Three months in six tourist visa REJECTED by Bulgaria?
 

Hi All,
I was staying in Bulgaria three months out of six months a year on an Australian passport (tourist visa) before the Pandemic. I did that for two years by visiting Turkey or a Schengen country like Greece in the alternative three months (twice a year).
I'm a little too young to get the aged pension -- not yet eligible for an aged pension and the Bulgarian residents visa for another 8 months.

My Bulgarian company owns some land(for 17 years) and I'm building a small house on the seaside.

I Was in Asia for a year and a half during the pandemic and returned to Bulgaria last year. I started to do the same three months in six.

This week I entered Bulgaria from Turkey, but they would not allow me to stay for three months.-- after being away in Turkey for the usual three months absence.
I'm off to Romania for three months now as I was allowed into Bulgaria ONLY for the few days that i had left on my previous Bulgarian visit (that was short of the full three months.)
This is completely new and a surprise for me-- as I thought the three months in six tourist visa would be extendable at least as long as it was before the pandemic??
I have building approvals, carpenters and material ready to work on my Bulgarian house, but it seams that I can't be there to organize it. I have to abandon the project for now.
Any one herd of this before?? I'm really curious as to what the situation is. Please share any knowledge or experience you have with this.

Hi Reganne5657, welcome to Fodors. I think you will be the new expert on Bulgaria here as we don't get many posts. I am guessing that because you have a business in Bulgaria you are not really on tourist visa terms in the country, you are sort of there on business, or are working while you are there, and maybe that's why they wouldn't give you a tourist visa. You are de facto living in Bulgaria, and that might make a difference to the authorities. However, I am not a lawyer and you should not rely on my advice. I would probably consult with an immigration lawyer on this one, and I think it would be worth your while no matter what the cost.

Lavandula

Many thanks for the comment Lavadula
I will see what i can do.

Bulgaria is working to become part of Schengen. Sounds like they are now imposing Schengen visa rules ahead of joining.

Visa runs have always been frowned on. The fact people get away with it doesn't mean nobody notices. At some point somebody decided you weren't just a tourist.

I wonder if it’s because you entered earlier than the 90 days were up, even if you had a few days left. It does not sound like you were doing anything wrong. I hope you can get it sorted soon!

Probably something along those lines. No one on here can possibly know for what/why in your case, but the '90 in 180' is only the max allowed, not automatic. Same as in Schengen or the UK (which is 180 days max) the maximum is never ever guaranteed. A border agent can allow the max, a shorter time limit, or deny all together for various reasons -- and continual visa runs may factor into the decision as well as suspected working/business activities could be a red flag

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm suspecting its Geopolitical now. Seeing the troubles unfolding in the area. Even Turkey fined me for overstay, even-though I only stayed within the period for which I had a printed and paid for visa. The visa stated the exact six month period and that I could stay 90 days within that stated period. I had been there previously on a similar visa with over five months between visits.
As far as work goes: I don't know if owning a Bulgarian company that owns a property investment (that is being slightly improved) is called work.

As far as immigration lawyers go: I called a lot listed on Google who simply said NO and hung up or appeared to try and fleece me
The only good advice I got (from a highly rated one) was to'' talk to an Australian embassy or consulate''. Overall the lawyers in Burgas either didn't know-- or weren't prepared to give me the necessary info.
The consulate helped.

You might want to join an expat forum on Facebook, you might get your questions answered there (or probably someone has already asked them, you can do a search.) They will also know of better lawyers.

How can Turkey fine you for an overstay if you did not overstay? That is a bit strange.

A visa run, as I understand it, is crossing a border for one or two days then going back. Which you did not do.

Thats right, I never do overnight or same day 'visa runs' in Europe.
The Turkey 'overstay' situation is a mystery.
As I like a little privacy, I hate to use Facebook :) ....So old fashioned- I guess :) But thanks for the suggestion.

The 90 days includes the day of arrival and the day of departure as whole days. E.g. if I arrive in Turkey today at midday and depart 23 hours later, that's 2 days.

You do not have to use your real name.

The expat forums I am on there are a wealth of information.

Perhaps they were looking at your frequent trips to the area, but if you didn’t stay more than 90 days in 180 (the Turkish rule) there must have been another reason.

Visa runs are about following the letter of the law and not the spirit. If you're going back and forth you aren't really a tourist are you?