HIGHQ

Another thing you should be aware of:

When you enter Romania you can stay up to 90 days without a visa in a six month period beginning with the first day that you entered. (Emergency Ordinance No. 194/12 December 2002, VISA Regime for Foreign Persons in Romania)

If you are staying at a hotel they will take your information and report your stay to the local police as required by law.

If you are staying in someone's home they are required to report your stay to the local police. If they do not they can be subjected to a large fine (large for the typical Romanian). Many people ignore this requirement though. I think it is better to be safe just in case you have a run-in with the police. They will ask you where you are staying... The police here routinely stop people in cars to check them out - much more so than in the USA.


If you would like to read the current Visa law for Romania you can download the English translation from my website at http://highq.home.ro/VisaRegime.pdf

HIGHQ

Peter

    > The frontier police do not pay much attention to you if you have a US
    > passport. They scrutinize their own people (Romanian citizens) much
    > more. For a Romanian to cross the border into Hungary they have to show
    > that they have 250 Euros for each day in the country. That is a lot if
    > you consider that the typical Romanian salary is somewhere around 100
    > Euro per month! If they cannot show the money they are turned back or
    > sometimes they can get through by paying a bribe to the frontier police
    > (something I have witnessed a few times). They are enforcing this
    > requirement much more vigorously in the last 6 months I have noticed.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > HIGHQ
I think it is 250 euro a week. Not that it matters a lot, it's still
ten times the Romanian salary. The police act the way they do partly
because the EU wants them to keep as many Romanians as possible out of
the EU. Many Westerners seem to have got it in their head that all
Romanians have but one goal: get here as soon as possible and live off
thieving or the social system. While in reality they are brave people
with the courage to carry on despite everything that has come over
them. They should be admired for being so patient. I've been there and
saw a lovely country. I'll most certainly go back.
Peter.

PhilC

Hello Peter,

The frontier police offical said it was 250 Euro per day because out of surprise I asked when I heard it, but maybe he was just looking for a way to get a "tip" that day. LOL.

Romania is lovely in some places. Visiting Romania and living here are two different things. It is very easy for visitors such as yourself to overlook the ugliness in Romania. I had a favorable impression from visiting for 20 days, but when I came to live here for a few years my perspective changed a lot. When you see hard working people who cannot afford to pay for heat in the winter it changes your "lovely" ideas about Romania.

HIGHQ

St

On 17 Nov 2003 13:32:58 -0800, [email protected] (peter)
wrote:

    >> The frontier police do not pay much attention to you if you have a US
    >> passport. They scrutinize their own people (Romanian citizens) much
    >> more. For a Romanian to cross the border into Hungary they have to show
    >> that they have 250 Euros for each day in the country. That is a lot if
    >> you consider that the typical Romanian salary is somewhere around 100
    >> Euro per month! If they cannot show the money they are turned back or
    >> sometimes they can get through by paying a bribe to the frontier police
    >> (something I have witnessed a few times). They are enforcing this
    >> requirement much more vigorously in the last 6 months I have noticed.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> HIGHQ
    >I think it is 250 euro a week. Not that it matters a lot, it's still
    >ten times the Romanian salary. The police act the way they do partly
    >because the EU wants them to keep as many Romanians as possible out of
    >the EU. Many Westerners seem to have got it in their head that all
    >Romanians have but one goal: get here as soon as possible and live off
    >thieving or the social system. While in reality they are brave people
    >with the courage to carry on despite everything that has come over
    >them. They should be admired for being so patient. I've been there and
    >saw a lovely country. I'll most certainly go back.

There is definite discrimination against Romanians. I was talking to a
young Hungarian bloke in Sweden (he was 20). Educated (eg. studying in
Sweden). Discriminated against Romanians - I asked him innocently
about Romania (I'd like to go there - the wild west of Europe!), and
he said 'Never been. Never want to go'...

St

On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 21:27:24 +0000, ncbluesdude
<member@british_expats.com> wrote:

    >Going to meet with a special young lady.

Right. Have you met her? Sounds suspicious.

Deep Freud Moors

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 12:54:05 +1100, st <[email protected]> wrote:

    >There is definite discrimination against Romanians. I was talking to a
    >young Hungarian bloke in Sweden (he was 20). Educated (eg. studying in
    >Sweden). Discriminated against Romanians - I asked him innocently
    >about Romania (I'd like to go there - the wild west of Europe!), and
    >he said 'Never been. Never want to go'...

