment for this work in order to secure a visa unless I become employed within the Schengen area and am not opposed to applying for stage work in Germany.
- I've toured in the Schengen area twice before for a month's time each, last time more than 180 days ago.
- I will study in Berlin for about a month of this time. I don't think applying for a study visa will work because that's only for a month.
- I have enough money visible in my bank account to sustain me for more than 6 months and can verifiably show this to immigration/visa officials.
- I only have a fixed residence (home to stay in) for the summer tour as listed below. One of them is in Zurich for a month, the other is in Berlin for a month. I can prove this to officials. The fall tour, I will be living out of a tour bus that moves throughout the Schengen area, also provable.
- Nobody else in the touring party has this issue because I'm doing two different tours + study.
- The majority of the trips will be spent in Germany.
Summer Tour:
- I arrive in Switzerland to tour with one band May 20th. I plan to fly out of the Schengen area June 14th, and re-enter June 18th. I start music study in Berlin June 22nd, and will remain in Berlin all the way until I leave around July 19th.
Fall Tour:
- I re-enter the Schengen area to tour around Oct 2nd, and leave again Oct 15. I re-enter the Schengen area to tour around Nov 14, and will depart Dec 12.
My total "Schengen days" is around 101, and it may become more.
I honestly have no idea what I could even go for. Because I'm not getting paid, I don't believe I could go for a freelance visa, but I'd be willing to search for stagehand jobs as a skilled worker for some of my gaps in between shows if that's what it takes? I speak A1 German though, and I'm not sure if that's viable. Please help me, I'm scaaaared. I'll do kinda whatever it takes to go on these tours and advance my career and spend time with my father and good friends. If you know somebody who could advise me on this, I'd appreciate it more than you know. Thank you very much!
TLDR; unpaid touring crew member + short term student looking for advice on which visa to apply for as I'm set to be in the Schengen area more than 90 days.
EDIT: It turns out I won't go over the maximum number of days in a 180 day period currently, but the tours/stay have a high possibility of being extended, and counsel/advice is still very much appreciated! Thank you!