Bad news for asylee to France

C

cchong

Registered Users (C)
I just saw this posting on the Consulate of France in New YOrk website.

"*Refugee Travel Documents are no longer accepted, unless the class mentioned on the information page reads ‘Permanent Resident’. Contact USA Immigration regarding this mention."

You can also check out this URL.
http://www.consulfrancenewyork.org/us/visas/processingtime.htm#PT

Is that means asylees can no longer travel to France? or it just means asyless can not get travel visa at the France Consulate?

Can asylees who has a Schengen Visa issued by other Schengen countries travel to France?
 
Yes, I guess it does. THAT IS REALLY UNFAIR. I was planning a trip to Paris later this year. Looks like I won't be visiting france for the next ten years.

If we are an asylee from the USA, what are the French so afraid of?
 
Correct me if I am wrong , but I think Germany is probably the most asylee friendly European country to visit.

Looks like I'll be going there instead.
 
meLIBERTY2,

I am completely agreed with you. I do not think the practice is fair. It sounds like France does not seem to think Asylees have the right to travel. I do not know about all of you, but I will boyscott any France products. No more France food at least for a while.

Germany is definately very asylees friendly. No visa is required for RTD holders. To be honest, I have not been to Germany, but it has not been on my travel lists. One of my co-workers just came back from Berlin last week and she has a lot of great things to say about Germany. I think I should travel to Germany and check it out.

After I got granted as an asylees, I feel like my right to travel has been taken away. Even though it does sounds a bit exaggerating. Of course, I am still very glad that I am an asylee so that I do not have to worry about losing my status in the US if I got layoff.

Oh well, I think I have complaint too much.
 
Originally posted by cchong
I just saw this posting on the Consulate of France in New YOrk website.

"*Refugee Travel Documents are no longer accepted, unless the class mentioned on the information page reads ‘Permanent Resident’. Contact USA Immigration regarding this mention."

You can also check out this URL.
http://www.consulfrancenewyork.org/us/visas/processingtime.htm#PT

Is that means asylees can no longer travel to France? or it just means asyless can not get travel visa at the France Consulate?

Can asylees who has a Schengen Visa issued by other Schengen countries travel to France?
Click to expand...


I was given the same (bad) news from a French Consulate in California. Does anyone know what are the polices regarding issuing schengen visas to us asylees in other EU countries ? Technically speaking, once the person enters the teritory of an EU country, he/she is free to travel around i.e. one could potentially enter Germany first and then take a train to say France ?

Thanks.
 
benko,

Techinically you can go to Germany and then cross France and other countries. (I assume).

But I do think you should apply for a Schengen Visa thru other countries just to be saved.

I would suggest you check out the Consulate of Netherland, Belgium, Italy, or Schegen countries that close to France. Each countries have different requirements, but there are more or less the same.
 
Most Europeans governements think RTD holders are from the refugee camps

A generalization, I know but I speak from experience

Anyone who has an RTD and has flown through London Heathrow can vouch for this.

Last year I had to fly to London to attend a conference, flew Business Class and went through the Fastrack lane (reserved for Biz and First class passengers)

When they saw my RTD, they thought I had gone through the wrong lane and asked me to step back, until i showed them my Boarding pass. It gets even more confusing to personell who have never seen an RTD especially when your national country does not require a visa to enter, but because you have an RTD you need one. I have gotten used to the scrutiny.

I always wonder though, if we run into difficulty who do we ask for help - the US Embassy?
 
meLIBERTY2,

Asyless have given up the protection from his/her own national country; I would assume if we experience problem in other countries, we should contact the US embassy for protection.

I am surely hope so. Otherwise, we have given up our rights in many areas, and we receive nothing in return other then staying in the US and paying taxes.
 
Originally posted by cchong
meLIBERTY2,

I am completely agreed with you. I do not think the practice is fair. It sounds like France does not seem to think Asylees have the right to travel. I do not know about all of you, but I will boyscott any France products. No more France food at least for a while.

Germany is definately very asylees friendly. No visa is required for RTD holders. To be honest, I have not been to Germany, but it has not been on my travel lists. One of my co-workers just came back from Berlin last week and she has a lot of great things to say about Germany. I think I should travel to Germany and check it out.

After I got granted as an asylees, I feel like my right to travel has been taken away. Even though it does sounds a bit exaggerating. Of course, I am still very glad that I am an asylee so that I do not have to worry about losing my status in the US if I got layoff.

Oh well, I think I have complaint too much.
Click to expand...


Dear friend,

Can you confirm that no visa is required for RTD holders traveling to Germany? I am planing to travel soon and want to be sure. Are there any additional requirements, as asylee country of origin, etc.

From your post, seems your friend traveled recently to Germany, so may be you know some details.

Thank you so much for your replay, or for anybody else's competent response.

Cheers
 
rik-tik-tak,

I saw the posting on the consulate of Germany website and insdicates RTD holders do not require a VISA to Travel to Germany months ago. I try to look for the same info yesterday, but I could not find it.

If I were you, I will contact the consulate of Germany to verify if Visa waiver is still appled to you.
 
Travel to Germany

I was in Germany last August. You do not need visa to travel to Germany (ONLY IF YOU HAVE WHITE RTD, which applies to us - all asylees should have WHITE RTD). Germany do not accept BLUE RTD. I was in German Consulate in Chicago in person and this is the answer I got from them. Give them a call and check, but Germany is the only country in the EU that accepts RTD without visa. Once you get into Germany, it is not recommended to travel to other EU countries without Schengen Visa (remember, most EU countries have national IDs, so police can request ID at any time and any place and they do check from time to time to crack illegal immigration). Although it is not that strict, you never know, and it is easy to get Schengen Visa. Hope this helps.
 
nofreedom,

What do you mean Write color Refugee Travel Document?

I am an Asylee, and I have a Blue color Refugee Travel document. Please clarify.

Chee
 
My bad. GERMANY ACCEPTS BLUE RTD NOT WHITE AS I MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS POST. Blue RTD is the one with BLUE COLOR front page. I'm not sure what are the WHITE RTD, but I'm certain that most of us have BLUE color RTD and that is the one that is accepted in Germany. Sorry about this small mistake.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies.

I am trying to get hold of the German Consulate in San Francisco by phone, but so far no luck. Just wanted to have someone recently traveled to Germany with RTD to confirm - no visa is required for RTD holders.

Yes, I do have blue RTD and I am asylee.

I have seen white RTD before. A friend of mine was refugee, then became permanent resident, but never was able to pass the citenzenship test and become citizen (medical and mental problems). SO he decided to visit its own country and applied for RTD. He was issued a white RTD, looking the same as the blue RTD. So hope that makes sence.

Again, if someone has a link to information or recent traveled to Germany with blue RTD and no visa was required, please let me know. I will appreciate your time and help very much.

Cheers
:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top