How can I get a visa from the US to travel to Kenya?

Is it easier to get a schengen visa or travel exclusively on visa waiver programs?

• I intend to ride my bicycle around Europe during the next northern spring/summer/autumn, but I don't fully understand how visa waivers work. The schengen visa allows me access into 15 European countries for a maximum of 90 days out of 180 (3 months out of 6 months). Visa waiver programs allow me 90 days in each individual country out of 180. I haven't checked every country I plan on visiting for the Visa waiver status but I am Australian so I assume most if not all would let me. I just don't get how they work. I intend to start in France, Spain or Portugal and all 3 countries say I'm eligible for the visa waiver. So let's say hypothetically I choose France, it can't be as simple as just boarding a plane to Paris with my gear, landing and getting a passport stamp can it? And how do you go about crossing over land borders on a bike? Australia's a huge island I've never had to go through the visa/border/custom control's before. Any help would be severely appreciated.

• Answer:

  You probably have obtained your information about the Schengen visa from an outdated commercial website. The Schengen zone meanwhile consists of 25 European countries. http://dc.the-netherlands.org/Services/Consular_services/Visa/US_citizens/Traveling_to_the_Netherlands/Tourist_and_Business_Visa_for_the_Netherlands_Schengen/See_also/Map_of_Schengen_countries .. The principle of the Schengen agreement was to strengthen external border control and to abolish internal borders between the member countries. You can cross any internal border (like France - Spain) without formalities. Tourists may stay in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within every 6 months period. A common visa waiver list determines which passport holders may do that without a prior visa application and which must get a visa affixed to their passports from a Consulate prior to travel. Australia is a visa waived country and you can stay for 90 days after having entered France and having received the entry stamp. Your government provides detailed information, just read. http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/Europe_Schengen .. Since you obviously want to stay for longer than 90 days you would need to get a long-stay visa for one of the Schengen countries and here is where your problem starts. There are no long stay visa for tourists. Those visa are issued for special purposes like study, work, research, family reunification, non-remunerative residence, and some others. Should you be below 31 years the easiest option would be to apply for a working holiday visa for one of the Schengen countries which participate in this program (Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden). This would enable to stay in this country for up to a year and also to visit the other Schengen countries for up to 90 days. It would be helpful to chose a country in which you have relatives or friends so that you can get registered at their place of residence whilst cycling around Europe..