Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

How Difficult/Easy is your attempt at getting a Schengen Visa?

Search

How Difficult/Easy is your attempt at getting a Schengen Visa?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 23rd, 2010, 03:21 PM
  #21  
P_M
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"I'm sure I read a post recently about USA citizens needing a visa for Europe"

Tod, a US citizen only needs a visa for Europe if our stay is longer than 3 months. For only a 3 week stay we can just show up with a passport. I just returned from Europe 10 days ago so the rules haven't changed recently.

Sorry for all you went through but I hope you will have a great trip.
P_M is online now  
Old Mar 23rd, 2010, 03:51 PM
  #22  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"I'm sure I read a post recently about USA citizens needing a visa for Europe"

There are certain countries on the periphery of Europe that still require visa for US visitors - including Russia and Belarus, but not Ukraine or Moldova.
Alec is offline  
Old Mar 23rd, 2010, 04:33 PM
  #23  
P_M
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Right Alec, I had to get visas for Russia and Belarus when I went. Since the OP mentioned France I was referring to the Schengen zone.
P_M is online now  
Old Mar 23rd, 2010, 04:56 PM
  #24  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,886
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are a couple of places in europe for which American needs visas: Turkey (but you can get it in the airport), Russia (advance needed and a PIA - similar to what you have to do - except you can pay a visa company to do it) and possibly some of the other former Soviet republics (I don;t know the status for Ukaraine et al).

It's still a shock for us to need a passport for Canada - you usd to be able to get in with a driver license and birth certificate. (And it does seem kind of funny, since we already share phone systems, power grid and a host of other services - and most of our 3000 mile plus border is completely open.)
nytraveler is offline  
Old Mar 23rd, 2010, 10:24 PM
  #25  
tod
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for your replies guys - as you can read between the lines I took it in fairly good humour even though it wasn't a good experience! I have applied and received Schengen visas in the past but it seems the 'attitude' is getting tougher.

Nytraveler - Wish me luck as today I apply for the almighty Canadian Visa!! This hopefully is going to be a cinch as I am not required to appear in person (like the French Consulate), but merely have a specialised courier company collect the necessary and then bring it back from the Canadian Consulate/Embassy.
This will be a saving of 500+- km's in travel a day earlier and a hotel bill of R1,400 (wanted to be at the French Consul as early as possible next morning otherwise we would have had to leave home at 3am to get to Johannesburg by 8.30am). Many of the others applying had flown in from other parts of South Africa. This 'far away' from JHB allows you to ask that your visa be completed the same day. For those living closer it's a three day wait.
tod is offline  
Old Apr 3rd, 2010, 06:10 AM
  #26  
tod
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ttt
tod is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
pingalltime
Europe
7
Feb 21st, 2016 01:01 PM
arturopablo
Europe
7
Nov 10th, 2014 12:33 AM
Kai22
Europe
7
Oct 2nd, 2014 11:43 AM
dickyram
Europe
3
Dec 18th, 2013 09:51 AM
fudgie
Europe
9
Jul 8th, 2012 12:32 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Your Privacy Choices -