Americans may need visa for EU travel?

[cruiser21]

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.

It's the same for Australia.

 

[SirDuff]

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 don't see it happening, but, if it did, I assume that they would issue a "Schengen Visa". The Schengen area (which is slightly different than the EU - some EU countries are not part of Schengen and some Schengen countries are not in the EU) is such that travel within it is "border free" for all nationals. There already is such a visa (https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy_en), but Americans do not need it.

Where things could be confusing is if the cruise went to both Schengen and non-Schengen countries - if both countries needed visas, passengers would need multiple visas. In that case, yes, you have to apply for them sequentially (I've done it a few times for non-cruise trips where I've visited multiple countries and two (or more) required visas).

 

[gotomu212]

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.

Australia already requires a visa for US travelers (it's a simple one we filed at the airport with quantas). Several Asian countries also require a visa- china actually denied ours (it's one of the more invasive)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

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?

Since the implementation of the European Union, you'd only need a visa to enter the first EU country. Travel within the EU is much like travel within the US. Once you've been cleared to enter it, you're cleared for all travel within it.

That's the issue - there are like 3 or 4 EU countries that the US still requires a visa for visiting the US. The Parliament vote is just saying we want you to treat all of our EU countries the same, no visas from any of them to visit the US, or visas required from all to visit the US. And the reciprocity, if you're going to require visas from any of our countries, we're going to require a visa from the US to visit the EU.

 

[cyclenut]

The vote is, as was mentioned earlier, largely symbolic. It became more of a discussion with the recent immigration changes made by the US. Other countries are re-evaluating entry requirements. I don't see it actually changing anytime soon.

Each country determines how it will handle immigration. Even those that require a visa will often issue the visa upon arrival if you are only planning to stay a short time. I've visited India a few times and they require a visa be issued in advance. The visa can be valid for up to 10 years, depending on what the current policy decision is when they issue the visa. Japan will issue a visa upon arrival and place it in your passport. When you leave, they check that information and will remove it. This is why you need so many passport pages.

Be sure to check your passport not only for expiration date, but number of available passport pages. Some countries will only issue a visa if you have at least 2 blank passport pages. They will use one for the visa and the other for entry stamps, which reflect the date of entry. As for expiration date, most will require that your passport have at least six months remaining before expiration, upon entry.

Another thing people sometimes forget is that sometimes a conviction for a minor offense in the US is considered a major conviction by another country. That could bar you from entry. Canada, for example, does not allow anyone who has had a DUI or even a petty theft conviction into their country, at the discretion of the boarder agent.

Bottom line is, before you visit a foreign country, be sure to check their entry requirements. It may not only be the visa you have to worry about. Some over the counter medications are not allowed AT ALL in some countries while others might require the original bottle or even a copy of the original perscription (for perscription medications).

There are often exceptions for passengers entering the country via a cruise ship since they know that people visiting that way don't tend to overstay and they have an opportunity to check all names on the manifest.

 

[SirDuff]

Since the implementation of the European Union, you'd only need a visa to enter the first EU country. Travel within the EU is much like travel within the US. Once you've been cleared to enter it, you're cleared for all travel within it.

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Not totally accurate. You can travel within the Schengen zone much like you'd travel within the US, but not all EU countries are in the Schengen zone (UK isn't, for example) while some countries in the Schengen zone are not in the EU (Switzerland, for example). If you travel from UK to France, for example, you will go through customs/immigration even though both are EU countries.

 

[Flossbolna]

The wikipedia article on the Schengen area, i.e. the countries within Europe that work together regarding border control, is really good:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area

There is also a very good map that shows which countries are part of it and which are not:


So any countries that are dark or light purple would require only one visa. Since Ireland and the UK are not part of this, things there should stay the same, i.e. visa free travel for US citizens.