Americans may need visa for EU travel?

[LeslieG]

Did you see this in the news that the EU Parliament has voted to require visas for US citizens? Do you think this will actually be implemented? Anyone know more about this?

 

[AquaDame]

They're talking about it, but as they say in several articles it would likely be counter productive to their ends. They're just talking for now, so its going to be rehashed several times even if it comes to fruition. I don't *think* they will, but thats just opinion and hey, I've been wrong before!

 

[Flossbolna]

Did you see this in the news that the EU Parliament has voted to require visas for US citizens? Do you think this will actually be implemented? Anyone know more about this?

The European Parliament has no decision making powers in that matter. The decision lies solely with the EU Commission (the "government" so to speak). So, the vote is really just of symbolic value.

However, the underlying problem is that usually visa free travel is based on the concept of reciprocity. I.e. each country saying: if you let my citizens in without a visa, I let your citizens in without a visa, too. With the way the EU is structured, they make those agreements as a block. Once you are in the EU (or most of it, UK might be different), you can travel freely from one country to the other. So, Americans can travel to all EU countries without a visa as there is no way of differentiating. However, the citizens of some EU countries cannot travel to the US without a visa. It would be slightly comparable to for example all UK citizens being allowed to travel to the US without a visa, but the UK saying that Americans who live in Montana, Tennessee and Arizona need visas, all other Americans can travel without visas.

I am about 99% certain that in case any such visa requirement would be implemented (and in my opinion it is very, very unlikely that anything will happen anyway), it would be implemented in a way that anyone with travel plans will have enough time to actually get a visa. The first step would be to put so much more staff into all the EU countries embassies and consulates in the US to actually be able to process those visas. And that already tells you how unlikely this is. Who wants to pay for lots of additional staff?

 

[apathetic]

Kind of an interesting story. If you plan to cruise to Europe in the future, I would pay attention. I'm not sure this will come about because many EU countries would really take a hit on tourism. Most people in the US will not want the added headache of a visa, especially if there is a long application timeframe. So, visitors to the EU will decline and that hurts a lot of countries. Further, residents of the EU countries that currently don't need a visa will almost assuredly need one once the US imposes the same standard to the rest of the EU. So people in France, Germany, etc would also have to go through this hassle.

It is counter-productive and nobody gains. With that said, it would be hard for the EU to back down now and explain to those 5 member nations that they won't follow through. Should be interesting.

 

[LeslieG]

If I needed a visa, that would probably be the tipping point to stay in the US for vacation this summer.

 

[OKW Lover]

Did you see this in the news that the EU Parliament has voted to require visas for US citizens? Do you think this will actually be implemented? Anyone know more about this?

The subject line of this thread is misleading. It says "will" not "may" be needed.

That aside, I can see how the EU would feel this way and I wouldn't blame them if they did actually implement it. However, it hasn't happened yet.

 

[bbel]

If I needed a visa, that would probably be the tipping point to stay in the US for vacation this summer.

Even if they decided to give this a go ahead, it will most likely be a couple of years before it's implemented. Just like Britain leaving the EU. So you don't have to stress about this summer!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

My British Isle cruise is booked for 2018. Surely we will know before then? What exactly does a visa entail? Why is it better to have than a regular passport?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My British Isle cruise is booked for 2018. Surely we will know before then? What exactly does a visa entail? Why is it better to have than a regular passport?

It's not in place of a passport, it's in addition to a passport.

Don't know that it's "better". Just another form of authorization that you can travel to whatever country that requires it.

Usually, you must submit your passport to the embassy for the country you wish to visit, and they will check you out and issue a visa to be presented with your passport when you actually arrive at that country. Sometimes the processing time can take weeks, for some countries.

It costs additionally to passport costs.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

So your passport is withheld until you arrive in the country? One small problem with that. Here in the US, I live in a state (PA) that I will have to show my passport to board a plane. So how will that work if the "other" country has my passport?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So your passport is withheld until you arrive in the country? One small problem with that. Here is the US, I live in a state that I will have to show my passport to board a plane. So how will that work if the "other" country has my passport?

No, you submit your passport to the embassy in question before your trip. After they process it (whatever it is that they do), they return the passport & visa to you.

