Catalina Staniu – Avocat Specializat | Avocat Bucuresti

Schengen Entry Ban by Romanian Authorities: Why Legal Action Matters

Catalina Staniu — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 20:46:59 +0000

Being banned from entering the Schengen Area can have serious consequences — not just for your mobility, but also for your career, education, and personal life.

In many cases, Romanian immigration authorities may impose a Schengen ban and register a SIS alert against third-country nationals due to overstaying, irregular entry, or perceived security or public order concerns.

🛑 What does this mean?

Your name is listed in the Schengen Information System (SIS).

You may be denied entry not only to Romania, but to all Schengen countries.

Even transiting through Europe can become impossible.

✅ But here’s the important part: You have the right to challenge this alert.

📌 Why contact a lawyer?

A lawyer can analyze the legality of the ban or alert (many are issued without proper justification).

They can file a legal action before Romanian administrative courts to request the removal of the SIS alert.

Legal counsel ensures your rights under EU law, Romanian law, and international human rights standards are respected.

🕒 Time is critical — SIS alerts can remain active for years unless legally challenged.

📞 If you or someone you know is facing a Schengen entry ban due to a Romanian decision, don’t face it alone. Consult a specialized immigration lawyer who can act swiftly and effectively to protect your freedom of movement.

Contact us:
Website: www.avocat-specializat.ro
E-mail: avocat@staniu.ro
Mobile: +40720 037 305

THE REAL Timeframes for Obtaining Citizenship by Descent

Catalina Staniu — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:25:50 +0000

Applying for Romanian citizenship can be a complex process, but it is important to understand the different routes available under Law 21/1991, particularly through Article 10 and Article 11.

🇷🇴 Article 11: Citizenship for Descendants of Romanian Citizens
This article applies to individuals whose ancestors were Romanian citizens but lost their citizenship for various reasons. If you qualify under this article, the process of reacquiring Romanian citizenship became slower in the past years due to thousands of applications.

⏳ Timeframe: Applications based on Article 11 typically take up to 36 months to process, depending on the volume of cases and the completeness of your file. Additional factors such as document verification and background checks may impact the time required.

🌍 Article 10: Citizenship for Foreign Nationals of Romanian Descent
Article 10 applies to foreign nationals with Romanian ancestry who have never held Romanian citizenship or people who renounce to their citizenship and want to regain it. This pathway is used to grant citizenship to individuals with proven Romanian lineage who may have been born or lived outside Romania.

⏳ Timeframe: Applications under Article 10 usually take 18 to 24 months. The process includes document gathering, verification, and approval steps that can vary based on the applicant’s country of residence and the availability of required documents.

📑 Factors Impacting Processing Times
✅ Completeness of Documents: Incomplete files or missing documents can significantly delay the processing.
✅ Authority Workload: The number of applications at the Romanian Citizenship Authority (ANC) impacts the overall processing time.
✅ External Delays: Some delays may occur due to background checks or document verifications from other countries.
✅ Internal Delays: Some delays may occur due to Romanian Authorities delayed answers.

While these timeframes are general guidelines, each case may vary based on unique circumstances. To ensure a smoother and faster process, make sure all your documents are in order and follow up regularly with the authorities.

Consult our lawyers and stay informed!

E-mail avocat@staniu.ro

Tel. +40 720 037 305

Return Decision Issued? You May Have the Right to Stay!

Catalina Staniu — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:54:37 +0000

If a foreigner receives a return decision from the Immigration Office in Romania, do not assume it is final. Many such decisions can be appealed in front of Appeal Court and canceled if they lack proper legal grounds.

🔹 A return decision does not always mean the applicant must leave Romania.
🔹 Courts can cancel these decisions if they are unjustified or disproportioned.
🔹 With the right legal arguments, people may secure their rights to stay in Romania.
🔹The applicant has only 10 days for submitting the claim against the return decision.

What is a return decision and when is issued?