It is certainly not everyones cup of tea. You really need an
adventurous streak in you if you want to spend time there.

From what you have said, it doesn't sound like discrimination as much
as just a lack of interest. I have found that a number of times people
would ask me why on earth I wanted to go to a 'shithole' like Romania.
The same reason I want to go anywhere of course!
---
DFM

Magda

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 12:54:26 +1100, in rec.travel.europe, st <[email protected]> arranged some
electrons, so they looked like this :

... On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 21:27:24 +0000, ncbluesdude
... <member@british_expats.com> wrote:
...
... >
... >Going to meet with a special young lady.
...
... Right. Have you met her? Sounds suspicious.

Are you the young lady's father or you just can't read ?

ncbluesdude

What sounds suspicious? She and I have been communicating through e-mails, instant messages, webcam, the post office, and for the last approx. 6 months daily on the telephone. It is just that it is time for us to meet in person. So, why would you say "sounds suspicious"?

St

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 13:13:03 +0000, ncbluesdude
<member16763@british_expats.com> wrote:

    >Originally posted by St
    >> On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 21:27:24 +0000, ncbluesdude
    >> <member@british_expats.com> wrote:
    >> >Going to meet with a special young lady.
    >> Right. Have you met her? Sounds suspicious.
    >What sounds suspicious? She and I have been communicating through e-
    >mails, instant messages, webcam, the post office, and for the last
    >approx. 6 months daily on the telephone. It is just that it is time for
    >us to meet in person. So, why would you say "sounds suspicious"?

Does she want a British Passport pretty badly?

ncbluesdude

As we have discussed a future together, we have arranged this meeting to see if we can have a future together. We have discussed me moving there and her moving here. (to the United States) We decided that we will meet, and if everything is still good, then I will come back to the states and file for the K-1 fiancee' visa. Then she comes here and we will get married within the 90 day period. So, I have no reason to be "suspicious".
Thank you for your input but, my original question was for any tips or personal experiences while I am in bucharest.

St

On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 02:51:40 +0000, ncbluesdude
<member16763@british_expats.com> wrote:


    >> Does she want a British Passport pretty badly?
    >As we have discussed a future together, we have arranged this meeting to
    >see if we can have a future together. We have discussed me moving there
    >and her moving here. (to the United States) We decided that we will
    >meet, and if everything is still good, then I will come back to the
    >states and file for the K-1 fiancee' visa. Then she comes here and we
    >will get married within the 90 day period. So, I have no reason to be
    >"suspicious".
    >Thank you for your input but, my original question was for any tips or
    >personal experiences while I am in bucharest.


Be wary. That is all. Sounds extremely dodgy.

Luca Logi

st <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Be wary. That is all. Sounds extremely dodgy.

You are right, it sounds dodgy and being wary wouldn't be a bad idea. I
have heard about several cheats beginning this way - usually the lady
will need some non trivial amount of money to move in the fiancee
country, and as soon as she has got it she disappears (you can do a
little business out of it by simply having several fiancees at the same
time).

Also the possibility that the lady wants really badly to get out of the
country, no matter how, cannot be ruled out.

But I'd note that I know a couple of happy marriages that began exactly
this way. For example, my local newsagent began corresponding with a
Romanian girl and ended marrying her. Not only she turned out to be a
good wife, but she developed the ability of selling a newspaper to
everybody, even people who don't read newspapers. Now she is the one
running the family business. This is costing me dearly, as my wife is
one of her clients and she always comes back with her hands full of
magazines :-)

--
Luca Logi - Firenze - Italy e-mail: [email protected]

Dan

Well, there has been more interest in this post than I have ever seen
for anything about Romania on this site. Some of it is good, some bad
and some prejudicial. My viewpoint----Bucharest can be a very
intimidating city and I have lived in New York and been to many large
European cities. None are like Buch.

