Germany Transit Visa - Good News for Advance Parole holders

L

leogsb

Registered Users (C)
Attached is the memo issued by the Consulate of Germany, Chicago on 11/28/05.

I personally talked to the head of the visa section and politely argued why the Advance Parole holders should need transit visa. To my pleasant surprise, the officer issued the attched memo the very next day and sent me the copy by email. Thanks to the officer for the quick action.

Hope this helps those who are looking for some concrete direction on transit visa for Germany while holding Advance Parole. Don't forget to take the print of the memo if you are traveling through Germany...just in case!!

Regards :)
Leo
 
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Good job

When I had written to German Consulate in NYC, I had got a written reply from them (email) which said I need a transit visa. Any way this letter from Chicago consulate certainly helps even though it is contradicting - especially if you are in a hurry and have to travel through Germany.
 
Hi leogsb,

I see that the form says "including Advance Parole and I 551 stamp". Do you what is this I 551 stamp? Do you think we should have both of them?

Thanks,
Raghu.
 
Leo,

Good job....!!!

You may have to talk to them again to change "AND" as "OR" between Advance parole , I-551 Stamp.
 
Transit Visa.

I talk to them 3 weeks back they strictly said we(ap guys) must need transit visa.They said according to new rule(i dont know what it is) i can go to India but i cannot travell back from germany
 
raghubabu said:
Hi leogsb,

I see that the form says "including Advance Parole and I 551 stamp". Do you what is this I 551 stamp? Do you think we should have both of them?

Thanks,
Raghu.
Click to expand...
I-551 stamp is the stamping you get done after the 485 is approved. You may not need the I-551 stamp if you got your biometrics(capturing of index finger and picture) is done.
 
No one asked for transit Visa while stopover in germany

I went to India Nov17 and came back on nov29 using Air India with stop over at frankfurt. I have advance parole . No one asked me to show the valid visa or any thing. I just got out of the plane , after an hour later I got into the same plane. They just gave me some transit card. No stamp in the passport. If you are travelling thru frankfurt and no flight change. You don't need to worry. This is my expereince only. But why you take risk. Plan your iterinery appropriatley and have transit visa go and come back peacefully.
 
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mtreddy said:
I went to India Nov17 and came back on nov29 using Air India with stop over at frankfurt. I have advance parole . No one asked me to show the valid visa or any thing. I just got out of the plane , after an hour later I got into the same plane. They just gave me some transit card. No stamp in the passport. If you are travelling thru frankfurt and no flight change. You don't need to worry. This is my expereince only. But why you take risk. Plan your iterinery appropriatley and have transit visa go and come back peacefully.
Click to expand...

I had to visit india for an official visit last month and took Continental Airlines from Newark to delhi. Had no problems coming back. I would advise you guys to take non-stop flight to india rather than taking a stopover in Germany/France/UK. Now we have two non-stop flights to india (American Airlines from Chicago and Continental from Newark). Why risk yourself by taking flights that have stopovers?
 
I traveled to India ( 11 Nov. - 2 Dec. ) on AP. It appeared to me that no one bothered to see the transit VISA at any stage even when I had one on my passport. AP was enough to satisfy all.
At IAD airport the agent did ask for previous I-94 ( expired one / H1B I-94). I-94 shows legal stay and the same wording is used in this memo.

I was amazed at my US return as well. Primary inspector wrote PPC ( ? ) on Customs form with a yellow marker and then at Customs check point the officer directed me for secondary inspection. The officer stamped my AP and I-94 and returned both to me. No question asked at any stage ( i.e. typical employer question when I had H1 VISA ). No finger print or snaps ( US-VISIT requirements ) at all. My AP is valid until 04/27/2006 but I-94 is stamped till 12/02/2006.

At FRA airport while taking FRA-IAD flight the inspector said that having AP is equivalent to having a green card if you are traveling to US :p

I flew Lufthansa with 4-5 hours of stopover time.

At least I got a feel about how easy it would be to travel once I have the green card :D ;)
 
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Well it all luck,but we cannot take a chance

MD_Rockville said:
I traveled to India ( 11 Nov. - 2 Dec. ) on AP. It appeared to me that no one bothered to see the transit VISA at any stage even when I had one on my passport. AP was enough to satisfy all.
At IAD airport the agent did ask for previous I-94 ( expired one / H1B I-94). I-94 shows legal stay and the same wording is used in this memo.

I was amazed at my US return as well. Primary inspector wrote PPC ( ? ) on Customs form with a yellow marker and then at Customs check point the officer directed me for secondary inspection. The officer stamped my AP and I-94 and returned both to me. No question asked at any stage ( i.e. typical employer question when I had H1 VISA ). No finger print or snaps ( US-VISIT requirements ) at all. My AP is valid until 04/27/2006 but I-94 is stamped till 12/02/2006.

