Hi! 

I am Lebanese, I have a Lebanese passport. 
I am now living in the UK, full-time postgraduate student. 
I have a 2-year UK Student visa valid until summer 2008. 

I need to study in Greece from mid January till end of March 2007, it
is a COMPULSORY part of my studies.
I have an acceptance letter from a Greek university mentioning that my
studies will be from 1 January 2007 until 31 March 2007.

I recently applied for a tourist Schengen visa at the FRENCH Embassy
to spend Christmas in Paris, I asked for 5 days single-entry Schengen
visa, the French embassy consular officer stamped a red stamp on my
passport "Visa requested on ??-Nov-2006 at French Consulate London"
and told me that I will be sent a letter by post saying when to come
again to the embassy to have the visa stamped on my passport.
I'm expected to receive the visa within 3 weeks, I don't know for how
long it will be valid (whether only for the 5 days I asked for, or
longer)

The problem is: 
I had an appointment today at the Greek embassy in London to apply for
a Greek STUDENT visa,
(I wanted a Mutiple-Entry STUDENT visa which is valid only for Greece,
NOT a Schengen visa!)
the consular officer there told me they only issue Schengen visas for
90-days with different categories (Tourist, Student, or Business)
and since I already applied for a Schengen visa elsewhere, I am
already on the "Schengen system", and it is impossible that I can be
issued another Schengen visa before my first Schengen visa expires.
Again, I don't know yet for how long my (French) Schengen visa will be
valid for when I get it.
but even if it's valid just for 5 days, 
it would be VERY VERY late for me to apply again at the Greek Embassy
late December, as there would be vacations at that time, and it takes
at least one week to get an appointment, and depending on my
nationality, my visa takes at least 3 weeks to be processed!!

 
Is it true that the Greeks don't have "Greece-only" student visas
anymore? Is it all Schengen now?
In case there's another kind of student visas which is NOT Schengen?
What is it called? Where can I get the application form for that kind
of visas? What are the requirements? How long does it take to be
processed?

Can anyone suggest any solution for my problem? 

It's already getting late for me to get my Greece visa before
Christmas vacations as today is 20 November.

As I've said before, studying in Greece during that 3-month period is
mandatory for me!!
(Kindly note that I also want my passport to be "clean", I mean I
don't want red stamps or any cancelled visas on it because this will
cause problems for me if I later want to apply to visit other
countries)

I hope I was able to explain my problem properly, please ask me for
clarification, and hope you can help me.

Many THANKS in advance for your help!

I do not profess to be an expert on the ins and outs of visas for
various European countries.

However i suspect that any Visa for a short term stay to a Schengen
country (whether it be a holiday or for a short term student
assignment) will always be a Schengen Visa. Simple reason: the borders
of the Schengan nations are open (i.e. no Passport Checks)and
therefore there is no point in issuing a short term visa which is
valid only for that (Schengan) country.

Given that realty common sense tells me you have two  options:

1.  Go to Paris for Christmas but expect your student assignment in
Greece will start late (perhaps anything up to four weeks)

2.  If 1 is not acceptable then you will have to forego your visit to Paris.
You will also need to cancel your French Visa. And yes this will mean
that the Visa stamp would have some sort of cancellation mark. If you
decide this option, I would go in person to the French Embassy in
London and explain your dilemma.
If the Embassy personnel are at all reasonable , they not only will
they  cancel your visa on your passport but they should also issue you
a letter explaining the cancelled visa. This letter can be attached to
the page on the passport where the cancelled visa stamp is.

This should avoid any future difficult questions regarding the cancelled visa.
I am also not too sure if a cancelled Visa should cause you any big problems.

I would not expect to get reimbursed for the cost of the (French) Visa

Regarding Christmas You can always go to visit a non-Schengen location
(Prague  , Dublin??)

Good Luck

Mongolia

Many THANKS Mongolia about your comment! :) appreciated! 

I wonder why didn't any ga- researcher answer my question yet?

Dear hady_an

You are most welcome! Hope everything works out OK

Mongolia