You will have no visa or custom problems. The airport experience can
be a little scary if you do not travel by air much and this is your
first time abroad. May I recommend you contact my friend Stefan, who
for $12.50 U.S. will meet you at the airport and take you wherever you
need to go. He also runs a hostel with his wife Deborah called
Villa11. You can find it in the Bucharest in Your Pocket website but
given the circumstances under which you are going to Romania you
probably want to stay at a hotel. I have known and used Stefan's
services for 5 years in taking students to Romania. He is very
trustworthy and reasonable and will not rip you off as will other
drivers. Although there is also a shuttle service you can use for a
little more than what Stefan charges. If interested e-mail
[email protected]

You are not really going as a tourist. I assume this young lady lives
in Bucharest. Her intentions may or may not be honorable. You will
have to decide that. All I know is the two couples I know who have
done what you are thinking about are very happy after several years.

I think it is important that you spend time getting to know her
family. It may be that they do not speak English especially the
parents. They will quite likely have many misconceptions about the
United States. Most Romanians, even those with professional jobs, are
not well off. They may not have a car and housing might be a little
cramped unless they live in one of the better parts of the city. But
Romanians by nature are very friendly and warm.

When you get there do not carry your passport with you. Instead make a
couple of photocopies before you leave home and carry those instead.
You will need to be careful of pickpockets everywhere so take
appropriate precautions. Do not carry credit cards, but an ATM card
will be handy because ATM machines are everywhere and give you the
best exchange rates with minimal or no service fees except from your
bank.

As far as things to see---the people's palace is worth a look as is
the village museum. In fact if the weather is nice it may be a nice
place to go with your lady friend to see how Romanians in the
countryside have lived.

If you want to see other parts of the country the areas that Romanians
get most excited about are in Transylvania----Brasov, Sanaia,
Sighisoara which others have written about. It is easy to get to and
worth a few days if you have time. Unless you are going in summer I
would not recommend Constanta or Danube Delta. But this is not the
primary purpose of your trip so you will need to think that part
through or just go with no particular plan in mind and follow your
girl friend's lead.

You might get a copy of the Rough Guide to Romania for more info.
Good luck, have fun. Let us know how it turns out.

Dan
ncbluesdude <member@british_expats.com> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > Hello everyone, I am planning a trip to Bucharest, Romania. Just
    > wondering if anyone could provide me with some travel tips. The do's and
    > don'ts while traveling there. I have never been on an overseas trip, so
    > this will be all new to me. Thanks for any and all info.

Bjorn Olsson

st <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 02:51:40 +0000, ncbluesdude
    > <member16763@british_expats.com> wrote:
    >
    >
    > >> Does she want a British Passport pretty badly?
    > >
    > >As we have discussed a future together, we have arranged this meeting to
    > >see if we can have a future together. We have discussed me moving there
    > >and her moving here. (to the United States) We decided that we will
    > >meet, and if everything is still good, then I will come back to the
    > >states and file for the K-1 fiancee' visa. Then she comes here and we
    > >will get married within the 90 day period. So, I have no reason to be
    > >"suspicious".
    > >
    > >Thank you for your input but, my original question was for any tips or
    > >personal experiences while I am in bucharest.
    >
    >
    > Be wary. That is all. Sounds extremely dodgy.

Can we not assume that ncbluesdude is a grown-up and capable of taking
care of himself?

Bjorn

Simon

I met my wife online. She was originally from Bistrita, but was
attending college in Cluj so we met there. Rented an apartment for a
month - had a helluva time. Married six months later. We've been
together ever since and live in Pennsylvania.

Don't listen to everyone who's knocking it - it CAN work.

~Simon~

Ps. The guy who went with me (old army buddy) married her cousin and
they live in Virginia.

st wrote:

    > On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 13:13:03 +0000, ncbluesdude
    > <member16763@british_expats.com> wrote:
    >
    >
    >>Originally posted by St
    >>>On Fri, 14 Nov 2003 21:27:24 +0000, ncbluesdude
    >>><member@british_expats.com> wrote:
    >>>>Going to meet with a special young lady.
    >>>Right. Have you met her? Sounds suspicious.
    >>What sounds suspicious? She and I have been communicating through e-
    >>mails, instant messages, webcam, the post office, and for the last
    >>approx. 6 months daily on the telephone. It is just that it is time for
    >>us to meet in person. So, why would you say "sounds suspicious"?
    >
    >
    > Does she want a British Passport pretty badly?
    >
    >