Traveling to Amsterdam while unemployed

He's from Scotland specifically, if it matters.

Immigration tend to be wary of scruffy looking non-EU citizens who they suspect of hanging around illegally looking for a job in the Netherlands.

However, your boyfriend is a UK citizen and as such has the right to live and work in other EU member states, including the Netherlands. So even if he were planning to look for a job, he wouldn't be doing anything illegal.

Thanks for the information, Aribo! It looks like I'm worrying for nothing as usual.

I'm a little concerned that he'll have trouble getting into Amsterdam

Just for the record- Amsterdam doesn't have immigration checks. the Netherlands, or rather Schengen, does. Similarly, being Scottish matters as much as the colour of his hair. He is a UK passport holder.

Anyway, as Aribo says, UK citizens enjoy freedom of movement throughout the EU. Nothing to worry about.

That's great to know MTL. Now I can travel without worrying about him getting denied entry...now just to worry about me! But..with all my papers in order (letters from boss verifying time off, return ticket, proof of funds...) I'm thinking I'll be okay.

That's a huge relief!

But..with all my papers in order (letters from boss verifying time off,

wow- what kind of police state do you live in? you're taking this a little too far...honestly, you don;t need to prove to Immigration that your boss is OK with your trip. really.

I have made a gazillion flights with Americans into Europe. Legally you're supposed to have enough funds and a return ticket, but i don;t recall anybody ever being asked for it. And the letter from your boss...save the weight and leave it at home! relax! it will be OK.

Millions of Americans enter Europe for a short vacation every year. It's not a big deal.

Wow, you make me feel like an under-achiever! I've traveled to Europe from the US plenty of times, always carrying my passport and a smile on my face - and not much more! I've never been asked for any of the things you mentioned. Immigration might ask what your purpose there is (just visiting!) and when you are returning, but I've never been asked to verify employment or funds. Relax and enjoy!

"wow- what kind of police state do you live in? you're taking this a little too far...honestly, you don;t need to prove to Immigration that your boss is OK with your trip. really."

...I know it seems as though I am taking it too far, but on each of my international trips I have been asked for these documents. This is likely as I was pulled into secondary questioning the first time I traveled to the UK. That time I was told that anytime I was going to Europe, I'd probably be asked for additional information verifying my employment (as I get more vacation time than the typical American, and therefore travel much more frequently). Sure enough, I was asked for all that information the second time I traveled to Europe, and was once again told that I should always have it on me for international trip. The letter from my employer was especially important to immigration, as it verified that I had some ties to the US.

sorry for being a little provocative there- clearly your experience (and i don;t question it) is very different from mine. Having lived and worked on both sides of the Atlantic, i travel between Europe and the US a fair bit. As do friends, colleagues, and family. I have never heard of anybody having to provide proof of employment and authorized time off for a trip to Europe.

Was there something that could have triggered this? you mentioning that you have a boyfriend in the country? you looking scruffy? I do a lot of solo travel (probably far more than you) and nobody ever asks me whether it's for work or leisure (except for the sticklers at US Immigration, who are among the most unpleasant people to deal with). On 200 trips or so in the last 10 years, I have never carried (nor have i been asked) proof of employment or authorized time off... except for when i went to Israel on a business trip (israeli security being notoriously difficult for non-jewish single males)

The fact that you get more vacation time than the average American shouldn't matter. They don;t know when you show up how many vacation days you've already had this year.

So, by all means, bring your papers, but there is something really unusual about your experience...