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#Post#: 17861--------------------------------------------------
Does anyone know.....
By: SHL Date: July 12, 2019, 2:09 am
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Irena mentioned yesterday that my time was short in Germany, and
I thought “oh no, she’s right. I only have till August 2....”
So, the clock is ticking on me.
I’m driving up to Braunschweig today (3 hour trip), spending the
night with some great people who invited me, then on to
Ostfriesland for 5 nights.
Then I wondered, “what could I do to stay longer and avoid
having to go back to that horror show of a country?”
I’m not compatible with the USA and all its craziness. It’s just
not my lifestyle. You’ve got this massive military, Trump, that
mental case as President who’s bent on dismantling the
Constitution and democracy and replacing it with his
megalomaniac egomania, this nationalist flag-waving insanity,
ideal for a dictatorship, peanuts for social benefits (enough
to let you starve), and a wimped out Democratic Party. What a
dump. You know. You can only see how bad things really are once
you get away from them.
But, I’m kind of stuck due to an accident of birth and dumb
ancestors who went there 150 years ago. What a bummer.
So, the question: I heard Americans can stay in Germany 90 days
at a time without a visa, up to a total 180 days a year. At
least we can escape for a half year. Does that mean I can pop
over to Poland or Holland for a day and come back and start the
clock running again for the total 180 days without a visa? But,
then no one knows I’m even here except the Icelanders since I
only went through customs there. So, does that mean I can hang
out in Germany for 6 months straight? I sure I could and no one
would know.
Anyone, Alharacas, know any of these rules? I don’t want to
break the laws, because if I get caught they’ll send me back and
send me the bill for the flight, probably to some crappy place
like New York City (yuck) -not far from where Neal is-(at least
it’s a tiny bit better than Indiana. The worst would be exiled
to some god-forsaken place like Kansas with all the corn growing
for 1000 mile stretches). Then the Germans might not let me back
as a penalty (sometimes the immigration people can be harsh like
that). Then what are my choices? Go to Peru and sell bananas?
Learn Spanish. That’s not exactly my lifestyle either.
I’m only a year from early social security retirement at 62. So,
I’d not have to work. I get Medicare at 65, so the medical is
covered (but I don’t think it’s good in Europe—-bummer again).
I’d have to go back to the States periodically for that, but I
could take out a private European policy (not sure what that
would cost).
Sorry for the moaning folks, but it is terrible to have to go
back to a country you don’t want to be in. I heard it said once
“It’s terrible not being able to live your life the way you want
to.” Very true.
#Post#: 17864--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does anyone know.....
By: Alharacas Date: July 12, 2019, 2:31 am
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[quote author=SHL link=topic=1223.msg17861#msg17861
date=1562915369]
So, the question: I heard Americans can stay in Germany 90 days
at a time without a visa, up to a total 180 days a year. At
least we can escape for a half year. Does that mean I can pop
over to Poland or Holland for a day and come back and start the
clock running again for the total 180 days without a visa? But,
then no one knows I’m even here except the Icelanders since I
only went through customs there. So, does that mean I can hang
out in Germany for 6 months straight? I sure I could and no one
would know.
[/quote]
No, popping over to Poland would not start the clock running
again. You'd have to leave the Schengen area to achieve that,
i.e. go to some country where you'd get your passport stamped.
Russia comes to mind. Northern Africa would also do the trick, I
suppose. You know, a few days at the beach in Morocco or
Tunisia. Or else, wait until Brexit becomes effective... ;)
Healthcare - what I used to do was to take out health insurance
with my flight. As far as I remember, you could get one valid
for a maximum of 6 months. Used to be quite cheap, too.
But, Steven, are you sure you could stay away from the US that
long? I gathered you were needed at home.
#Post#: 17869--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does anyone know.....
By: SHL Date: July 12, 2019, 3:01 am
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[quote author=Alharacas link=topic=1223.msg17864#msg17864
date=1562916692]
[quote author=SHL link=topic=1223.msg17861#msg17861
date=1562915369]
So, the question: I heard Americans can stay in Germany 90 days
at a time without a visa, up to a total 180 days a year. At
least we can escape for a half year. Does that mean I can pop
over to Poland or Holland for a day and come back and start the
clock running again for the total 180 days without a visa? But,
then no one knows I’m even here except the Icelanders since I
only went through customs there. So, does that mean I can hang
out in Germany for 6 months straight? I sure I could and no one
would know.
[/quote]
No, popping over to Poland would not start the clock running
again. You'd have to leave the Schengen area to achieve that,
i.e. go to some country where you'd get your passport stamped.
Russia comes to mind. Northern Africa would also do the trick, I
suppose. You know, a few days at the beach in Morocco or
Tunisia. Or else, wait until Brexit becomes effective... ;)
Healthcare - what I used to do was to take out health insurance
with my flight. As far as I remember, you could get one valid
for a maximum of 6 months. Used to be quite cheap, too.
But, Steven, are you sure you could stay away from the US that
long? I gathered you were needed at home.
[/quote]
Thanks for the tip, Alharacas. No, Morocco or Tunisia would not
be on the list. My youngest sister went to Morocco for a day
once with her husband when they were vacationing in Spain and
hated it. She couldn’t wait to get out of there she said. Russia
would be fine. I wouldn’t mind a few nights in Moscow. So, a
Moscow trip would get me the extra 3 months? Interesting.
