What is the Schengen Area?

Is there any way to return early to Schengen area?

• I'm American. I stayed in Schengen Europe just under 90 days this year....now i'm in the UK but will do almost anything to get outta here....if i return to Schengen area after New Year's, will it make any difference? If i spend a couple weeks crossing Europe to Romania (non-Scheng), will i get in trouble ?

• Answer:

  Your stay in the United Kingdom or other non-Schengen countries does not count against the limit of stay in the Schengen zone. You in theory could stay in Europe for several years without the need to get a visa provided you have enough money to support yourself without working. The first answer is nonsense. Based on the Schengen rules you can stay for up to three months in every six months period. Lets say you have arrived in the Schengen zone on the 1st of August 2011 and have stayed until the 29th of October 2011. In this case you should not return before the 1st of February 2012 for another three months stay. You can stay in any country outside of Schengen before returning. This could be the United Kingdom for up to 6 months, and every other country in Europe except Belarus and Russia for up to 90 days of stay. Going to Romania is just fine, another option would be Bulgaria or any non-EU country on the Balkan Peninsula. They all grant 90 day visa-free stay.