RETURN DECISION

The return decision is an administrative act issued by the General Inspectorate for Immigration or its territorial units, through which foreign nationals are required to leave the territory of Romania.

A return decision is issued to foreign citizens in the following situations:
a. At their request, when their stay in Romania has become illegal;
b. When they are found to be staying illegally;
c. To former asylum seekers whose asylum procedure has been completed or who have withdrawn their request;
d. In case of revocation or cancellation of the right of residence;
e. Upon revocation or cancellation of the entry visa to Romania.

The deadlines by which foreigners who have been issued a return decision must leave the territory of Romania begin from the date the decision is communicated and brought to the foreigner’s attention, in accordance with the provisions of the present emergency ordinance.

A return decision can be challenged within 10 days from the date of communication before the Bucharest Court of Appeal, if issued by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, or before the court of appeal within the jurisdiction of the territorial unit that issued the return decision.

The court will rule on the request within 30 days from the date of receipt. The court’s decision is final and irrevocable. A legal appeal filed within the given timeframe against the return decision suspends the enforcement of the removal measure.

Foreign nationals who fail to comply with the return decision or do not voluntarily leave the territory of Romania may be subject to forced removal under escort.

Seek legal advice immediately, our team is ready to help!

The right and a fast approach could make all the difference in securing the future in Romania!

Catalina Staniu-Immigration Lawyer

E-mail avocat@staniu.ro

The Value of the Romanian Passport 🇷🇴

Catalina Staniu — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 06:36:00 +0000

With Romania’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program, which removes the need for a visa to enter the United States of America, the Romanian passport has become one of the strongest in the world.

The Romanian Passport offers access to Over 170 Countries: As of now, the Romanian passport allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 170 countries and territories. This includes:
✅ All Schengen Area countries.
✅ The United States, Canada, and Japan (under visa waiver or simplified application rules for short stays).
✅ Many countries in Asia, South America, and Africa.

As for obtaining a Romanian passport, Romanian legislation allows eligible individuals to acquire or regain Romanian citizenship, enabling them to apply for this powerful travel document.

We are lawyers specialized in this field, ready to assist all the Clients in successfully obtaining a Romanian passport if they are eligible.

📩 Contact us for more details:
🌐 www.avocat-specializat.ro
E-mail avocat@staniu.ro
Tel. +40720 037 305

Romania’s Entry into the Schengen Area-some perspectives 🇷🇴🇪🇺

Catalina Staniu — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Legislative Perspectives
Romania implements the Schengen acquis, and national legislation is, by and large, aligned with this reality.
However, not all new circumstances are yet reflected in the current legislation, especially in sensitive areas such as:
✅ Migration
✅ Asylum

It is important to understand that legislative amendments may not always be necessary but rather the application of existing laws in correlation with the Schengen acquis.

⚖️ A Key Question: Illegal Border Crossing
An interesting issue arises in the context of Romania’s borders with Bulgaria and Hungary:
➡️ In the absence of border controls (which can be temporarily reintroduced), does crossing the border outside control points, whether by water or land, still constitute a criminal offense?
📝 Theoretically:
As long as border controls are not reinstated, such actions should no longer be penalized under criminal law.

📌 Implications and Consequences:
✅ Legislation concerning asylum
✅ The legal framework applied to foreigners in Romania

These changes will bring not only new challenges but also opportunities for the effective application of both European and national legislation.

Stay informed and send us an email at avocat@staniu.ro for more details or visit our website www.avocat-specializat.ro

🇷🇴 Update: Applying for Romanian Citizenship-Short procedure

Catalina Staniu — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 05:45:00 +0000

➡️ Starting September 2024, the short procedure for obtaining Romanian citizenship through ancestry has changed.

➡️ Applicants seeking Romanian birth certificates based on Romanian ancestry can now only apply if they possess a birth certificate for their Romanian parent.

❗ In conclusion, the Romanian side parent shall join the process of obtaining romanian citizenship, the applicant cannot apply directly after the romanian grandparent.