My own health insurance is valid anywhere in the world for
emergency room visits or what we call “urgent care”, I guess any
fast medical appointment with a doctor.
That is the only problem, I am needed back home. Hum. I haven’t
worked that one out yet, but thanks for the advice ;)
#Post#: 17870--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does anyone know.....
By: Irena Date: July 12, 2019, 3:06 am
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Alharacas is right. But Steve, aren't you supposed to retire
some time soon? You could spend 90 days in Germany, and then 90
days out of the Schengen area. You could go to Serbia. I am only
half joking. Vojvodina (the northern province) is quite nice, as
long as you're not in search of employment. It's much cheaper
than the US or Germany, and so if you're living off American
(retirement) money, you might like it. Plus, it's much cheaper
to travel between Serbia and Germany and back, than to fly back
and forth between the US and Europe. You should be able to get
by with English (especially if you go to Novi Sad; it might be
harder in smaller towns). You would, of course, get some
resentment for coming in with your foreign money to live like a
king, but that's how these things go (and not just in Serbia).
And of course, plenty of people would sympathize with you for
dreaming about Germany. Half of Serbia is trying to move there.
:D
#Post#: 17871--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does anyone know.....
By: Irena Date: July 12, 2019, 3:07 am
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[quote author=SHL link=topic=1223.msg17869#msg17869
date=1562918472]
Thanks for the tip, Alharacas. No, Morocco or Tunisia would not
be on the list. My youngest sister went to Morocco for a day
once with her husband when they were vacationing in Spain and
hated it. She couldn’t wait to get out of there she said. Russia
would be fine. I wouldn’t mind a few nights in Moscow. So, a
Moscow trip with get me the extra 3 months? Interesting.
[/quote]
No. You'd have to be out of the Schengen area for 90 days out of
every six months. No shortcuts.
ETA: You'd need a visa to go to Russia, and that's unlikely to
change any time soon. You could, however, spend 90 days out of
every six months in Serbia without a visa.
#Post#: 17872--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does anyone know.....
By: Aliph Date: July 12, 2019, 3:46 am
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Irena’s suggestion isn’t bad at all. The whole region of ex
Yugoslavia must be very beautiful, plenty of villages where you
can walk around (good for your heart condition). Croatia is part
of Schengen though.
I wouldn’t go to Russia, too expensive.
What about Armenia (they are Catholic) or...Georgia, maybe you
could meet up with Jerry there. Learning the Georgian script
would keep you very busy.
#Post#: 17874--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does anyone know.....
By: Irena Date: July 12, 2019, 4:02 am
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Agreed with Sofia.
A small correction, though: Armenians are Oriental Orthodox (not
to be confused with Eastern Orthodox).
Also, Croatia is not yet in the Schengen area (though it is in
the EU). It's likely to join soon, though, so it's a moot point.
#Post#: 17877--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does anyone know.....
By: Nikola Date: July 12, 2019, 4:36 am
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It would be a bit of a lengthy process but why don't you and
Alharacas tie the knot?
#Post#: 17878--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does anyone know.....
By: SHL Date: July 12, 2019, 4:49 am
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[quote author=Irena link=topic=1223.msg17871#msg17871
date=1562918877]
[quote author=SHL link=topic=1223.msg17869#msg17869
date=1562918472]
Thanks for the tip, Alharacas. No, Morocco or Tunisia would not
be on the list. My youngest sister went to Morocco for a day
once with her husband when they were vacationing in Spain and
hated it. She couldn’t wait to get out of there she said. Russia
would be fine. I wouldn’t mind a few nights in Moscow. So, a
Moscow trip with get me the extra 3 months? Interesting.
[/quote]
No. You'd have to be out of the Schengen area for 90 days out of
every six months. No shortcuts.
ETA: You'd need a visa to go to Russia, and that's unlikely to
change any time soon. You could, however, spend 90 days out of
every six months in Serbia without a visa.
[/quote]
Oh thank you so much Irena. Oh, so you have to be out of the
Schengen for 90 days between stays? You can’t do an overnighter?
Too bad. I thought I could take a weekend holiday and come back
and start the clock running again. They thought of everything,
the immigration people.
I keep forgetting that Serbia is not yet in the EU or Schengen
Area. It’s a candidate country (but god, Turkey has been a
candidate country for 40 years, and they’re never getting in).
As far as Brexit goes, that’s too iffy.
Yes, Serbia sounds a lot better than Russia. Closer too. And,
it’s probably beautiful there too. But, I don’t know any
Serbian. I wonder if I could get by with German (English would
probably be a better choice).
And thanks, Sofia. Armenia is a place I never thought of. The
Catholic is great. I´m Evangelical Lutheran, so that’s close
enough. Luther was once a Catholic Priest who did his own thing
and got married and had kids. So, he just got a little
rebellious is all. The Lutheran churches aren’t as pretty as the
Catholic ones but that’s okay.
Great ideas and very informative. Thanks! :)
#Post#: 17881--------------------------------------------------
Re: Does anyone know.....
By: Truman Overby Date: July 12, 2019, 5:57 am
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Steve, you've been traveling to, and staying in Germany for
forty years, according to your own words, and you don't know the
latest entry and exit rules? I'm finding that hard to believe.
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