European Parliament ends visa-free travel for Americans

[Shaka_Khan]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/european-...131026287.html

European Parliament ends visa-free travel for Americans

The European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans within the EU.

It comes after the US failed to agree visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries—Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania—as part of a reciprocity agreement. US citizens can normally travel to all countries in the bloc without a visa.

The vote by the parliament's civil liberties committee means Americans will have to apply for extra documents for the next 12 months.

The European Commission discovered three years ago that the US was not meeting its obligations under the reciprocity agreement but has not yet taken any legal action.

Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canada were also failing in their obligations, but all four have lifted, or are soon to lift, any visa restrictions on travel for EU citizens.

Following the committee's vote the Commission must act to suspend the visa waiver for Americans, but the European Parliament or the Council of Europe may object.

[Greyblades]

So obama was putting travel restrictions on poland romania cyprus and bulgaria? Why?

[Husar]

That's a good question, especially since Poland is the biggest fan of the US.

[Sarmatian]

Probably out of concern that citizens of those countries might actually stay and live in US illegally.

Anyway, kudos to EU for sticking up for its less influental members.

[Shaka_Khan]

Maybe that's why? Maybe it looked like a lot of the Poles would immigrate to the US? Contrary to what Trump tried to portray, the Obama administration was quite stingy on immigration. It's just that Trump's policy is more extreme in comparison. I don't agree with the policy towards those countries.

[Gilrandir]

That's a good question, especially since Poland is the biggest fan of the US.

Being in the USA I heard a lot of jokes about "stupid Poles". Perhaps it was one of the reasons? No one would like throngs of stupid people roaming the neighborhoods at will.

[KukriKhan]

Being in the USA I heard a lot of jokes about "stupid Poles". Perhaps it was one of the reasons? No one would like throngs of stupid people roaming the neighborhoods at will.

poles

[Pannonian]

poles

Welcome back Kukri.

[Hooahguy]

So obama was putting travel restrictions on poland romania cyprus and bulgaria? Why?

Was the visa-free travel from those countries never there in the first place or removed?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Was the visa-free travel from those countries never there in the first place or removed?

Those countries used to be under the visa waiver program. This was dropped because too many of the visitors were interpreting '<90 days stay for tourism' as 'move in, get a job, count on the amnesty later.'