Come June, You May Need a Visa to Travel to Europe

[mountaineer]

Come June, You May Need a Visa to Travel to Europe
The issue actually predates the current presidency
BY Matt Villano
3.6.2017
AFAR.com

You can still travel to the EU visa-free, but that may change this summer.

A visa war is brewing between the European Union and the United States, and travelers from both sides appear to be caught in the middle.

Although no changes to visa policies have been made yet, the European Parliament said Thursday that U.S. travelers should be forced to apply—and pay—for visas to travel in Europe after the United States failed to renew a special relationship that did not require visas for travelers from both sides heading to or from the EU.

That special relationship, dubbed “visa reciprocity,” is the heart of the issue. Currently, while the United States welcomes residents of 23 EU countries visa-free, citizens of Cyprus and former Communist countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania must obtain visas first—a double-standard that has angered the EU for years. (In other words, this issue predates the current presidency.)

With this week’s move, the EU’s leadership group, the European Commission, said that if the United States doesn’t honor visa-free travel for all EU nations, the EU shouldn’t honor it for the United States.

According to NPR, the situation is a textbook case of brinksmanship; the EU’s move effectively sets a deadline for the EU Commission to act if the United States doesn’t change its policy. That deadline is up June 15. Realistically, the Commission could miss the deadline altogether; a Reuters story suggested the group may not even respond until summer.

If the new visa requirements are introduced, they would be temporary, at least according to EU officials quoted in a number of different articles. They also would wreak havoc, especially on Europe’s economy.

An article in the Telegraph newspaper out of London explained exactly how disruptive the new requirements might be, with insight from Eduardo Santander, executive director of the European Travel Council.

“Making it more difficult for U.S. citizens to travel to Europe would certainly deprive the European travel and tourism sector of essential revenue,” Santander was quoted as saying. He added that new visa requirements would “put thousands of European jobs at stake in one of the few sectors which experiences a strong growth in employment.”

The impact of these requirements for travelers would be significant, too. Right now, a U.S. resident can grab his or her passport, hop on a plane, and go to any of the 23 EU countries with which the United States currently practices reciprocity. Under the new rules, however, travelers from the United States would have to purchase visas in advance to visit the same countries, much as they do for when they visit Brazil, China, and other nations.

Not only would the new process add time and energy to the airport experience, but trips also would be more expensive, since travelers would have to pay fees for visa processing before departure.

For all of these reasons, let’s hope the “visa war” doesn’t amount to much of anything, and that this international game of brinksmanship ends with no formal changes to visa requirements overall.

[Applewood]

Between this and my state refusing to comply with federal photo ID rules -- resulting in needing  a passport to travel by air within the United States -- I guess I'll just stay  home.

If others feel as I do, look for the travel industry here and abroad to decline.  And all because of the stupidity of bureaucrats and politicians.

[Sanguine]

Between this and my state refusing to comply with federal photo ID rules -- resulting in needing  a passport to travel by air within the United States -- I guess I'll just stay  home.

If others feel as I do, look for the travel industry here and abroad to decline.  And all because of the stupidity of bureaucrats and politicians.

There's plenty to see here.  I've got about 24 states left on my bucket list to visit and some to revisit. 

[Applewood]

There's plenty to see here.  I've got about 24 states left on my bucket list to visit and some to revisit.

Well, if my state doesn't stop squabbling with the feds and get busy issuing the correct IDs/drivers licenses, I may not be seeing the USA either. 

This is one time I wish I could drive. 

[skeeter]

I'll be there in May. Whether or not I ever go back depends upon this. And a few other things.

[catfish1957]

Come June, You May Need a Visa to Travel to Europe


AFAR.com

Surprising.  I thought those tourist greedy frogs would be fine with a Visa, or an American Express, or a Master Card, or a Discover Card.  /s

Buy American.  There's plenty to see in the US.

[chae]

@Applewood

You can always find someone to drive you.  a good friend of mine makes his living doing that.  He transported some people from like Maine to Cleveland for the convention last year.

[Cripplecreek]

There's plenty to see here.  I've got about 24 states left on my bucket list to visit and some to revisit.

That's the way I feel about it. There are a few places outside the USA I wouldn't mind seeing but I'm plenty content to stay right here in the USA. I could spend the rest of my life without leaving Michigan. There's plenty for me to see an do right here in my mitten.

[Bigun]

So what's the problem?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I lived in Europe during the Iron Curtain. It is a historic place and there is a lot to see.

Having said that, it is not a place I want to be now.  It has become a socialist utopia and is changing dramatically with uncontrolled migrations.

My wife and I visited the UK after I retired.  We could not believe the amount of Islam that now exists there.  Our hotel was 75% Muslim. We drove north from there to Scotland.  Along the way, we had the news of the Rotherham rapes.  We had intended to visit in the area but drove past it.

There is no way I would subject myself or my family now to what constitutes Europe.

We Americans will not suffer from the drop in tourism there.  They will.

[txradioguy]

Ummm not sure why this is news...I needed my passport to travel in Europe for the entire 6 1/2 years I lived there.

[Bigun]

Ummm not sure why this is news...I needed my passport to travel in Europe for the entire 6 1/2 years I lived there.

I have been all over Western Europe in my lifetime. Never once without a passport.

[txradioguy]

I have been all over Western Europe in my lifetime. Never once without a passport.

A lot of the hotels we stayed at required customers to leave them at the front desk to ensure the bill got paid.

[mountaineer]

It's about traveling to Europe with just a passport, as I read it - as opposed to needing a visa and a passport.

I've always enjoyed visiting Europe, but the invading hordes of Islamothugs has put me off my cocoa, so to speak. Our next vacation may be a scenic tour of the great American southeast.

[Bigun]

It's about traveling to Europe with just a passport, as I read it - as opposed to needing a visa and a passport.

I've always enjoyed visiting Europe, but the invading hordes of Islamothugs has put me off my cocoa, so to speak. Our next vacation may be a scenic tour of the great American southeast.

My wife is from Arizona and has never seen the Northeastern part of America.  We are planning to correct that, at least partially, starting in May.

[txradioguy]

It's about traveling to Europe with just a passport, as I read it - as opposed to needing a visa and a passport.

I've always enjoyed visiting Europe, but the invading hordes of Islamothugs has put me off my cocoa, so to speak. Our next vacation may be a scenic tour of the great American southeast.

The bolded part is what finally convinced my lovely bride it was time to leave Europe.  The last bomb attack they had while we were there was outside a sports bar frequented by U.S. Soldiers. 

No way to defend ourselves if they attacked where we were...too risky for the kids to go out anymore.

[mountaineer]

I love Germany and France and have visited many times. We'd like to return to Austria to visit Mauthausen, where my husband's uncle was a prisoner.

But it's not going to happen - not until they deal with the invaders.

[geronl]

Ummm not sure why this is news...I needed my passport to travel in Europe for the entire 6 1/2 years I lived there.

a passport won't be enough with this

[Wingnut]

Someday I would like to visit the EU countries again.  The only visa we will need then...as we do now is the plastic one.  That along with his friends... MasterCard, Discover and American Express.  If you think those ass holes are gonna pass some law to require Americans to get a visa you are nuttier than a portapotty at a peanut festival.

[Fishrrman]

I didn't need a VISA or passport for my trip to Europe back in 1971. Not even for my trip into East Germany and East Berlin, back when those places still existed.

Of course, the journey was courtesy of the U.S. Army.

And the "vacation" lasted more than a year!

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Ummm not sure why this is news...I needed my passport to travel in Europe for the entire 6 1/2 years I lived there.

Do you know the difference between a visa and a passport?