I am Panic, Transit Visa via Frantfurt (new info and I am scared)

Additional Info

Very recently I went to India via Germany. Though I have used my AP while returning I have not taken any transit visa the reason is my H1 was still valid. At Frankfurt airport what all they will check is whether or not you have valid visa. FYI...I was no longer working for the employer who sponsed my actual H1 visa. Hope this helps. But make sure you talk to the counsulate folks and explain your visa situation.

It's true if your H1' visa is expired. You will definetly need the Transit(Hu-Shit) visa.

Goodluck
 
I CONTACTED SFO GERMAN CONSULATE LAST TIME WHEN I WANTED TO TRAVEL. I SENT EMAIL TO gksf@pacbell.net(also refer website: www.germany-info.org). FOLLOWING IS THE CUT AND PASTE OF THE ATTACHMENT PER GERMAN CONSULATE EMAIL REPLY. TRY TO CALL OR SEND EMAIL TO SFO GERMAN CONSULATE, THEY ARE HELPFUL.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Generalkonsulat
der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Consulate General Av/-
of the Federal Republic of Germany
Ref: RK 10 515 SP (Please quote when replying)


The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in San Francisco would like to inform
you about the following regulations concerning airport transit visas for travelers with Indian or
Turkish passports traveling through German airports:
If the traveler holds
a) a residence permit or visa of a member state of the European Union or a member state of the
European Economic Area (EEA, i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or
b) a residence permit of Andorra, Japan Canada, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or the USA
(including Advance Parole and I 551 Stamp)
an airport transit visa is - NOT - required.
In addition, please note:
Indian and Turkish airport transit travelers who after a legal stay in the USA , Canada or
Switzerland return to the country whose citizenship they hold do not need an airport transit visa.
Indian and Turkish airport travellers who are holding a valid approval notice do NOT need an
airport transit visa for returning to their home country. However, on their return to the US they
require a new US-visa.
As this is the latest update by the German Government until further notice, please refer also to our
official website www.germany-info.org.
Please do not hesitate to contact this Consulate General if you require further information
Address: Telephone: Telefax: e-mail: website:
1960 Jackson Street (415) 775-1061 (415) 775-0187 gksf@pacbell.net www.germany-info.org
(between Octavia and Gough)
San Francisco CA 94109
---------------------------------------------------------------------




baby_mde said:
Hi Everyone,

We are visiting India for 2-3 weeks and we are using Advanced Parole to enter to US and we are traveling via Frankfurt, Germany.

Just today I have talked to Germany consulate they said I have to take transit visa from India for return trip to US.

I have gone through many threads on this topic, nobody said anything about this. Is this new rule??

I also visited chenni (Germany) consulate website and they do not have option for transit visa. Do I have to go to Delhi?? I live in Hyderabad. We are traveling with two kids.

Any idea????
Click to expand...
 
baby_mde said:
We are traveling with two kids.
.
Click to expand...
Holen has the correct advice.
Just curious.. why didn't you opt for the direct flights by Air India to Bombay via London/ Paris. Though they have a one hour stop over, NO transit visa is required. I thought the fares were the cheapest and the food was the best.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
indone said:
Holen has the correct advice.
Just curious.. why didn't you opt for the direct flights by Air India to Bombay via London/ Paris. Though they have a one hour stop over, NO transit visa is required. I thought the fares were the cheapest and the food was the best.
Click to expand...


Yes, you need Transit Visa for this too.
 
holen said:
I CONTACTED SFO GERMAN CONSULATE LAST TIME WHEN I WANTED TO TRAVEL. I SENT EMAIL TO gksf@pacbell.net(also refer website: www.germany-info.org). FOLLOWING IS THE CUT AND PASTE OF THE ATTACHMENT PER GERMAN CONSULATE EMAIL REPLY. TRY TO CALL OR SEND EMAIL TO SFO GERMAN CONSULATE, THEY ARE HELPFUL.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Generalkonsulat
der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Consulate General Av/-
of the Federal Republic of Germany
Ref: RK 10 515 SP (Please quote when replying)


