EU Wants Americans to Get a Visa

Sorry, Mike, but for what I just read it is not related to the Schengen area but to EU globally, and you will have to apply it during 2 years after your activation of art. 50. For the moment it will be a 12 months sanction.

I think this should bring some lol But American's are reluctant to travel anyway so this will just make things worse.

@topffer The EU says we have to apply it...the UK could just ignore that and I suspect it may well do so.

I don't think the US is going to back down on the 5 countries that require visas so we will see how this plays out. If has been in effect since 2005.

we need tourists? thats news

@BelleStarr I just read about that. In April 2014, the EU has given 24 months to all countries not applying the "no visa needed" reciprocity for all EU countries to comply. At this time were concerned Australia, Brunei, Canada, Japan and the USA. All other countries have or will comply (Canada is the last one, and it will be effective next December 1st) ; if the USA continues to refuse, according to our laws a visa will be needed to travel from USA to EU as a sanction for 12 months : EU is a federal entity when it comes to traveling, it would be sad if USA was the only country in the world to not admit it. I suppose that we will have also to have visas to go to the USA, so it will affect tourism on both sides of the pond.

I have never gotten a visa for any EU country I visited. Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria.

@BelleStarr Your passport would be stamped at the first European country that you entered, which would qualify as a visa.

@Asylum It is just a stamp, you do not need to ask for a specific visa, and it is called "visa free access".

I have never had to get a visa to visit in Europe in the almost 30 years I have been traveling there. Since the UK is by far my favorite I won't be impacted.

@PatZAnthony I never mind excessive security checks but when they aren't doing their jobs that worries me.

@BelleStarr We know the easier they make it for us to visit, the more likely we will go. Friends returned to the states recently and said the airport was a nightmare. Not sure we want to deal with that.

One would think that discouraging American tourist would not be high on anyone's list. I think the EU has other issues that need addressing but it isn't going to affect me, I am going to England.

@BelleStarr your right on this.

@BelleStarr yes. It does not solve any problem known only to them and affect the American Tourists. The whole world is thronging towards U.S. I do not think it would pave any positive way banning American Tourists and insisting on their having VISA

I totally agree with you which is why I find the fact that the EU wants to make it more difficult for the small percentage of Americans who do travel disturbing. I have been embarrassed by Americans when I am in Europe as well, the Ugly American is not just a book, it is a reality. Americans want things to be just like at home, so rooms are too small, meals are too small and believe it or not, not everyone speaks English!!! I am appalled by the behavior.

@DeborahDiane @BelleStarr Based on your comments above, perhaps they simply don't want American tourists and this is just a convenient way to kill two birds with one stone?

@BelleStarr - I agree completely. I have also seen Americans snapping their fingers at waiters, loudly demand their checks, and hurry through meals in fine restaurants in Paris. I agree that we need to find a way to help Americans realize there is a beautiful, amazing world out there, with a wide variety of fascinating cultures.

@BelleStarr Well that is darn silly. If I leave America on a trip I should be able to come home without a passport. I thought Canada was the one requiring us to have a passport to come there.

Canada did not require the passport, the US required it to get back into the US. Now you can go with a passport card which is much less expensive.

@BelleStarr We used to have passport cards but they did away with them about thirty odd years ago.

Especially since there are 165 million Americans with a passport. And what about cruisers? Not good. Oh by the way, Canada is in violation too as is Japan.

Do you need a visa to visit the US? Interesting.

We in the UK have to have a visa to visit Australia!

I guess we will just have to wait and see, Italy has no visa access to the US.

@LadyDuck I did love my time in Switzerland.

@BelleStarr No and for the moment Europe that not have a Federal Government, every country still has its own laws and rules. Switzerland is not part of United Europe. U.S. citizens do not require a Tourist Visa to enter Switzerland, only a U.S. passport is required and must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date you plan to depart Switzerland.

I think they will lose a lot of dollars, but they will do what they think they need to do and we will hold our ground.

@BelleStarr We certainly will!

Yes and that is what 64% of Americans already think so I don't think this is a great idea?

I always feel safe in the UK, it is such a wonderful place to visit. I love it and have been more than 20 times. But you are more like an average American than I am, maybe because my mom is from Canada and my gram from England, I have never considered traveling outside the US unusual.

@BelleStarr wow that's a lot of trips.

@fishtiger58 Oh yah and I have been to quite a few other countries in Europe and all the UK countries.

I now will be rethinking my 50th-anniversary cruise which would have been to the EU. Alaska is starting to look good lol

@Jeanniemaries That is also an option, I will have to think about what we want to do.

@BelleStarr I'm actually planning to do more travel in the US

@BelleStarr true.

This would not affect people coming here, just Americans who travel to EU countries. Illegals don't get passports or visas they sneak in.

We only require 5 countries in the EU to have visas and it is pretty understandable why. They will lose tourist dollars which they can ill afford to lose with this move but I guess we will have to see how it plays out.

@DWDavis Yes, I was thinking that as well.

@BelleStarr I think it will hit business travelers the most. I have a friend who often travels to Europe for work. I imagine it will be an inconvenience for him.

Not unless booming voices and iffy manners is terrorism!!! Some might say it is lol

@BelleStarr

It was all the news on Friday.

We have both, the dual citizens and the ones of Irish descent who like to go back to the homeland. Aer Lingus just started flying out of Hartford CT because we do business in Ireland and that means business people will need a visa. I am Irish but it is 4 generations since immigration so no dual citizenship for me lol

@Meramar England and France are the top two destinations. Italy, Germany, Spain, Ireland and Netherlands.

Millions of Americans travel to Europe every year and many millions more travel on business.

@BelleStarr Which are the favourit touristic places in Europe american citizens usually choose? I didn't imagine that so many travel abroad....