Why do Greek customs officers return Bulgarians for no reason?

Question

Sorry for asking you that. It is legally accepted that Bulgarian travellers do not need visas in order to enter Greece. But the Greek customs officers sometimes do not let us enter their country. There is no specific reason for that. This problem will be resolved when we enter the EU in 2007 but now it is really annoying and ridiculous. I have relatives in Greece but I am afraid to travel because I might turn out somewhere near the border with Greece with all my luggage and no transportation back to my home town.

Answer 1

You should not be sorry for asking, because it is true.
It is true that you do not need a visa for entering Greece, provided you will enter the E.U. shortly, but the problem is not the visa: it is the illegal immigration and that's why there is such a problem at Promahonas.
The customs officers are trying to guess who is visiting the country and will exit before three months elapse and who will stay in Greece for ever, not having the prerequisites to a "normal" civil life...
In Greece we have lots of unregistered and illegal foreigners from many countries, who -unfortunately- create big problems to the National Economy and we are trying to limitate their number.
So, you see, if you want just to pay a visit to your family, you can ask the Greek consulate what are the prerequisites and if you conform to these, you can come with no problem.
We have a very nice Bulgarian lady at home, who takes care of my mother and she has invited her son with his wife to visit her last summer, when we were on holidays and the bedroom was available; they encountered no problem at the customs or elsewhere, because they had the formal invitation with them...
I'm sure you will not encounter any problem either...

Good luck!

Answer 2

Sorry but Greek customs thinks that you're either a drug trafficker or human smuggler. Greek officials know that Bulgaria will be a EU member country in a matter of months and use these aggressive tactics as a last resort. Once Bulgaria joins the EU - all Greek officials can look for is a forged Schengen passport.

Answer 3

Hello friend. Listen. Im Greek studying in the European and International Studies University, and according to the European law, and European rules about the UN , all citizens, whose country is not amember of the EU, should show their Visa.
The topic indeed is going to be resolved when you will be most welcomed in the European Union. I believe you will enter and I hope (duty free shops in the Airport have good prices!!!!). It will also be important not for your country but for the whole Union as well.... The more, the better!