Originally Posted by WHBM
we make various trips to different countries over the 6/12 month duration of the visa. But we were advised to get visa from Finnish consulate in St Petersburg (is straightforward) and then go to Finland for the day and get an entry stamp, so we can then go where we like in Schengen from London later without query
Theoretically, the Finnish consulate should not have issued a multiple entry long duration visa without specific evidence of an intent to return to Finland on multiple visits during the visa duration.
Of course, this tends to be a very ignored rule as consular officers get just as sick and tired of seeing the same applicants over and over again as the applicant does of seeing them!
The Germans however are sticking to the letter of the law for the last 2 years thanks the scandal that rocked them. I deal with the local German Embassy here on a regular basis and it is like pulling teeth to have them issue a visa for anything longer than 3 months.