The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in San Francisco would like to inform
you about the following regulations concerning airport transit visas for travelers with Indian or
Turkish passports traveling through German airports:
If the traveler holds
a) a residence permit or visa of a member state of the European Union or a member state of the
European Economic Area (EEA, i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or
b) a residence permit of Andorra, Japan Canada, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or the USA
(including Advance Parole and I 551 Stamp)
an airport transit visa is - NOT - required.
In addition, please note:
Indian and Turkish airport transit travelers who after a legal stay in the USA , Canada or
Switzerland return to the country whose citizenship they hold do not need an airport transit visa.
Indian and Turkish airport travellers who are holding a valid approval notice do NOT need an
airport transit visa for returning to their home country. However, on their return to the US they
require a new US-visa.
As this is the latest update by the German Government until further notice, please refer also to our
official website www.germany-info.org.
Please do not hesitate to contact this Consulate General if you require further information
Address: Telephone: Telefax: e-mail: website:
1960 Jackson Street (415) 775-1061 (415) 775-0187 gksf@pacbell.net www.germany-info.org
(between Octavia and Gough)
San Francisco CA 94109
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Click to expand...

gksf@pacbell.net does not work.
 
You dont need a transit visa if you have AP for Frankfurt

You don’t need a transit visa if you have AP. I traveled with my family[my wife and a kid] in May 2006 that is couple of months ago. I was worried the same way. I called the German consulate in Atlanta. They said if we have AP we don’t need transit visa. Unless you have a break of journey in Frankfurt, you don’t need a transit visa. If you have a valid AP you are good to travel via Frankfurt. A person who has not even traveled via Frankfurt with AP gives lot of advice in this thread. This is very common with our Indian community, of course I might do the same in some other situation, and any how do not worry. You don't need a transit visa.
 
sankar_ra said:
A person who has not even traveled via Frankfurt with AP gives lot of advice in this thread. This is very common with our Indian community, of course I might do the same in some other situation, and any how do not worry. You don't need a transit visa.
Click to expand...

Quite well said. These half-baked "advices" create a false paranoia.
 
baby_mde said:
Yes, you need Transit Visa for this too.
Click to expand...
I have made a number of trips by Air India....Never had a transit visa. And i am positive that you don't need transit VISA via london/paris on a direct flight.
The logic goes..it is required only if you were to get on to the tarmac (foreign Soil)to change flights.
Both at Heathrow( London) and at CDG( Paris) the authorities clean up the plane but prior to that they cordon off a section of the area when they deplane you and watch you with hawk eyes.
I once experienced an incident of a Bird hit and we had to change flights at Heathrow. They did the same procedure. NO transit VISA was required.
I have NO idea of Frankfurt and German laws.
 
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Witj UK you need a visa called air side visa (and not transit visa) even if you are not changing flight or anything. If you land in UK, you need a visa, period (unless you have GC). I had to get one a month ago.

rgds,
akela
 
I was talking of direct flights NOT transit or changes.
baby_mde...please check
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/consular_services/visa/countrylist.html see exception 4
Please also see http://www.immihelp.com/visas/nonustransit.html and...exceptions...Holders of US visa are exempted.

NOTE: In addition to above, if you are a Indian National traveling from USA to India you DO NOT need DATV if your transit point is Paris or Frankfurt ONLY when flying Air India or Lufthansa. However, certain check-in staff of certain US domestic airlines may not be aware of this waiver for Air India passengers and may deny boarding to you.
NEW: As of Jan 1, 2005, German Border Control requires DATV for Indian nationals irrespective of their US visa status. However, as per the latest information available, effective February 24th, Indian Nationals will be granted an Exceptional Airport Transit Visa Upon Arrival at a German Transit Airport on a goodwill basis. This is a temporary exemption till German Border Control is able to establish further procedures."

France: http://www.consulfrance-newyork.org/us/visas/airporttransit.htm
UK: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk
Germany: http://www.germanyinfo.org/relaunch/info/consular_services/visa/transit.html
Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.html

But I guess if the Germal consulate has told so implies that the "temporary exemption till German Border Control is able to establish further procedures" have finished and you have NO option..I would ring up again and speak to a different person
 
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