Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Axios reports:
U.S. passport holders used to embarking on European vacations without much additional paperwork will soon see that change. New travel rules announced by the EU dictate that travelers from 60 visa-free countries will need to get a new authorization via the European Travel Information and Authorization System starting in 2024.
The new rules will apply to travelers from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., among others. Though an exact launch date for the application hasn’t been announced yet, ETIAS is expected to be “operational in 2024,” per the EU. Travelers will need to fill out a an ETIAS application form and pay a small 7 euro fee (about $8).
The Thrifty Traveler reports:
ETIAS has been in the works for many years – in fact, it had been set to launch in 2021, though the pandemic derailed those plans and it’s been delayed several times. The U.S. has had a similar electronic entry system for foreign visitors in place for years called ESTA.
While much cheaper and quicker than traditional visas, this new system will bring the end of hassle-free travel to Europe for Americans who are accustomed to boarding a plane with only their passports in hand.
But once you land within the European Union, it should be easy to dash around much of Europe thanks to the Schengen Area. This is the agreement between 27 different European countries that allows international travelers to move around visa-free.
Vox reports:
The new system is best thought of as a database to track who’s authorized to enter European countries, rather than as a visa. The authorization, once given, is valid for three years and permits short trips — 90 days or fewer at a given time. Longer stays, like for school or work, already require visas.
ETIAS is also ostensibly a tool to help prevent crime, irregular migration, and public health threats, according to FRONTEX, Europe’s border security force. ETIAS is aimed at reducing or preventing serious crimes, which according to EUROPOL include human trafficking, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling, as well as terrorist crimes.
An official EU memo states that ETIAS applications will be checked against “EU information systems for borders and security,” though it doesn’t specify which systems.
Translation: ‘I, as president, will end NATO very quickly.’
BTW, EU citizens have been having to pay for a visa to travel to America since 2009. It will probably not surprise you to learn that pretty much no Americans know this. pic.twitter.com/wbChGTzqnZ
— Dave Keating (@DaveKeating) July 26, 2023