Stay updated with all the procedural and law changes.

For legal advice on citizenship matters, please contact us via email at avocat@staniu.ro or call us at +40720 037 305

🕐 🇷🇴 WHEN the amendments of the Citizenship Law will get in force?

Catalina Staniu — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000

The Constitutional Court has issued its decision rejecting the constitutional challenges to the Citizenship Law on 29th of October 2024. This marks a significant step forward in the legislative process and new amendments are about to get in force.

Important amendments will get in force, such as the romanian language proficiency level B1-intermediary, for the applicants, with some excceptions.

When? We have to wait until the decision is communicated by the Constitutional Court to the Romanian President.

The law, as it stands, will further proceed to the President for publication in the Official Gazette.

For more details, visit our website www.avocat-specializat.ro

Know Your Rights: How to Appeal a Return Decision Issued by the General Inspectorate for Immigration

Catalina Staniu — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 08:58:00 +0000

Did you know that if the General Inspectorate for Immigration has issued you a return decision, you have the right to appeal it?

➡️ The competent Court which is competent to analyze your complaint against a returning decision is a Court of Appeal and often is that one in which territorial area is the Immigration Department which issued return decision. E.g. If the Bucharest Immigration Department issued the return decision, then the Bucharest Court of Appeal is the competent court.

➡️ It is very important to know you have only 10 days to appeal the returning decision from the time that decision was handed over to you or you received it by post. Sometimes, when the Immigration authority does not know the address, that return decision will be posted at the premises of Immigration Department.

➡️ It is also important to know that not any time the return decisions issued by immigration authorities comply with all relevant legal provisions and then the courts can cancel these return decisions.

✅ Canceling the return decision can lead to continue your legal staying in Romania and to enjoy all the rights related to your purpose of staying.

Keep your Immigration Lawyer close, so we can defend your rights. E-mail to our Immigration Specialist Catalina Staniu at avocat@staniu.ro

Why Choosing a specialised Immigration Lawyer to help you in Immigration matters

Catalina Staniu — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 09:01:00 +0000

It is essential to work with a lawyer who has a deep understanding of both Romanian immigration laws and the broader legal framework, including labor law, civil law, and other applicable regulations, because at some point, they might converge.

💡 For example, did you know?

A NON-EU citizen can be employed in Romania with a full-time contract (8 hours/day, 40 hours/week) and requires a work permit to do so.

However, they can also work part-time (e.g., 2 hours/day) without requiring a new work permit for that and mandatory without exceeding the legal maximum of 48 hours/week, including all jobs combined.

This provision is stated from Article 114 of the Romanian Labor Code:
“The maximum legal duration of working time cannot exceed 48 hours per week, including overtime.”

Understanding these provisions is key to ensuring compliance with Romanian laws while achieving your goals, whether it is obtaining a work permit, navigating labor regulations, or obtaining a family reunification visa.

📌 Why does this matter?
Incorrect advice or lack of knowledge about related laws can lead to delays, legal complications, or even rejection of applications. Penalties for the Companies are also a significant risk.

This is why working with an experienced lawyer who knows how all the legal pieces fit together is not just important—it’s essential.

Consult with a professional who understands the bigger picture and can guide you every step of the way. Our specialist Immigration Lawyer will help you, send an email at avocat@staniu.ro

📃 Buying Real Estate in Romania is Open to Everyone

Catalina Staniu — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:30:00 +0000

Whether you are an EU citizen or a non-EU citizen, you have the opportunity to invest in property in Romania. 🇷🇴

Romania’s real estate market offers diverse opportunities, from urban apartments and countryside retreats to commercial properties. With straightforward legal procedures, it’s an attractive destination for both personal and investment purposes.

Are you considering purchasing property in Romania? We can discuss the legal requirements and ways for secured purchases. Send us an e-mail at avocat@staniu.ro and our specialist will help you.