Leaving EU with overtime US passport, any problem? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

mannshands · 09-01-2006, 12:59 PM

I wish to bus from A'dam to Prague to Split, then boat or fly to Malaga. My US passport was last stamped in Algeciras 6 years ago, coming back to the EU from a Morocco trip. I have been all over the EU since then. My passport has been checked occationally, usually between Spain and France. Never a problem. But I'm a little concerned about this coming trip, I want tyo leave in the next few days. Has anyone in a similar situation travelled in East Europe recently? Got a report for me? Thanks!

**space virgin** · 09-02-2006, 02:38 AM

What exactly is the issue with your passport? I'm not quite following.

**agriadam** · 09-02-2006, 07:02 AM

The Issue is that he entered the EU 6 years ago and The period of stay for US citizens visiting the Schengen states is a total of three months cumulative stay in the combined member states during any six months period. The Schengen member states include Austria, Belgium,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden. soooo... he is wondering that since he last got an entry stamp 6 years ago in Algeciras (a port city in the south of Spain) and he never recieved an exit stamp then he is in direct violation of this rule, will he get in trouble?

I am sorry I do not know for sure, but I am VERY curiose to know the out come of this situation. Please keep us posted.

If I had to guess I would say that since you don't always get an exit stamp from the EU you probably won't have a problem. Considering the last stamp that I have in my Passport is an entry to sezana, slovenija and that was 28-09-2005... I can only hope that I have no problems the next time I travel.

**tumblezweedz** · 09-02-2006, 11:58 AM

Is there any way to prove that you've been out of the Schengen zone (a letter you've received, some souvenir you've picked up, a receipt for a purchase, train ticket, something like that)? I doubt you'll have a problem - as mentioned, you rarely get exit visas, and many border guards are prefunctory at best about checking passports. I drove from Germany, through Luxembourg and into Belgium and back yesterday, and there are no checks at all along the way. Obviously it's a different situation when you fly, but I still doubt it would be a significant issue. But it might be a good idea to buy a Czech newspaper (dated) or get a receipt from the hostel or something. It may not prove how long you've been out of the zone, but at least it's evidence that you were.

mannshands · 09-02-2006, 05:35 PM

Agriadam is exactly right in unscrambling my question. I work with a hostel and talk to lots of young travellers. I have heard autyhorities are checking for passports alot at borders between SP/FR/BE/NL, regardless of Schengen rules, especially on buses. Passports also getting checked frequently on international trains in Germany. Fortunately they don't seem interested in stamps, and they often don't even take it if they see its a US passport. To most euro-authorities US citizens pose no problem. They think amerikans have money and are not taking jobs away from locals. And that's just fine with me.
I'll post a report when I get there.

mannshands · 09-06-2006, 08:16 AM

Took bus from A'dam to Prague. Police collected all the passengers passports at Czech border. When they returned them without incident I had a Czech entry stamp. I doubt this qualifies as leaving the EU. More info soon.

**omisan** · 09-06-2006, 10:08 AM

While not on the Euro, the Czech Republic is part of the EU...

juanduu · 09-06-2006, 04:33 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(omisan @ Sep 6 2006, 12:08 PM) [snapback]138557[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

While not on the Euro, the Czech Republic is part of the EU...

[/b]

is not part of the Schengen states though

mannshands · 09-14-2006, 12:54 PM

Went from prague to Beograde. Absolutely the best place to visit in east Europe!!!Then to Sarajevo(BEWARE the LjubicicaHostel, a very nasty, dirty hostel, despite Lonely Planet&Lets Go Recommendations!!!). No pröblems getting entry visas, they didn't care much when I was leaving and didn't stamp me on way out. Then to Zagreb where the BS begins. Rip off attempts at bus station, by the baggage storage office and some ticket salespeople who make many 'honest mistakes' giving change and then say SORRY! But leaving Croatia was the biggest prob. Pulled me off bus, said my Passport photo was bad. Police spoke no english, brought a convenient bus passenger to translate. Turned out he was undercover cop on the bus!. They tried to get me to use a bank card to withdraw 200euros to prove my identity, but I stalled until the lines at boarder got long and many people waiting to pass. I started yelling for the embassy. They finally stamped me and let me pass. No problem getting into Austria with the Octoberfest crowds. Back in EU and legal again!

**agriadam** · 09-14-2006, 06:36 PM

hey great to hear it man. I had some similar problems in Sarajevo got charged and extra hunderad US dollars for a train ticket I had already purchased though it was pay or get kicked off the train at the next stop in some po-dunk town... hahah yeah right I'll pay up and stay on the train.
Good luck and safe travels

chelseafc05 · 09-15-2006, 09:04 PM

strange i had absolutley no problems goin though any of those areas didt even get a stamp goin from dubrovnik to mostar... tdidnt have any problems with any of the borders some of the border guards were priddy cool and didnt mind havin a bit of a chat.. guess it just depend on who how pissed off they are on the day

oh yeah and i liked hostel Ljubica in Sarajevo, wasnt that bad

mannshands · 10-03-2006, 05:58 AM

MORE BUS CONTROLS. Well got to >Munich to open Octoberfest. The Wombat Hostel let me check in at 4am

nice one guys!
But there were secret police on the bus out of Munich! They stopped the bus as it left the station, checked all ID´s. Gave me trouble cause they thought I was Hungarian for some reason. I have heard they are looking for hungarians but I´m not sure why. They also hassled all dark skinned people on the bus. Got to A´dam intact. All fyrther info will be on my BUSKER REPORTS, see Western europe forums.

**BigE** · 10-23-2006, 05:57 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(juan @ Sep 6 2006, 07:33 PM) [snapback]138615[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

is not part of the Schengen states though
[/b]

You are correct, but it will be changing soon.

Member countries of the "Schengen Agreement" and the date in which they entered the agreement:

Membership
June 14, 1985 - Belgium, France, West Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands
October 3, 1990 - (German reunification brings in the former East Germany)
November 27, 1990 - Italy
June 25, 1992 - Portugal, Spain
November 6, 1992 - Greece
April 28, 1995 - Austria
December 19, 1996 - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
May 1, 2004 - Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia (not yet implemented)
October 16, 2004 - Switzerland (ratified by referendum on June 5, 2005)
January 1, 2007 - Bulgaria, Romania (acceding countries - not yet implemented)

But it will change in the Fall of 2008.

**TheWills** · 11-16-2006, 06:35 PM

I would try going into a less regulated place, so I would say something like Germany is out of the question......I think going into the chec rep. would probably be a good bet and then hes got his EU stamp.......tough call, however it was 6 years ago I think they are gonna just overlook it for the most part especially if you have a good bit of stamps in there already, if you ahve onnly like 2 stamps then well :s tough call.......I think your gonna be alright I dont see why not, simply because you havnt had another EU stamp in 6 years and your flying back into the EU meaing that you probaly dont live there. Worst case I reckon they are gonna take you into a back room ask you some questions just tell the truth and you should be good to go!
wills