There’s been a lot of attention the past several days to new rules for Americans traveling to Europe expected to go into effect in 2021. Oddly this is information that’s been available since December but that has just been getting coverage.
Americans will be required to get an ‘ETIAS’ (European Travel Information and Authorization System) in order to travel to Europe, which is essentially what the US requires of Europeans (an ‘ESTA’). It’s advance permission to travel.
The US won’t even allow Europeans to get their ESTA on the day of travel, the federal government now requires 72 hours notice to come to the U.S.. An ESTA, once granted, is valid for two years.
The US makes Europeans eligible for an ESTA get electronic travel permission, and says this is not a visa (it applies to ‘visa waiver countries’). That’s a bit of sophistry. The in-person interview isn’t required, so it’s essentially an expedited visa that will be valid for 3 years.
And European countries will start requiring US citizens to obtain the same sort of expedited visa. Americans are familiar with a similar process for travel to Australia.
Copyright: prestonia / 123RF Stock Photo
This hardly seemed new to me since I’ve been writing about how it’s coming for three years. Europe voted to do this two years ago.
The program’s eventual passage entailed an odd combination of political forces:
- Anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe, a drive to close down Europe’s borders. This gives European governments control not just of who enters their countries but who is permitted to board planes heading there.
- Resentment against President Trump over perceived anti-immigrant sentiment in the US, which drove Europe to seek reciprocity.
There’s literally pro- and anti- immigrant political forces coming together in some sense to impose restrictions on entering Europe which apply to U.S. citizens (and others). In the event of a no-deal Brexit, and potentially even with a deal, this will even apply to Brits.
Copyright: andreyuu / 123RF Stock Photo
Of course the game of tit-for-tat is far from over. Two years ago the US Secretary of Homeland Security said he wanted to revisit allowing Europeans to travel to the US with ‘only’ an ESTA. By the way the number of people killed by terrorists who entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program is zero.
Ultimately imposing costs and barriers to travel and to the flow of goods and services and on human freedom. As far as burdens go, most folks are suggesting that the ETIAS process will be modest, although we’ll see how the technology works in practice and the quality of the data used in decision-making.
In the meantime there are several scam websites purporting to offer information about the ETIAS process. This is simply not something to worry about over the next year and a half. Don’t apply for anything yet and don’t part with any funds.
Is an ESTA good for two years or three years? This article says both.
Daniel – ETIAS Is three years, ESTA is two years.
Next time Europe starts a world war they can fix it themselves. Bunch of ingrates.
Tit for tat. Imposing costs and barriers to travel and to the flow of goods and services and on human freedom. Thanks for nothing, Trump.
If it can be quickly done online like with Australia, I wouldn’t mind.
I am glad they are doing it. It levels the playing field rather than validating the American mentality of entitlement and superiority. Maybe Mexico will be next to require Vlsa for entry.
(Starting in 2021) Will the three-year ETIAS visa waiver be “multi-entry”? I don’t see reference to that in the site https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/etias/, which I assume is the official one. The site https://www.etiasvisa.com/etias-requirements/americans says it *is* (multi-entry), but that’s a .com site and I’m not sure how official it is.
gotta keep track of all the evil Americans who come to Europe and spend large amounts of money. don’t worry about all the illegal “asylum” seekers. we will do our best to keep them out of the tourist areas
So easy to spot the Left’s deceptive rhetoric and propaganda. For instance, if you ever see our immigration issue framed in black & white terms of being “anti-immigrant” or “pro-immigrant.” Sorry, Gary, but the issue is actually between being pro-“legal immigration” or anti-“illegal immigration”, but obviously you don’t want to be honest about that. It is patently absurd and a lie to say that whoever thinks someone shouldn’t commit a criminal act in their attempts to enter our nation automatically hates ALL immigrants. Yup, you are literally saying “You’re a racist if you don’t approve of and even support these particular criminal acts,” – a patently absurd argument of the Left. Labeling fellow citizens as “racists!!!!” and otherwise calling them just bad people simply because they believe in law and order is pretty disgusting, and disturbing, but it’s such a routine cliche the Left tosses out now that we almost just either laugh or yawn. Only the Left could twist being pro-illegal immigration into being morally superior to anyone who stands for law and order with a pro-legal immigration stance. I at least admire your talent for sophistry. Carry on!…lol
@Peter that is not an official site
First of all Europeans were required to get ESTA to travel to USA since 2010. ESTA was mandated by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.
Note that ESTA denial can come with no reason. I know two distinguished colleagues from Germany who were denied ESTA and had to cancel their trips. One decided to clear it up by applying for a regular visa and go through a lengthy procedure and additional interview. The other blamed it on the current administration and decided not to travel to US in the near future. I would expect the same outcome and erroneous denials from the new EU rule.
There is nothing smart about EU setting up artificial travel barriers and creating new bureaucracies. Multiply 10 min time per applicant by a number of people traveling and you would have a huge loss of time (and money) that serves no purpose at all. If EU thinks that their policies are smarter and better, they should lead but not follow.
Oh man, the comments on here are hil-A-rious. It’s okay when we do it in the name of national security. But you guys are going to do us the same way we do you????? Outrageous!
Ummm, try to travel to the US from some place like India or the Philippines. People get denied all the time.
This is not news! Comment has been raging on OMAAT for days now!
Gary said: “Resentment against President Trump over perceived anti-immigrant sentiment in the US, which drove Europe to seek reciprocity.” LOL: If true, Trump is living rent free in the brains of a lefties. Not only all lefties in the USA, but all the left wing in Europe as well.
They don’t know who is the boss. Maybe it is time to pull out all troops in Europe and let them deal with Russian themselves.
The comments here amuse me greatly. The EU takes a measure virtually identical to the US – wheee the security picture is fairly similar – and it’s deemed an outrage.
Honestly , it’s a cheap costing form destined to improve security for all, last for 3 years. Get over yourself.