Presenting Documentation to enter European Countries

Unfortunately the immigration office does have the right to determine your intend. First the probability is very slim. But if you are, you have to tell the exact truth. Don't hedge. If he suspects that you might intend to work a bit under the table, or over stay your visa, etc., he may decide to deny you entry. He knows that one way tickets are very expensive and not having a RT is a red flag. Besides having a RT ticket and paying the change fee to change the return date is cheaper than two one way tickets. He knows that. So better be able to explain that with some clarity.

Hmmm, not sure where your information is coming from...what a country can ask a visitor to produce in the way of documentation, and what they actually request to see in reality at a customs counter, are often quite different. I'm sure if you checked, you'd find that US Customs can ask for much the same thing, but do they in practice? No, unless perhaps you raise their suspicions at the customs check. I've travelled to 10 different countries in Europe, over 5 trips, and have never had to produce any document other than my Passport ( I'm Canadian by the way), and if I recall correctly, filling out a customs and immigration card that's handed out on the flight over. In fact, since the creation of the Eurozone, you typically don't need to produce any document at all when crossing borders within the Eurozone, except on your first entry into the Eurozone, as there are no longer any border checkpoints. Report to a police station when you enter Italy?....a waste of precious holiday time, don't even bother Simply answer?...if you're just going for holidays, don't plan on doing anything illegal, don't have a criminal record, and don't plan on violating the Schengen requirements, relax, bring a valid Passport, and focus on having a great vacation.

As far as I can remember, we've never had anyone delve into either our flight plans or our lodging reservations. That might raise red flags in Russia or other Eastern-bloc countries, but I think the odds are pretty slim in the West. No need to do anything differently in Italy either. However, unless you have some super-secret access to one-way flights that are 1/2 the cost of RT tickets, I think it's bordering on absurd to fly that way. Knowing that you cannot overstay 90 days, how hard could it be to pick a return date and either stick to it or pay the penalty to change it if you need to leave on a different date? Nothing is more likely to draw unwanted attention to yourself than travel behavior that seems illogical to an official.

I agree with the others - there is no logical reason to NOT have a round-trip ticket. Whatever change fee you may pay for leaving earlier or staying longer is going to be far cheaper than buying two one-way tickets. I was asked at Heathrow to produce my ongoing ticket when I was asked how long I would be in the UK and I replied, "Just long enough to get to Stansted airport". Generally, I am not asked for return ticket info, either.

I have been asked to show my onward ticket and to show how I intended to pay for my trip (credit card and travelers checks). This happened when I was younger and carrying a backpack. I also used to get significantly more questions at immigration when I was traveling frequently for work in Europe (despite the fact that I had a work/residence permit). If you are staying with family, you can also have their addresses and contact information with you. Basically, the immigration officer has discretion to question you to determine if you are being truthful about your purpose for visiting. You must have some idea of how long you will stay even if you don't know the precise date. Have you actually priced airline tickets yet? As everyone has stated, it is rarely practical to buy a one-way ticket since they usually cost as much or more than a round trip ticket. Most people in this situation estimate the day of their return and buy a return ticket. They pay the change fee plus fare differential if they guessed wrong. The other option is a fully-changeable and refundable ticket, but those are very expensive, generally more than paying a change fee. By the way, in Italy, if you are staying at a hotel, the hotel registers you with the police.

Yes, I have seen people questioned and heard of people being denied entry. England used to have the reputation of being impossible to enter without money and a round trip ticket among the young backpackers. As others have said, just pick a date and buy a rt ticket. You can always change it later, paying the penalty.

FWIW, just two weeks ago I flew from Budapest to Gatwick. At Gatwick the immigration officer wanted to see my return ticket back to the US. So they can and do check, and they don't just do it with trans-Atlantic flights.

"However, I have read/heard about needing to provide certain documentation to immigration officers in airports/on trains- I received a specific email saying I would need to show:
Information about your finances (such as bank statements), prove of reservations and details about your travel plans, but most importantly, a round trip ticket" From what I've read on the Schengen websites my understanding is that this information is necessary in two cases: 1. You hold a passport from a country that is not one of the 'accepted' countries for entrance to Schengen territory (ie; not US, Canada, Aus, NZ, etc) and you are applying for a Schengen visa. 2. You're applying for a 'long-term' Schengen visa (over 90 days). If neither of these is the case, I'm sure you don't need all that information. Although, as others have pointed out, immigration officers in all countries have the right to ask you, but it's not normal that they do. Not sure how you got that email. Did you email or write to someone requesting Schengen information?

