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You've greatly misunderstood what is going on. It was a non-binding resolution that does not have the power of law. They may vote on it later in the year. Nothing is taking effect in May. There are no "hoops" to jump through to get any visa. Relax. IF they do vote to institute a visa requirement there will be a time frame to do so and it won't be something that happens overnight. Don't confuse what happened in the US last month with what the rest of the world does.Hey there,
I'm planning on landing in Europe in mid-May, and I'm greatly concerned with all the news and vote that took place over eliminating the visa-free travel to the Schengen zone for Americans. I'm worried about being denied entry or having to sort out visa stuff while on the trail, as some news stories I read said the prospective enforcing begins within 2 months? (May?) I'm not leaving the Schengen zone until July 1st, as I planned on traveling afterwards. I was going to just buckle down and jump through the hoops to get a visa, but the visitor visa requires proof of reservations? Obviously this isn't realistic for a Camino walker, as life on the trail is unpredictable, and sometimes we simply finish (or don't finish) on unanticipated dates. Please help! I'm starting to lose sleep over this worry and stress. Thank you.
This is really crazy about Poland. Does going to another EU country count as leaving for the one whole day?
This is a heck of a lot to take in. I appreciate your sharing all of this but it is very difficult for me to understand. I suppose I will just go to France/Spain, eat up most of my 90 days and if I still have the wanderlust, head off to the Brittish Isles for a spell.Rick: Your solution applies to the US Visa Waiver Program, but not in the EU / Schengen zone. Most EU citizens can come to the US and stay sans visa for up to 90 calendar days. So, if, on the 89th day they go to Canada, the Bahamas Islands, Mexico, etc., and return, say two days later, the 90-day clock starts running again from Day 1.
However, and this is where the problem emerges, the EU / Schengen Area has a DIFFERENT approach. A non-EU / Schengen national is permitted to remain in any (in the aggregate) EU country for UP TO 90 CALENDAR DAYS in a 180 CALENDAR DAY PERIOD.
The 180-day period is dynamic, and slides forward. It commences on the date of first arrival in the EU zone. It does not matter how many times you go in and out of various EU countries during that 180 calendar day period. It all counts towards the 90 day total.
So, for example, if you come to the EU for 3o days, then leave for 30 days, then return for 30 days, etc. the 180-day time frame slides forward. This is the maximum pattern you could get away with and still be in technical compliance with the EU rule.
But, it does not matter how you distribute your days in the EU, as long as they do not total more than 90 in the most recent 180-day period. However, I surmise that, eventually, someone is going to catch on to the pattern. If that happens, you likely will be refused entry and told not to return without a formal, embassy/consulate - issued visitors visa.
So, staying in, say Spain for 70 days, then going to Portugal for 10 days, then back to Spain for another 10 days, you have clocked the maximum 90 calendar days within the EU zone. Even if you "break" the EU stay pattern by going to a non-EU country, like Switzerland, the 90-day clock just picks up where you left off. In this example, you would not be let in, unless someone is asleep at the switch.
THAT is the essential difference between the US and EU visa-free travel systems. The US system resets to day 1 each time you apply for admission to the US from a foreign location.
So, like similar systems around the world, a foreigner traveling under the US Visas Waiver Program rules can make a "visa-run" to an adjacent country then come back a few days later. I will tell you from professional experience that the computers track this pattern. You may get away with it once, or even twice. But eventually, you will be interviewed in private (not desirable) and be told you must have a proper, embassy-issued nonimmigrant visa the next time you seek admission. It is likely that the officers will refuse you admission to the US.
The EU / Schengen system establishes a 180-contiguous calendar day time frame and only permits you to remain in the EU for a total of 90 days, no matter how you accumulate them.
I hope this helps.
It's not so hard if you just remember this: As a Canadian or American, on any day, if you count back 180 days, you must not have spent more than 90 days of those days in the Schengen zone. To be safe, I would be sure to count both the first and last days as "in" the zoneit is very difficult for me to understand.
It's not so hard if you just remember this: As a Canadian or American, on any day, if you count back 180 days, you must not have spent more than 90 days of those days in the Schengen zone. To be safe, I would be sure to count both the first and last days as "in" the zone
No, no, no!. Most EU citizens can come to the US and stay sans visa for up to 90 calendar days. So, if, on the 89th day they go to Canada, the Bahamas Islands, Mexico, etc., and return, say two days later, the 90-day clock starts running again from Day 1.
This is a heck of a lot to take in. I appreciate your sharing all of this but it is very difficult for me to understand. I suppose I will just go to France/Spain, eat up most of my 90 days and if I still have the wanderlust, head off to the Brittish Isles for a spell.
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