 

[SirDuff]

So your passport is withheld until you arrive in the country? One small problem with that. Here in the US, I live in a state (PA) that I will have to show my passport to board a plane. So how will that work if the "other" country has my passport?

No. You give your passport to the nearest Embassy/Consulate (for some countries, only the Embassy can do it or only a specific Consulate) along with a bunch of paperwork (how much depends on the country and why you are going there) and some money (and usually a couple of passport sized pictures). They return your passport (sometimes after two days and sometimes after a a few weeks) with your visa inside. It does mean that you are without your passport for the period of time that they have your passport (only a problem if you have another international trip planed during the time you are without passport or you need multiple visas for the trip and have to juggle).

BTW - you need a passport to board a plane in PA? Do you mean if traveling internationally or anytime? If anytime, that doesn't make sense (not everyone has a passport). If internationally, then that does totally make sense.

 

[Dug720]

No. You give your passport to the nearest Embassy/Consulate (for some countries, only the Embassy can do it or only a specific Consulate) along with a bunch of paperwork (how much depends on the country and why you are going there) and some money (and usually a couple of passport sized pictures). They return your passport (sometimes after two days and sometimes after a a few weeks) with your visa inside. It does mean that you are without your passport for the period of time that they have your passport (only a problem if you have another international trip planed during the time you are without passport or you need multiple visas for the trip and have to juggle).

BTW - you need a passport to board a plane in PA? Do you mean if traveling internationally or anytime? If anytime, that doesn't make sense (not everyone has a passport). If internationally, then that does totally make sense.

There are some states that do not meet the updated ID requirements for drivers' licenses and as of next January people in those states will be unable to use their state-issues ID for air travel.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

http://6abc.com/travel/jan-2018-pa-drivers-license-not-valid-id-for-air-travel/1667115/

Yes PA is one of those states that did not comply with some law so starting in 2018 I will need my passport to board any plane, even for travel within the US.

 

[rcchello]

Currently the visa is issued when you enter a European country, it is the stamp they put in your passport. If the EU countries require a visa before entry you will have to get in touch with embassy of the first EU country you will enter. You will have to fill out some forms and send them and your passport to the embassy. Your passport will be returned with the visa affixed to one of the visa pages of you passport. Hopefully they won't require a trip to the embassy.

The big hassle is adding the time required to get your visa, just like getting a new passport takes time.

 

[jdb in AZ]

When we cruised around New Zealand we needed visas before entering the country. Just filled out the info online. It really wasn't a big deal. We didn't have to send them our passports.

If the EU insists on visas, they'd have to allow ample time, and probably several extensions before implementing it.

 

[Flossbolna]

Currently the visa is issued when you enter a European country, it is the stamp they put in your passport. If the EU countries require a visa before entry you will have to get in touch with embassy of the first EU country you will enter. You will have to fill out some forms and send them and your passport to the embassy. Your passport will be returned with the visa affixed to one of the visa pages of you passport. Hopefully they won't require a trip to the embassy.

The big hassle is adding the time required to get your visa, just like getting a new passport takes time.

Actually, some countries issue visas at the border, but the EU does not. The stamp is just a stamp documenting your entry to calculate the number of days you have been in the EU (US citizens can stay without a visa for 90 days within any 180 day period). If a US citizen wants to stay for more that those 90 days, they would require a real visa.

And if you would need to get a visa, it would not be the country where you enter, but the country where you will spend the most time during your time in Europe that would be repsonsible. The exception from all this being the UK, which (even before Brexit) is not part of the common visa policy.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

So how would this work with a European cruise with ports in many countries? Would you have to send off your passport to one country, then get it back and send it to the next, then get it back and send it to the next, etc etc?

 

[dclpluto]

If it happens maybe we will get some Australia/Asian cruises. I don't see it happening thou. Europe will lose too much money. Probably just all talk.

 

[Geomom]

So how would this work with a European cruise with ports in many countries? Would you have to send off your passport to one country, then get it back and send it to the next, then get it back and send it to the next, etc etc?

I wonder if it would be similar to cruises that visit Russia--that if you have come by boat and are on a tour that you won't need a visa, but you'd need one if you were to explore on your own. Then you'd just need a visa from your start/end point countries.