Hi Jo, No one can tell you if immigration will look at you or not, but if they do there are few things that will concern them: - your age - lack of a return ticket - Staying with friends and contacts All of these things make it easier to think that you may work while in Europe. To avoid any hassle I would suggest: - get a return ticket - have a general tourist plan of where you want to go and what you want to see. - have documentation to show that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay.
- have documentation to show that you have sufficient medical cover (a typical tourist insurance should do) That should be enough, but to seal the deal it would be nice if you could have something to show your intention to return to the USA. Typically a letter from your employer saying the are expecting you back after the holiday or if in college that you are expected to return to complete your studies. There is every chance that non of this will be required, but the better you are prepared the easier it will be. Also once inside the Schengen area it is unlikely that you will ever be asked for anything other than your passport.

Where will you be visiting? Why are you visiting? How long will you be staying? Those are pretty standard questions and if you seem at all hesitant or nervous in answering them, they will probably ask you a lot more. A return ticket, as noted, is proof that you will not overstay or work while visiting. If you don't have that, then they will ask who you will be staying with, how you will pay for your trip, etc... It's all well and good for posters to say that they've never been asked those questions, but they do get asked sometimes and if you don't have good answers or the documents, they can send you right home at your expense. Definitely get the round trip ticket and just pay the nominal fee to change it. But be careful to avoid any "non-changeable" tickets. Those are usually a little cheaper but either can't be changed or have a much higher change cost.

And sorry if this is overkill, but it's not clear from your original post. You do understand that it is 90 days total in Schengen countries, and not 90 days in France, then 90 in Italy, etc.

"....they can send you right home at your expense...." If one gets deported, the locals pay for the plane ticket.

There is a difference between being deported and denied entry. If denied entry you are on your own.

Hi, In terms of price it's best to buy a round trip ticket. You can always change the return date, yes for a price. Less hassle with Immigration upon landing. I've always had a round trip ticket pre-Schengen and presently but upon landing Immigration doesn't know that. That question hasn't been asked me if I had a round trip ticket back to the USA, whether in London, Paris or FRA. Of course, all my trips are within the time constraint imposed by Schengen but they don't know that since they don't ask. Immigration at CDG or FRA is pretty much the same,..they look at you, swipe your passport, stamp it, return it, no questions. London and Harwich were always different, always questions, then and now.

After dozens of years traveling in and out of England and Europe and from chats over the years with people with specialized knowledge, I believe that the lack of a return ticket coupled with staying with family and friends will absolutely raise RED FLAGS straight away. Immigration officers around the world are trained to spot nervousness and indecision, both in the voice and body movements. Some places there are officers who can see people coming coming off the plane. If they feel that you are hiding something they are likely to probe until find what it is. They can deny you entry and it is non-appealable. The RED FLAG most likely to be raised isn't necessarily directly related to working although depending on questions it may come around to that. What they are most likely to worry about in your circumstances is overstaying, or not returning to the US before the expiration of the time granted you to stay in the UK or Europe. They don't want illegal immigrants. Unfortunately with no return ticket and family or friends already in the country that is the conclusion they may come to. If on the other hand the "friends" are friends of convenience that you have never met, like those mentioned in another recent thread about "volunteer" farm work, that could get you turned around and on the next plane home in a jiffy. That was your thread, wasn't it, Jo?

"What do we do if immigration stops us and we have no return ticket and no reservation?" As you can see from all the above comments, it is likely you won't even get past immigration at your point of entry if you have no return ticket. And if you are denied entry, your only option is to get back on a plane (at your expense) and go back to the US. So start out right and buy round-trip tickets. You can always change the return date later if you need to.

Hi, Not a good idea to be without that return ticket. You'll be setting yourself up for a likely encounter with Immigration. I was asked point blank once if I had a return ticket to the USA, the one and only time in all the trips over at train border crossing going from Duisburg to Amsterdam by the Dutch. In those days in 1971 you showed them the actual paper ticket. No other border officials, not the commie East Germans or Czechs even asked that question, let alone the Swedes, Germans, Belgians, Austrians, or the French.

@Nigel - "That was your thread, wasn't it, Jo?" I'll be wait for the post along the lines of "I've been arrested by the Grenzpolizei and they are detaining me until I pay a fine......."

