Until now, travellers from the USA have been able to enter the Schengen area without a visa. This will change from the end of 2022, when US citizens will have to fill out an ETIAS form. The effort is relatively small, but the increase in security for all citizens in the Schengen area and for the traveller himself is enormous.
The USA is one of the countries that are allowed to enter Europe without a visa and stay there for 90 days. With the introduction of ETIAS, this has come to an end. Tourists and business travellers from the USA will then also have to fill out an ETIAS application.
Brief overview of the history of the USA
The United States of America emerged from the British colonies on the East Coast. In 1776, the confederation declared itself independent from Great Britain. In 1788, the Constitution came into force, and the capital was and still is Washington. In the course of time, new territories were added to the first 13 colonies, especially in the West. These gradually became states, so that today the USA has 50 states. The USA developed into a world power. This was underlined by its participation in the First and Second World Wars, in which the USA played a decisive role.
The political system in the USA
The USA is a federal state. The USA is divided into 50 states, which are themselves subdivided into counties and townships. In addition, there are other administrative units, such as cities or villages.
In the USA, the power of the state comes from the people. Every four years, American citizens elect electors for their respective states, who then vote for a specific president. The president is both head of government and head of state. There is no separation of the two offices as in many other governments in the USA. The executive is separate from the legislative power, it does not emerge from here, as is usual in parliamentary forms of government. The vice-president takes over the president's duties if the president dies during his term of office or is temporarily unable to perform his duties due to illness or surgery.
The legislative body is the Congress. This consists of two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each state sends a certain number of representatives to the House of Representatives, who are elected every two years. Elections to the House of Representatives are held on even-numbered years (2022, 2020, 2018). The second chamber is the Senate. Each state sends two senators who are elected for six years. Elections to the Senate are held every two years, with one-third of the senators always being newly appointed. The Vice-President is the President of the Senate. He or she does not have the right to vote, but in the event of a tie, the vote is decisive.
The highest court in the USA is the Supreme Court. The nine judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Travelling with ETIAS from the USA to the Schengen area
As the ETIAS system does not yet exist, some details may still change. The system is very similar to the US ESTA, although travellers can appeal a refusal.
ETIAS can be applied for by US citizens who want to travel in the Schengen area as a tourist or as a business traveller. A stay for medical treatment or rehabilitation is also permitted. Study or work stays are not possible. There are separate visas issued by the countries for this purpose.
ETIAS can only be applied for online. Travellers who do not have internet access can get help from friends or acquaintances. Travel agents and agencies also fill out applications on behalf of clients.
No documents need to be submitted with the ETIAS application. If the applicant is careless when filling out the application, an error will quickly creep in. This happens time and again, especially with the passport number. However, if the number on the application does not match the one on the passport, ETIAS is invalid. The FRONTEX officer will refuse entry. You can still try to submit a new application, but no one can guarantee whether it will be approved until the plane takes off.
A destination must be specified in the application. This is obligatory for the first trip. On subsequent trips, business travellers can enter the Schengen area wherever they want.
As with ESTA, there are several security questions with ETIAS. If one of these questions is answered in the affirmative, this is usually followed by at least a closer examination or rejection of the application. In this case, a visa is required, which is more expensive and takes more time.
Once the application is submitted, it is usually approved within a few hours. If a problem arises, it can also take a few days. The application is valid for three years and allows the traveller to visit the Schengen area for 90 days within a 180-day period.
Entering the Schengen area
When entering the Schengen area, tourists and business travellers must have their passports ready. They can take the ETIAS permit with them for security purposes, but it should not be necessary to show it. The permit is stored in the system and is retrieved by entering the passport number. Therefore, the correct number is important.
In future, an approved ETIAS will be a necessary prerequisite for entering the Schengen area. However, there is no guarantee. The final decision is always made by the official. If the officer is of the opinion that the traveller poses a danger despite his or her entry permit, he or she can and will refuse entry.