At FRA airport while taking FRA-IAD flight the inspector said that having AP is equivalent to having a green card if you are traveling to US :p

I flew Lufthansa with 4-5 hours of stopover time.

At least I got a feel about how easy it would be to travel once I have the green card :D ;)
Click to expand...
What will happen if some one ask and make a big issue.when you have chance to take other flights(may be little more cost in the price) why we we need to take risk...
And question for MD_Rockville your I-94 and AP stamped until 2006 dec ,it means your AP expires on dec 06 or 04/27/06..?what is the validity of AP??
 
chicagopains said:
What will happen if some one ask and make a big issue.when you have chance to take other flights(may be little more cost in the price) why we we need to take risk...
And question for MD_Rockville your I-94 and AP stamped until 2006 dec ,it means your AP expires on dec 06 or 04/27/06..?what is the validity of AP??
Click to expand...
When you use AP to re-enter, your I-94 would be stamped with a date which is one year from the date of entry. It has no connection to your AP validity dates.
Oh and btw, this I94 dates means nothing w.r.t your duration of legal stay either (which is 485 territory !)
 
still confused...

max2k1 said:
When you use AP to re-enter, your I-94 would be stamped with a date which is one year from the date of entry. It has no connection to your AP validity dates.
Oh and btw, this I94 dates means nothing w.r.t your duration of legal stay either (which is 485 territory !)
Click to expand...
Sorry to ask again.My AP approved on 02-02-05--to--01-31-06.I went to India first time 04/04/05 .second time and came back on Nov 22nd ,05.My second I-94 valid until 22,nov 2006.

So i am assuming that i can go to india on same AP before 22 nov 2006.

OR

I have to apply for new AP before jan 31,2006 to travell????
 
MD_Rockville said:
I traveled to India ( 11 Nov. - 2 Dec. ) on AP. It appeared to me that no one bothered to see the transit VISA at any stage even when I had one on my passport. AP was enough to satisfy all.
At IAD airport the agent did ask for previous I-94 ( expired one / H1B I-94). I-94 shows legal stay and the same wording is used in this memo.

I was amazed at my US return as well. Primary inspector wrote PPC ( ? ) on Customs form with a yellow marker and then at Customs check point the officer directed me for secondary inspection. The officer stamped my AP and I-94 and returned both to me. No question asked at any stage ( i.e. typical employer question when I had H1 VISA ). No finger print or snaps ( US-VISIT requirements ) at all. My AP is valid until 04/27/2006 but I-94 is stamped till 12/02/2006.

At FRA airport while taking FRA-IAD flight the inspector said that having AP is equivalent to having a green card if you are traveling to US :p

I flew Lufthansa with 4-5 hours of stopover time.

At least I got a feel about how easy it would be to travel once I have the green card :D ;)
Click to expand...


everybody who uses AP goes through secondary inspection.

and by the statement "having AP is like having GC makes me laugh" :D
dont u notice that inspite of having AP you stand in line which says "Visitors having a visa" instead of US Citizens or Perm Residents. Go figure!
 
chicagopains said:
Sorry to ask again.My AP approved on 02-02-05--to--01-31-06.I went to India first time 04/04/05 .second time and came back on Nov 22nd ,05.My second I-94 valid until 22,nov 2006.

So i am assuming that i can go to india on same AP before 22 nov 2006.

OR

I have to apply for new AP before jan 31,2006 to travell????
Click to expand...
you need a new AP!!
 
Story is different on their website.

http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/missions/consulates/chicago/visachicago.html


Clearly says ...

Airport transit visa:
Processing times for applications: two business days (submitted in person), three to four business days (receivved by mail). Please note that processing time will be longer in case we need to get back to you.
In order to establish if you need an airport transit visa, please be informed that the following documents are not sufficient to travel without an airport transit visa:
- I551
- advanced parole
- approval notice
- work permit
 
I asked the same question to German embassy in washington, DC stating "I am a Indian citizen, My US visa is expired but I do have valid Adavnce Parole to re enter into US, I would like to know if I need Transit visa to travel through Germany"

Answer From German Embassy in Washinton:
Dear XXXX
with a valid Visa (Travel Document or Advance Parole) or Green Card for the
United States you don´t require an airport transit visa to travel through
Germany.
Have a safe journey.
Sincerely
XXXXXX
Visasection
German Embassy Washington

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Already this stupid lufthansa makes us pay $350 in taxes and some junk fees and now this Transit visa (for what we did not ask any airline to go thru Germany or some EU country).
 
Is there any limit on the " number of days" outside US when using Advance Parole. My wife is planning to visit home for 3 months on AP. Is that okay?

My 140 was approved on Oct, 05. Waiting on 485 decision.
 
mb1234 said:
Is there any limit on the " number of days" outside US when using Advance Parole. My wife is planning to visit home for 3 months on AP. Is that okay?

My 140 was approved on Oct, 05. Waiting on 485 decision.
Click to expand...
Come before expiration date of AP.
 
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