Except that it will start out with..."HELP..." Isn't that how all of these threads about immigration issues that don't really exist, traffic tickets that should have been issued even though the OP doesn't think so, and emergency surgeries that surely aren't even needed, and the like always begin? It's an emergency, and then you never hear from the OP again, making one wonder if they may have died during surgery (or if they're just looney).

Thank you everyone for such great replies!!! To answer the questions:
We are going to be there in total for 9 months- 3 in Schengen Countries, 3 in Ireland and the UK, and then 3 more in Schengen Countries- since this is a wide estimate we thought it would be best not to book a return flight, but ALL of you have convinced me to get that return ticket! Thank you! Italy- We will not be staying at a hotel within our first week there, so I will not be registered with police, what is the general consensus of whether or not we should just skip going to the police office? Train- We will mostly be moving from country to country via train; should this involve immigration more or less than airports? How does it differ? Nigel- To answer your question about the post- Yes that was me. Right now we are in contact with all of the embassy's countries that we will "work Exchange" in (UK, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Greece) in order to find out exact information about if we need a work visa and if so what type. UK seems to be the strictest, in that we need a temporary work visa, while Denmark says they see it as if you are just staying with friends and helping them out. Regardless we are doing the research necessary to do this correctly (but getting a hold of the right person at the right embassy at the right time is nearly impossible). I might post a question on this topic alone. And I have many family members in the UK, so most of our ti

With nine months separation between flights, the timing of the purchase might be a little tricky. Most airlines don't have prices and schedules set much more than 10-11 months ahead. So you might need to purchase the RT tickets less than two months before departure - taking whatever fare you can get at that point. But that's probably still much cheaper than two one-ways.

Hi, On not going to police office or registering: You don't actually go there in person. When you arrive at a hotel/hostel/Pension and fill out that form (Meldeschein in German) indicating your arrival and dep. date, nationality, profession, address, birthday, etc. that serves as registering with the police. Sometimes you write down your passport # too, or the clerk will ask to see it.

FRed she is not going to a hotel or whatever at first she is staying with family.

Pat - Depending on the length of the stay, the home owner maybe obliged to register their guests and pay any taxes due.

Denmark says they see it as if you are just staying with friends and helping them out Can I suggest that if you will rely on a statement like that you get the official to write it on Danish official notepaper and sign it; and take it with you to show the Border official when they question you.

That doesn't matter since any hotel/B&B will ask her to fill out the form at checking where she has to indicate all that pertinent information. I'm aware she is "mostly staying with family and friends..." Presumably, that means those other times will be at a hotel/hostel/B&B. That was what I was referring to with the form at check-in.

Jo, on your other thread about volunteer work, you write that "We are young, poor, hard workers." Are you sure that you have enough money for a 9 month trip? Even if half of your room and board is provided through these volunteer organizations, your still talking thousands and thousands of dollars.

OK. I have to put on my devil's advocate hat here. Jo, upon entry into the Schengen Zone, the officials learn that: -You are young. -You are going to do "work exchange" in various Schengen countries. -You will be staying with family members in Schengen countries part of the time. -You say you'll leave the Schengen Zone within 90 days, but:
Your return airline tickets to the US are dated NINE MONTHS out. I'm not an immigration agent, nor have I played one on TV, but that would raise my suspicions to the action point. As in "follow me to these interrogation rooms where we'll split you up and investigate you further." Not good. Question for the fourm: Would it help if they also possessed airplane tickets (or Eurostar tickets) to the UK dated within 90 days of their arrival in the Schengen Zone? Also, I assume they would have all their necessary work visas in hand by the time they land, so that would help.

Official lodging business fulfill this registration with police requirements automatically, from big hotels to B&Bs. If you are staying with some relatives or friends, depending on the country they DO have to regtister you with the local police or the immigration authorities. Mind you, this is not a measure targeted at scaring tourists, official address registration for residents is common in many European countries in a way that it it isn't in US for anyone.

Yes, it would help because it would show they plan to leave the Schengen Zone at or before the 90 point. But they would have to be out the full 90 days before returning. Otherwise, they would only have the remainder of the first 90 days left to stay, not a whole new 90 days.

