Gone are the days when spontaneous trips abroad were easily possible. Starting in 2024, the European Union will mandate visitors, including US travelers looking for summer adventures, to obtain pre-approval through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
Before booking flights, accommodations, or exploring popular destinations showcased on TikTok, vacationers will have to complete an ETIAS application, which comes at an approximate cost of $8. The application process entails providing travel documents like passports, personal information, educational background, current occupation, trip details, and disclosure of any criminal records.
Though most applications are swiftly processed, some may take longer, prompting the European Union to recommend applying “well in advance.” Response times are typically within four days, but certain circumstances could extend it to 14 to 30 days.
Once authorized, the ETIAS approval remains valid for up to three years or until the visitor’s passport expires. However, it’s crucial to note that possessing the travel authorization does not guarantee entry. Upon arrival, travelers will undergo scrutiny by border guards who will review their documents and ensure they meet the entry requirements.
This travel authorization will specifically be required for 30 European countries, including popular destinations like Spain, Germany, France, and Greece, but it’s important to remember that some places will now be off-limits without it.
The implementation of this requirement was initially planned for January 2024, but it has encountered multiple delays, leading experts to question whether it will indeed take effect at that time. Some speculate that the US might retaliate by imposing its own visa charges and application process for European visitors. Although the process might not be overly complicated, it could prove to be an inconvenience for American travelers who are not accustomed to such procedures for visiting Europe. As a result, there may be a period of adjustment and confusion at boarding gates if the requirement is implemented as scheduled.
{Matzav.com}
Will the weak Biden administration retaliate and impose the same restrictions on Europeans entering the country? Somehow, I doubt it.
The US already imposes a 14$ Visa fee for European travelers (Esta)
Big deal, any foreign passport holder travelling to the USA is required to complete an ESTA form which is basically the same as the European new requirement,
Do we charge Europeans for visa to USA
If not time to begin
very good, they should have this done before. Why do we pay,when we will go to America.They take money for everything even for the luggage stroller at the airport,which is not common in Europe
Donald Trump on Tuesday condemned the European Union’s new rule forcing US citizens to pay $8 each for visas from next year, and insisted he would block it. Think of this. We give them everything, including military protection and trade, and now we have to pay them to go there,’ he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
‘NO RESPECT FOR THE UNITED STATES. I WILL, AS PRESIDENT, NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. IT WILL END VERY QUICKLY!!!’