visas for visiting the continent?

This may be a silly question, and I hadn't even given it any thought until my FIL told me that I would need some sort of entry clearance or a visa to enter any of the countries on the continent, since I had FLR in Britain.  He told me that his wife had to when she was on ILR, but I did not think US citizens had to get prior entry clearance for visiting Europe even if we we were residences of another country.  Also, his wife was originally a citizen of Kenya, this might be the difference.  I wasn't sure, though, since I am on FLR, so I thought I would check to ensure I was correct, and did not need to get any paperwork done so that I could travel to the continent.    It's just bothering me now, because we are taking a long weekend in Paris at the end of this month, and I'm really worried that I should be doing extra paperwork.  Sorry, if that's a bit confusing, I'm so confused myself by what my FIL is telling me.  Do I require entry clearance visas or similar items to travel on the European continent?  Thanks for your help. 

As an American citizen, you won't need any visas.

Not to Paris....Or any other Western European country.

But what about Eastern Europe, including Russia?  I was thinking about this the other day.  I just assume we don't need visas, but then I have never travelled to any where further east than Austria.  And I know that certain countries have reciprocity tourist  visas, because we make their citizens get them (i.e. Brazil).

Does anyone know if there are any "European" (not necessarily part of the EU), which have travel restrictions or visa requirements for US Citizens?

as a US passport holder, i've needed visas for:

Russia,
Australia,
China

as a US passport holder, i've needed visas for:

Russia,
Australia,
China

Even UK passports need visa's for there as well.....

I can do instant visa's for australia.....

The point here is as a US Passport Holder, now matter what your visa status is in the UK, you have the same restrictions that you would have as if you were travelling from the US.

Here is a US government list of what they understand to be the current visa requirements for US citizens:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html

agreed kitsonk...

slight tangent....let's say i have two passports, one UK and one US.  does having a UK passport allow me to travel anywhere visa free that having a US passport does not allow?

agreed kitsonk...

slight tangent....let's say i have two passports, one UK and one US.  does having a UK passport allow me to travel anywhere visa free that having a US passport does not allow?

yes.

where?  (overplanner me is waiting on the day when i can apply for a uk passport.... 3 years from now)

where?  (overplanner me is waiting on the day when i can apply for a uk passport.... 3 years from now)

oh, I don't know any specific countries that UK passport holders can go to visa-free that US passport holders can't....well, except Cuba   But if you come across any such countries than as long as you enter as a UK citizen, they won't take your US citizenship into account.

If you talking about tourism, not really.  Pretty much every place that would require you to obtain a visa for a visit would be the same between the US and the UK (at least I can't think of any)

On the other hand, if you are doing something other then visiting, like working or studying or having an extended holiday, then you have lots more options under your UK passport.  You of course have all your EU/EEA rights with a UK passport.  You can work in any the of the countries without obtaining a work visa.  A lot of the commonwealth countries have different requirements/easier requirements for UK citizens versus US citizens, etc.

I would say generally you would want to travel on the visa of the country you are departing from, unless there is a special advantage to entering the country on the visa of the other.  The only real advantages that a US passport has, would be traveling to some Caribbean Islands (of course a British one has some advantages to other ones there to), any US territory (like Guam, Peurto Rico, etc), Mexico and Canada (but then again there are some advantages in Canada to being a UK citizen, that one is tricky all around).

and just to back up what kitsonk said....I have two passports, one US, one from a Commonwealth country.  That usually doesn't give me a huge advantage on the world stage over the average US citizen except for one thing- as a Commonwealth citizen, I'm eligible for the UK Working Holiday Visa, which I know a lot of young US citizens wish they could get.  And I can also vote in the UK, which I find slightly weird but there you go.  I guess the point is that when you get dual citizenship you still retain all rights and privileges of being a citizen of both countries, and they rarely will come into conflict (especially with a US/UK dual.)

Does anyone know if there are any "European" (not necessarily part of the EU), which have travel restrictions or visa requirements for US Citizens?

I believe that many former Soviet countries require US citizens to obtain visas.  I know that the Ukraine and Belorussia do.

Wow!  Thanks for all the help!  I really appreciated the site link kitsonk!  We are planning to do much more traveling once we finish the last round of bills from the wedding, so this was particularly helpful!  Especially as I'm a go everywhere see everything kind of girl!  I'm glad it looks like other people's questions got answered too! 

I believe that many former Soviet countries require US citizens to obtain visas.  I know that the Ukraine and Belorussia do.

but not Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia who are now part of the EU. I am headed to the Baltics next month. 

If I remember correctly, there were a few countries in Africa that actually charged more for visas for UK passports. So being  a UK passport holder isn't always better.