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Until now, travellers from the USA have been able to enter the Schengen area without a visa. This will change from the end of 2022, when US citizens will have to fill out an ETIAS form. The effort is relatively small, but the increase in security for all citizens in the Schengen area and for the traveller himself is enormous.
The USA is one of the countries that are allowed to enter Europe without a visa and stay there for 90 days. With the introduction of ETIAS, this has come to an end. Tourists and business travellers from the USA will then also have to fill out an ETIAS application.
Brief overview of the history of the USA
The United States of America emerged from the British colonies on the East Coast. In 1776, the confederation declared itself independent from Great Britain. In 1788, the Constitution came into force, and the capital was and still is Washington. In the course of time, new territories were added to the first 13 colonies, especially in the West. These gradually became states, so that today the USA has 50 states. The USA developed into a world power. This was underlined by its participation in the First and Second World Wars, in which the USA played a decisive role.
The political system in the USA
The USA is a federal state. The USA is divided into 50 states, which are themselves subdivided into counties and townships. In addition, there are other administrative units, such as cities or villages.
In the USA, the power of the state comes from the people. Every four years, American citizens elect electors for their respective states, who then vote for a specific president. The president is both head of government and head of state. There is no separation of the two offices as in many other governments in the USA. The executive is separate from the legislative power, it does not emerge from here, as is usual in parliamentary forms of government. The vice-president takes over the president's duties if the president dies during his term of office or is temporarily unable to perform his duties due to illness or surgery.
The legislative body is the Congress. This consists of two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each state sends a certain number of representatives to the House of Representatives, who are elected every two years. Elections to the House of Representatives are held on even-numbered years (2022, 2020, 2018). The second chamber is the Senate. Each state sends two senators who are elected for six years. Elections to the Senate are held every two years, with one-third of the senators always being newly appointed. The Vice-President is the President of the Senate. He or she does not have the right to vote, but in the event of a tie, the vote is decisive.
The highest court in the USA is the Supreme Court. The nine judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Travelling with ETIAS from the USA to the Schengen area
As the ETIAS system does not yet exist, some details may still change. The system is very similar to the US ESTA, although travellers can appeal a refusal.
ETIAS can be applied for by US citizens who want to travel in the Schengen area as a tourist or as a business traveller. A stay for medical treatment or rehabilitation is also permitted. Study or work stays are not possible. There are separate visas issued by the countries for this purpose.
ETIAS can only be applied for online. Travellers who do not have internet access can get help from friends or acquaintances. Travel agents and agencies also fill out applications on behalf of clients.
No documents need to be submitted with the ETIAS application. If the applicant is careless when filling out the application, an error will quickly creep in. This happens time and again, especially with the passport number. However, if the number on the application does not match the one on the passport, ETIAS is invalid. The FRONTEX officer will refuse entry. You can still try to submit a new application, but no one can guarantee whether it will be approved until the plane takes off.
A destination must be specified in the application. This is obligatory for the first trip. On subsequent trips, business travellers can enter the Schengen area wherever they want.
As with ESTA, there are several security questions with ETIAS. If one of these questions is answered in the affirmative, this is usually followed by at least a closer examination or rejection of the application. In this case, a visa is required, which is more expensive and takes more time.
Once the application is submitted, it is usually approved within a few hours. If a problem arises, it can also take a few days. The application is valid for three years and allows the traveller to visit the Schengen area for 90 days within a 180-day period.
Entering the Schengen area
When entering the Schengen area, tourists and business travellers must have their passports ready. They can take the ETIAS permit with them for security purposes, but it should not be necessary to show it. The permit is stored in the system and is retrieved by entering the passport number. Therefore, the correct number is important.
In future, an approved ETIAS will be a necessary prerequisite for entering the Schengen area. However, there is no guarantee. The final decision is always made by the official. If the officer is of the opinion that the traveller poses a danger despite his or her entry permit, he or she can and will refuse entry.