Hi all,

I am in a rather complicated immigration situation, and I wonder if anyone can offer any answers or advice.

I hold a U.S. passport, and I also have a valid Carte de Sejour, because I was studying in France last fall. Currently, I am studying in Portugal, and because applying for a Portuguese student visa proved to be just about impossible, I entered Portugal on a tourist visa. I flew to Portugal from the UK, not France, so I got an entry stamp in my passport.

I am hoping to overstay my 3 month tourist visa in Portugal by about two or three weeks, and I also hope to fly back to the States from Portugal. My question is, does anyone know if my valid French residence (Carte de Sejour) will protect me/make it legal to overstay the Schengen tourist visa?

I researched it a bit, and from what I understand the Carte de Sejour technically doesn't entitle me to stay longer in other EU countries. However, because there is no immigration control within the Schengen states, I figure I can just say I traveled to France and then back to Portugal without stamps -- something like that?

I suppose the most likely scenario is that they won't even look at my entry stamp, but I need to be careful, because I will study in Germany next year and will need a visa from them -- and from what I hear the Germans pay attention to EVERYTHING in your passport/immigration history.

I would appreciate any comments or info. Thanks!