- Donald Trump on Tuesday declared that he would block a European Union scheme which next year will see Americans paying $8 to enter 30 countries
- Trump declared: ‘NO RESPECT FOR THE UNITED STATES. I WILL, AS PRESIDENT, NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. IT WILL END VERY QUICKLY!!!’
- Once authorization is secured, the visa is valid for up to three years or until the person’s passport expires
Donald Trump on Tuesday condemned the European Union’s new rule forcing US citizens to pay $8 each for visas from next year, and insisted he would block it.
The new measure was announced by the European Union on Monday, with the system called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
Travelers wanting to visit one of 30 EU nations must submit their passport information, as well as details on their job, travel itinerary, and past criminal convictions.
Trump said it was an outrage – despite foreign visitors to the US having to pay $21 for their similar visa, an ESTA.
‘Wow! “U.S. CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A VISA TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE STARTING IN 2024.” Think of this. We give them everything, including military protection and trade, and now we have to pay them to go there,’ he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
‘NO RESPECT FOR THE UNITED STATES. I WILL, AS PRESIDENT, NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. IT WILL END VERY QUICKLY!!!’
He did not detail how he intended to overturn the EU rule.
The new rules will not apply to the UK, because they are no longer part of the European Union after voting to leave in 2016.
Americans can also continue to visit Ireland without needing authorization, since the country is not on the list.
But those people wanting to spend their summers swanning around in the Spanish sunshine or visiting museums in Greece will now have to get authorization before jetting off on holiday.
Processing should only take a matter of minutes, but EU officials have advised Americans to apply up to 30 days before their trip in case of any issues.
The system is similar to the ESTA visa waiver system currently in place for travelers visiting the United States.
Once authorization is secured, the visa is valid for up to three years or until the person’s passport expires.
The visa is for short-term stays. A valid ETIAS travel authorization entitles you to stay in the European countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
And the ETIAS travel authorization, once approved, will be automatically linked to your passport.
Travelers must make sure to carry the same document which they used in their ETIAS application.
The European Union ETIAS website page reads: ‘ETIAS travel authorization is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries.
Source: Daily Mail
