Americans Abroad

It used to be the case in both the USA and most EU countries that you could stay 90 days visa free and then you had to leave. But nothing said you couldn't come back the next day for another 90 days. My wife-to-be spent two 180 day periods with me in the States in the seventies, and each time, at the end of 85 days, it was enough for her to go up to Montreal for a weekend. When she came back, she was good for another 90 days.

But since 2008, Europeans need a visa to stay in the USA for a CUMULATIVE period of 90 days within any 180 day period. Conversely, Americans need a visa to stay WITHIN THE SCHENGEN AREA (not just any given country) for a period of over 90 days cumulatively. This even goes beyond the EU, as Norway and Switzerland are in Schengen, though not in the EU.