Hi everyone.
The Schengen Area is compromised of 25 states who have all agreed to uniform visa standards. The period of stay in this area is 90 days within any six-month period, as to prevent someone from leaving and returning immediately to receive another 90 day period. However this may or may not be rigidly enforced. Once you are in the Schengen Area travel is free and without borders, including air travel. Equivalent to domestic travel within the United States.
If you are concerned with the return ticket requirement, you can try purchasing a bus ticket or other small cost purchase like a ferry ticket. England is more rigorous about this requirement than most other countries in Europe.
Now on to England. The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen Area, which means that you can spend 90 days in Europe and then go to the UK and get a full term there. For American citizens this is 6 months visa free for tourists. Ireland is 90 for American citizens and this is also not tied to your stay in Schengen or the UK.
I hope this answers at least some of your questions.
- Dakota, a writer for Travelers Digest who has lived in Europe
Hi Dakota, thanks a lot for your reply. Il'l indeed make sure to have some kind of cheap return ticket. And knowing that the 90 days in the Schengen area are not related to staying in the UK or Ireland is also great to know.
Thanks again.
P.S.
Can I also ask what you think about the whole "working for accommodation" thing? I hear it's a huge grey area which is technically not allowed on a tourist visa. The thing is that it's not work for payment, no money is exchanged. You simple help out a few hours a day, and are given a room to stay in. Some say it's totally illegal, while others say it's fine..
[ 18-Nov-2011, at 01:00 by Crumbs ]
Ok I've also read that Americans entering the UK from Ireland are only allowed to stay three months. So if you need a full six months there you should be sure to plan accordingly.
As for the working, unpaid work is usually still classified as work, that being said some Schengen countries allow work during the 90 day stay. U.S. citizens can work in the following countries: Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Germany, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
While Israeli citizens can also work in France and every other country that Americans can except for Romania. For the other countries you will be travelling in, it's probably best not to mention your plans to immigration officials.
Wow that info is great.. I don't think there's really any way of finding out my plans (unless as you say I mention them to border control), but I thought that no country allows any kind of work whatsoever.
Can you please tell me where you got that info? If I can legally work as a US citizen / Israeli citizen in the countries you mentioned - I'd try to plan my travels through more of those countries instead of some I had planned. I tried searching but the tourist visas say things only about staying 90 days - nothing about work.
Thanks a lot!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_in_the_European_Union
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france_159/coming-to-france_2045/getting-visa_2046/foreign-nationals-holding-ordinary-passports-exempt-from-visa-requirements_10876.html
Thank you very much.. that's great news.
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