I entered Switzerland right before the borders closed and then went to France, where I left back to America. This was all during covid and I overstayed ~25 days and did not do a visa extension because I thought going to France would start over my 90 days. The French border control did not seem to care and I have a stamp of my exit date on my passport.

Additionally, France also has a special bilateral agreement with the US where Americans can stay longer past their 90 days.

I am going back next month (after 4 months from my departure) with an unmarried partner visa to be with my boyfriend who is a resident B permit. I was issued a Laissez Passer by the Swiss Consulate under Covid-19 Ordinance 3, and i have all my necessary documents For entry.

My only concern is what could happen bc of my previous overstay, even though France was chill.

My questions:
- will the Swiss Border question why I overstayed Schengen during the pandemic?
- will they likely refuse my entry?
- was filing a visa extension mandatory or just encouraged?

Welcome to the Forum. I've not heard of the agreement you mention between the U.S. and France. It took quite some digging to find a reference to it. However, that's what France does and they don't speak for the whole of Shengen.

As an American, I doubt they'll bother you too much. But to answer your questions:

1. The Swiss might ask questions, as it would be clear you overstayed your visa. Did you at least leave Switzerland by the 90 days? As long as you left Switzerland and were relying on the agreement with France then I think you could plead your case.

2. I doubt it, but you never know. Sometimes the officers are in a bad mood. I was on vacation when my permit expired (new one was already in the works). When I arrived at immigration, the officer was rather nasty and said she could see in the computer system that the new permit had been issued, but that technically since I didn't have it in my possession I could be denied entry. If the Swiss border officer wants to be nasty, you could be turned away.

3. I don't know for sure but I'd assume it's mandatory because visas have an expiration date. At the very least one should notify the authorities that he or she is likely to overstay due to the pandemic and ask for guidance on how to proceed. Get something in writing if possible.

Be sure to follow the quarantine rules once you arrive or you could be in for a massive fine. If you can't isolate in a room separate from your boyfriend, then he has to quarantine too.

I did not seek guidance because I was oblivious. I just thought I would tell border control if I had to leave from Switzerland a few days late; I did not expect to leave late at all. It was my first time ever in Europe and covid made it really complicated.

I also had a flight 10 days before my visa expiration date and canceled it because I wasn’t feeling well and did not want to risk it. I then booked another ticket but then heard Delta had hundreds of new cases with their flight attendants because they were irresponsible. I canceled it and then went to France when borders opened (a few days after 90 days) because I thought the 90 days would restart.

Easy for me to say, but try not to sweat it too much. It's possible they'll give you a hard time but I doubt it. The circumstances this year have been anything but normal.

Haha - thank you. I will just be calm. Right now I’m trying to figure out how to get a cheap PCR test LOL.

Seeing as France allows you to stay an extra 90 days in top of your Schengen 90, o don’t see how you’ve done anything wrong?

I made it successfully and stayed for 88 days! No questions asked. Was super chill and the border didn’t even check my pcr test, only the airlines did