8 Years in the Med?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

...
Has the Eu grown so modern that you can't find some nice small pension, slip the owners a couple of bills, and say "Hold my mail please? I'll be on a boat and not using my room" and have them provide an address for you?

If you arrive and depart by private yacht. You are unlikely to run into problems with overstays under the visa. Officials rarely bother to add up the days. The computer systems aren't all linked up between Schengen areas ( only for watch lists )

The problem comes with airports where there is far more scrutiny its here that you can be caught. Some countries are a bit more lenient , especially if your white and middle aged and look to have means.

The 90 day visa wavier was a direct response to the uS wavier program. So get your congressman to let Europeans in for longer and the Eu will have to reciprocate.

There is no doubt given the Meds popularity as a sailing ground that there is a need for a Schengen B1 visa equivalent.
I must write my MEP. ( he happens to be a sailor )

Dave .

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Be careful here if you are travelling on an Eu passport you better be able to substantiate the Non tax residency. Also if you work in the EU and are paying income tax you are a tax resident even if under 180 days. Hence the boat must be VATed in ( or you use transfer of residence )

Dave

You are correct, we are retired hence not an issue, Cheers.

[TacomaSailor]

I'll try to get my friends in the Med to join us here.

I know they spent more than two years in Spain, France, Italy with no problem. They lived on their boat in a Spanish Marina near Barcelona for well over a year. They then spent the next winter in SW Italy. As far as I know they did not leave the Spain/France/Italy region during that 2+ year period.

They've now been in Italy/Sicily for over 18 months.

Both are US citizens.

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by Charlie

My understanding is that England and Ireland are not Schengen countries so you can stay there. If you stay in Italy you can sail across the Adriatic to many of the Non-Schengen countries as well.

Absolutely correct!

[goboatingnow]

The UK and Ireland will give you up to 6 months. Though lately they have been giving out 90 days unless there's a reason
Dave

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by TacomaSailor

I'll try to get my friends in the Med to join us here.

I know they spent more than two years in Spain, France, Italy with no problem. They lived on their boat in a Spanish Marina near Barcelona for well over a year. They then spent the next winter in SW Italy. As far as I know they did not leave the Spain/France/Italy region during that 2+ year period.

They've now been in Italy/Sicily for over 18 months.

Both are US citizens.

Without any other information. They broke the law , in fact they broke several laws.

It's a fact that you " may" escape detection then again you may not.

Dave

[Lagoon4us]

British passport in Europe as far as i know gives unlimited.

[avb3]

I'll merge the threads; I was not aware the other thread related to this.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

There is no doubt given the Meds popularity as a sailing ground that there is a need for a Schengen B1 visa equivalent.
I must write my MEP. ( he happens to be a sailor )

Dave .

I think that's a wonderful idea. Do this and when I show up on your side of the pond I'm buying and not just the first round.

If you're tired of that tepid, flat, English beer I'll bring you some of the cold, fizzy, watery, American stuff.

[SunDevil]

What if your job transferred you over there for work, wouldn't that visa allow you to stay in the countries around the Med longer?

The next question is how big does the company need to be and how much does that visa cost?

Seriously, Europeans should be begging people who have enough money to travel in Europe for 2-3 years at a time to come over and live there.

Or at least let cruising in Greece count toward the 90 days. You can spend 45 days in the US over Thnaksgiving-January3rd, the next 45 days cruising Greece & Turkey. They could use the tourist dollars.

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by SunDevil

What if your job transferred you over there for work, wouldn't that visa allow you to stay in the countries around the Med longer?

The next question is how big does the company need to be and how much does that visa cost?

Seriously, Europeans should be begging people who have enough money to travel in Europe for 2-3 years at a time to come over and live there.

Or at least let cruising in Greece count toward the 90 days. You can spend 45 days in the US over Thnaksgiving-January3rd, the next 45 days cruising Greece & Turkey. They could use the tourist dollars.

You're talking about a work visa and that's a whole different animal in most countries.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Sindbad

For Americans the maximum stay in the Schengen countries is 90 days within 6 months. Countries like Turkey, Cyprus, Tunisia, Albania, Morroco etc. are not Schengen countries and have their own visa regulations. It needs some planning, but full-time cruising in the Med should be possible, but I would not like to be there during winter.
The boat can be kept in the EU countries, such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece, for 18 months without paying VAT. If it is not in use, e.g. on the hard, and evidence can be provided, this period can be extended by additional 6 months.
The duration how long the crew and the boat are staying are two totally different issues. Check out noonsite for detailed information.
Cheers
Thomas

Noonsite is the source to check. Countries — Noonsite I believe you only need remove the vessel from the EU for a very short time. Document this and you get another 18 months. It will be very inconvenient if Turkey joins the EU.

[Sindbad]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

I believe you only need remove the vessel from the EU for a very short time. Document this and you get another 18 months. It will be very inconvenient if Turkey joins the EU.

Confirmed: you just sail for e.g. from Greece to Turkey or from Italy to Tunisia, clear in/out at your destination and sail back. The 18 months clock starts again at 0. There is no minimum duration required to stay outside the EU.

[Sindbad]

Originally Posted by Doodles

You're talking about a work visa and that's a whole different animal in most countries.

And with a work visa you will most likely become a resident and VAT will be due on your boat, if in EU waters.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by SunDevil

......




Seriously, Europeans should be begging people who have enough money to travel in Europe for 2-3 years at a time to come over and live there.

Or at least let cruising in Greece count toward the 90 days. You can spend 45 days in the US over Thnaksgiving-January3rd, the next 45 days cruising Greece & Turkey. They could use the tourist dollars.

why , the EU is the biggest ecomony in the world ( based on 2011 figures) you think it cares about what a few long stay sailor spend. ( I dont see the US doing the same either), really smell the coffee


Listen heres the grubby reality

If you get entrance and exit Schengen stamps ( thats the visa for visa wavier countries) you need to ensure that each countries entrance and exit stamps never exceed 90 days.

ie, sail into greece get an entrance visa stamp , then leave greece get a exit stamp ( tell them your leaving the EU). if you then arrive say in Italy, get an entrance stamp, then ensure you leave italy within 90 days, technically you've overstayed your Schengen time, but in practice the official just looks for His countries entrance stamp and stamps you out. In fact some immigration officiers dont undertand the whole Schengen thing at all and just follow the "old" rules. Thats how most Americans are getting away with it.

For people with actual Schengen visas, ( rather then wavier schemes ) I would not suggest you do this.

IN time the integration of the Schengen computer systems will counter this system , but thats in time

PS: you may of course meet a particularly officious officer and then as they say "your mileage may vary".

Dave