my europe trip experience

cchong

Registered Users (C)
I have promised some of you that I will post my travel experience in Europe once I return. I traveled to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris, and London.

I applied my travel visa at the Netherlands Consulate in New York. The visa application process took two weeks.

Before I landed at the Amsterdam Airport, I transfered in London. There was no need to go thru immigration during the transfer process. Once I arrived at the AMS Airport in Amsterdam(Netherlands), the immigration officer asked me about the purpose of my trip. He asked one of his co-workers about my light green color travel document becuase he was confused.

After I spent several days in Amsterdam, I took the Benelux train to Brussel(Belgium). There was no border check point. I only require to show my train ticket to the conductor.

The next day I travelled to Paris (France) on the Thalys trian. I spent few days in Paris before I travelled back to Brussel on the Thalys train. There were no immigration check point on both directions. I only required to show my train tickets.

When I arrived at the Waterloo Station in London on the Eurostar train, I was required to go thru immigration. The officer asd me about the duration of my trip and he also commented about the light green color travel document. But I was not required to finger print.

When I flew back to the US last night, I landed at the JFK airport in New York City . I received a stamped that says "AYSLUM STATUS granted pursuant to Section 208...Valid to Indef...EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZED." I lined up at one of the US passport holder lines. The officer did not ask me any question except the duration of my trip. When he was walking me to a room, he asked if I know why I am going to a different room. I told him that I am going to get a special stamp on my I-94.

Overall experience was very pleasant.
 
Originally posted by cchong
I have promised some of you that I will post my travel experience in Europe once I return. I traveled to Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris, and London.

I applied my travel visa at the Netherlands Consulate in New York. The visa application process took two weeks.

Before I landed at the Amsterdam Airport, I transfered in London. There was no need to go thru immigration during the transfer process. Once I arrived at the AMS Airport in Amsterdam(Netherlands), the immigration officer asked me about the purpose of my trip. He asked one of his co-workers about my light green color travel document becuase he was confused.

After I spent several days in Amsterdam, I took the Benelux train to Brussel(Belgium). There was no border check point. I only require to show my train ticket to the conductor.

The next day I travelled to Paris (France) on the Thalys trian. I spent few days in Paris before I travelled back to Brussel on the Thalys train. There were no immigration check point on both directions. I only required to show my train tickets.

When I arrived at the Waterloo Station in London on the Eurostar train, I was required to go thru immigration. The officer asd me about the duration of my trip and he also commented about the light green color travel document. But I was not required to finger print.

When I flew back to the US last night, I landed at the JFK airport in New York City . I received a stamped that says "AYSLUM STATUS granted pursuant to Section 208...Valid to Indef...EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZED." I lined up at one of the US passport holder lines. The officer did not ask me any question except the duration of my trip. When he was walking me to a room, he asked if I know why I am going to a different room. I told him that I am going to get a special stamp on my I-94.

Overall experience was very pleasant.

cchong

I am glad you made it back safe and sound from your long trip to Europe. What surprised me in your posting is how the British immigration officer let you in on your way back, because you don't have a valid visa to England. The visa that you got from the Netherlands consulate in New York is a "Shenegan" visa which allows you to tour certain countries in Europe with the same visa and I am sure that England is not one of those countries.
 
Re: Re: my europe trip experience

Originally posted by EaglSkyB
cchong

I am glad you made it back safe and sound from your long trip to Europe. What surprised me in your posting is how the British immigration officer let you in on your way back, because you don't have a valid visa to England. The visa that you got from the Netherlands consulate in New York is a "Shenegan" visa which allows you to tour certain countries in Europe with the same visa and I am sure that England is not one of those countries.

EaglskyB,

I am sorry that I did not mention about the UK visa. I do have a 1 year multi-entries visa. I applied for two visas. One was the UK and the other was the schengen visa.

UK is not one of the schengen states. The UK visa process took 5 business days excluding mailing time. You can no longer walk-in to the British Consulate in New York if your travel date is not within the 5-days period. At first, I was intended to apply for a 6-months visa, but the consulate told me that there are no different in requirements for a one year visa except the fees.

If you have any questions, please let me know.
 
Thanks

cchong-
Thanks for the promised update. I am still waiting for my travel document before I can start planning my summer trip to London. Thanks again.
 
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