In the EU, it is 3 months. This applies to every country, except MAYBE for the UK, which MAY be 6 months. You see for all EU countries, american citisens automatically get a 90 day tourist visa upon entry as a part of the visa waiver program of each country and/or the provisions of the Schengen convention. The moment you enter the EU the 3 month clock on your country or Schengen Visa begins to tick. You have to be out within 90 days, and can’t return for another 90 after that. The UK grants a 6 months tourist visa and they are not a party to the Schengen agreement. So, MAYBE they want 6 months left on your passport.

Renew your pass. You can finesse the 90 days in the EU and stay longer and usually not get caught.

speaking of passports, i applied for mine 6 weeks ago today and it’s not here yet… should i be worried?

I’d be worried enough to "check the status" but not in total panic mode.
http://travel.state….

My latest passport renewal took 5 weeks last November. Passport offices are probably a lot busier in the spring.

hmm, thanks for the link. i did the check and it says i should get it "on or about" 18 april… so i guess i’ll give it till the 20th before i freak out

well, it FINALLY came in the mail today, exactly seven weeks from when i applied

Thats weird! I applied for my passport 3 weeks ago, and it came within 5 days of me sending it off…. And I had to go through all kinds of different gaurdian ship papers and stuff because I do not live with my parents.

anywho, I hope everything worked out and that it got in time for your trip.

So if I stay for 4 months in Italy, I need to get the visa? I have USA passport.

One thing you might want to consider is that returning home with an expired passport is the main concern where this 6 month thing comes from. The idea is that you’re passport should still be good for 6 months after your departure because your country doesn’t want you to return with an expired passport. Since 9/11 security has become more strict and an expired passport is just one more thing that can look suspicious and may cause unnecessary delays. Some new airline and airport security measures also require passports to board flights. When one is over-seas it is always a bit more re-assuring just to know that if asked for it, it can be produced.

Sometimes airport security will even ask for it domestically, which isn’t the law or required, but it does happen and it ruin’s peoples’ days.

Great backpacking advice can be found at www.europeanpilgrima…

Cheers

I need visa to Italy if I stay for four months. What should I do? I thought I don’t need the visa.

I am american citizen. I may stay three or four months. If I apply the visa now, it requires to submit 30 days before. I am leaving within three weeks.

Can I not apply the visa now? I can enter Italy, right? Will I be questioned to the reason why I am there? If I decide to stay longer, can I apply there? Thanks!

Lily, as a US citizen you are entitled to go to Italy for 90 days without a visa. AFAIK you can’t extend your stay beyond that while in Europe, because this is one of the conditions of visa-free travel. You can’t extend what you don’t have.

To be in Italy (or anywhere in Schengen) for more then three month you would need a long-term visa. To get one you can’t just say "I’m going to be traveling." You have to be a student, a transfer employee, or anything like that. I doubt that it really takes the whole month to get a visa, usually it only takes a few days at most, but what you need is a DOCUMENTED REASON.

Thanks.

I am stressed out. I did not expect this. I am looking at the document
they list. One of it is the proof for good conduct. I need to get it from FBI?? Other than this, I need to provide bank statement also.. is this true??

My reason is "surgery". Will they not allow me to go? Please suggest.

If you are not far from an Italian consulate, I think your best bet is to come to the visa section, plead ignorance, and ask what to do.

Bring along everything relevant to your trip: air reservation, hotel reservations (if any), medical papers, including documentation to show what kind of treatment you will receive, when is it scheduled, and who will pay for it. Also bring anything else that’s mentioned on the web site and is easy to obtain, including photographs.

If you are lucky, the consulate may accept your application, possibly under condition that you’ll bring missing documents later.

If there is no Italian consulate in the city were you live, you may try to call the nearest one, but I’m afraid it’s less likely that you’ll get any concession over the phone.