"Denmark says they see it as if you are just staying with friends and helping them out
Can I suggest that if you will rely on a statement like that you get the official to write it on Danish official notepaper and sign it; and take it with you to show the Border official when they question you." I don't think Jo really understands the Schengen Area or at least she seems to think she can get around it some way by going to the individual embassies. The rule is very simple, the first country you enter gets to make the call on your status and to refuse entry if they are not satisfied that you are a tourist. What the other countries say or think will have very little to do with the decision unless they actually issue a visa.

Yes, Jim, that's what I meant. The only people likely to be influenced by a Danish note are Danish immigration staff. My guess is that nobody in an official capacity would write such a note. Its been three days since we heard from Jo, Jim. I wonder if she is still around?

I've been checked a handful of times here in Italy. It's very common to see the police on the side of the road flagging cars to pull over for random checks. I've been pulled over a few times, I show them my military ID card and they wave me on. Without a military ID, they would normally ask for a passport and soggiorno (I have a soggiorno). I've also been checked in Rome a few years ago. I was walking down the Via del Corso in the evening when it was pedestrian only and a couple carbinieri obviously thought I looked suspicious because they asked me for my passport. When I couldn't produce it (it was back at the hotel) they brought me over to their van where I got surrounded by about a half dozen carbinieris and one guy in a suit, it was a bit unnerving. I showed the guy in the suit my military ID and explained that I work in Vicenza, he asked what I was carrying in my pocket, I pulled out a bag full of Popeners, he smiled and said "Ah, Il Papa! You can go..." One piece of advice I would give is to make sure you get your passport stamped when entering Italy, if possible. I've been told that the stamp acts as proof that you haven't been in the country past the allowable time.

Thank you all again for such great input!! We are very appreciative!!! -David- we realize it is exactly 90 days, thank you for making sure we know this -Randy: We just looked into flights and how far in advance we are able to book- It seems a year in advance is the farthest out we can do-if we are leaving in a little under 6 months from now, we would have to wait another 2 months to even book a round trip- Does anyone know if you book a round trip ticket and then change the date for 3 months later than the expected date(and then assuming we will pay a fee to change the home bound date)? I know that sounds crazy, but what else could we do instead of having a 9 month period until a return date? Thank you for the Italy info!!! I will make sure we stay at a hotel or hostel when first entering Italy so that we are registered- thank you!

Nigel- Right now we are emailing all of the embassies for the exact reason of having everything on a written record- Denmark has already sent their reply. Karen- we will have 25,000$ saved before take off. I have a detailed estimation of how much every little thing should cost- however, this is an estimate- I can send you it if you wish and you can give your advice. Generally, we will always have enough money to get home and if/when we run out of money we will go home. Would it help if we had ferry/train tickets(for a month or a few months in the future) with us for immigration to show we will be leaving the country, since our plane ticket (probably out of a completely different country) may be far out in the future????

ive only been to a handfull of places so far. the only issue i had was in the UK on my last trip. All they wanted to know was were i was staying since i was there for 4 days. afa $$ goes, i got drilled in the USA on my return trip asking if i brought back more then x amount. i told them i came back with less than what i left with which was the point of the vacation. i think that any LARGE amount of cash is suspect of being a drug trafficker. afa traveling w/o any itenary, i would just tell the truth as stated.
you can give them and rough idea on when you plan to return since you should have an idea on that - dont you? i think what they are more worried about is undocumented workers not travelers that have no itenary.

Well, I for one would like to apologize for my skepticism. I think you are doing a good job of prep work. In my defense, we see a lot of posts from young people who think their $2000, some idealism and packets of noodles will take care of them for 6 months. It sounds like you have a back up plan if you are running out of money. I do think a train ticket out of the Schengen zone at the 90 day mark would be a good idea. Also maybe take a copy of bank account statement (account number redacted for security) or have an electronic way to show a healthy balance. You know how in self-defense classes they teach you how to walk with confidence? Channel that for dealings with immigration. You know who you are, how much money you have, and what you plan to do. Don't slouch and play with your phone. Bureaucrats have authority over you; don't give them a reason to use it. Have a great trip, and please report back periodically. We'd like to hear about long term travel in Europe, immigration/Shengen issues, and any advice you may have.

Thanks everyone again for the great advice! Very Helpful! Karen- no need to apologize, I would assume the same of anyone in my age group! And Yes we will try to do regular posts on Rick Steve's sight during our journey!!! Best of Luck to all you other travelers :)