Thread: US - Russia Visas

Typical that it should be the French of all people who are doing that. They are known for meaningless bureaucracy and lack of sympathy for people affected. Most other countries would be a bit logical and sensible about this.

For Schengen visas, I think that it does not matter what country you actually apply for a visa to. I don't know what would happen if you applied to the German embassy for example, and then went to France instead, and then leaving without having been in Germany at all. The hotel bookings can apparently be ignored completely. The only problem is if the person has no credit card that would work in the EU (this happens for Belarussians), or if they book the hotel but don't turn up, the hotel has their details and might charge them anyway.

And while honest Russians are treated in this way, crazy islamists and african drug barons are simply WALKING across the eastern borders into the EU, or dropped at a beach in Southern Europe. I hate to admit it, but the Russians and Americans are right when they think that the refugee problem in Europe is out of control. It is, and it will probably only get worse. Lord only knows what the solution is.

The requirement to have a visa organised takes the spontaneity out of travelling though, for example when doing a trip like the one I'm doing now.

I don't care about America either way, because going there requires flying and it's not totally unreasonable to get a visa at the same time as booking the ticket. But in Europe people should be able to get on a train or a ferry without all this hassle!

The only problem is if the person has no credit card that would work in the EU (this happens for Belarussians)

How come? Their paradise creators forgot about this little thing?