You can stay in Portugal right after you have filed an application and made your payment for processing. You will be legally deemed an “irregular resident” while you are waiting. You can travel in/out of Portugal to the U.S. with a proof of a filed application, though it is advisable to fly from the U.S. via a non-Schengen airport (i.e. London, Istanbul, Toronto, Montreal, etc.), or directly from the U.S. We have, however, flown through München, Paris, and Madrid on an “overstayed” tourist visa (meaning, not compliant with 90/180 day rule) and never encountered issues either.
Travelling to other Schengen destinations from Portugal has not been a problem for us so far either (also U.S. passport holders). Most recent border crossing to Spain by car involved simply driving across a one-lane low bridge (on a secondary highway, not far from Salvaterra do Extremo towards Zarza la Mayor), so you could imagine the “strict” border control there.
I appreciate your reply to my post. That is good to know. Sounds like we gain flexibility right after our application which is what I hoped. If you go to Spain, I assume you’re limited by the 3 month each 6 month rule for the Schengen region?
If you go to stay in Spain long term, then yes, you are limited to 90 days out of 180 days. However, if you are crossing from Portugal for several days of a road trip, nobody checks your documents (though few sheep on either side of the border were quite curious about our travel plans). Hotels in Spain will ask for your passports, but only to verify your identity. And so, if you drive carefully and respectfully, you are just fine.
FYI, we have travelled several times to Spain on an overstayed visa, and nobody cared.
BTW, there are also bi-lateral treaties U.S. has with other countries in the E.U. that were signed prior to the formation of Schengen zone and are still in effect, though not widely known to the authorities. France has additional 90 days, Portugal - 60, and I don’t know much about others. I had posted before links to Portuguese 60 day visa that I got from the Department of the State.
So far, the rule is one thing, but its enforcement has been rather laxed, especially on the Iberic peninsula. The introduction of “Smart Borders” (ETIAS) has been postponed again. Once introduced, it would tighten these “loose” interpretations. For now, enjoy the ride!
Just to share my exp: Applied in Jan 2020, preapproval within a month, but missed appointments due to covid in Aug 2020, and then my case went into a black hole. Then filed a lawsuit in July 2023, got biometrics done via court order in Oct 2023, and now all family members have residency cards this June 2024. Now applying for citizenship in Jan 2025.