Transit through Germany

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kn12_2000

Registered Users (C)
I am travelling to India to get my H1 visa stamped. The H1 visa stamp on my passport has expired but I am in valid H1 status until late next year. My travel agent says I need a German transit visa to fly Luthansa. Does the I-797 document (H1) constitute a valid visa (atleast for departure from the US) since it has a valid departure card (I-94) on it?

Does anyone have any experience in this matter?


kn12_2000
 
No you dont need a transit a visa for germany to go India.

I know a friend who just went with a valid 797 but expired h1 visa
 
kn12_2000 said:
I am travelling to India to get my H1 visa stamped. The H1 visa stamp on my passport has expired but I am in valid H1 status until late next year. My travel agent says I need a German transit visa to fly Luthansa. Does the I-797 document (H1) constitute a valid visa (atleast for departure from the US) since it has a valid departure card (I-94) on it?

Does anyone have any experience in this matter?


kn12_2000
Click to expand...
Answer varies ... I asked 3 german consulates & did not get a consistent response.
(Esp since I was traveling on Parole).

Best bet is to email/call the consulates and double check .... these dumb rules keep changing every so often :(
 
My friend just went 2 months ago and came a 2 weeks ago. he also got his H1 stamped from Mumbai consulate. So while going to India he did not have a transit visa of germany and he took lufthansa. Also I went 3 weeks ago and I noticed on frankfurt no one really cares if u have german visa as long as ur still in transit
 
smxhan said:
My friend just went 2 months ago and came a 2 weeks ago. he also got his H1 stamped from Mumbai consulate. So while going to India he did not have a transit visa of germany and he took lufthansa. Also I went 3 weeks ago and I noticed on frankfurt no one really cares if u have german visa as long as ur still in transit
Click to expand...
It all depends on your nationality ... For Indian nationals, an airport transit visa is REQUIRED if you don't have a valid US visa.
See this URL

Again, maybe you & ur friend had one of these exceptions or just got lucky -- good for you !!

Its better for anyone to go by whatever the current rules are .... safer :)
 
I am an indian national with H1 and no GC in process. And lot of people I know who used Lufthansa never had to apply for german visa even though they did not have a valid US visa stamped. I dont think so many people get lucky at the same time.

Secondly noone at the airport really checks ur PP to see if u have a transit visa or bothers to do that even after u go thru security check again on Frankfurt. They just look at the boarding pass.

I have listed my recent personal exp and recent exp of friends and relatives I know of.

So its upto the person who originally posted this question how to use this info.

HEY lastly the airline should not let you board the flight from US itself if they feel that u need a transit visa.
 
Well .... I refer the OP back to the same URL

It clearly says that an Indian National needs a transit visa if they don't have a valid US visa (or GC).

As I read it, there is no ambiguity in it .... so there :)
 
Guys,

I called German conuslate for this issue beacuse I will be visiting India next month and have the same situation, Valid H1-B Visa Extension paper & expired stamp in passport. As per the guidelines from German Consulate, it is must to get transit Visa in the case like mine. However, you don't need transit visa for Frankfurt if you are using Advance Parole. Also, I called and checked with France (for Delta/Air France) and Netherland (for Northwest/Klm airline possibility) and the answers are as follows:
France Consulate: It is must to get transit Visa in both the cases, like mine and advance parole. No exception if don't have valid VISA in your passport.
Netherland consulate: No need of trasit visa if you are holding an Indian passport. Doesn't matter if Visa in passport is expired or valid. Just need to meet the Indian passport holder condition. The same statement and fact available on Netherland Embassy's website.

So this is what I personally found, rest is upto you. The best thing to clear doubts is call these Embassies and check your self.
 
Transit visa reqd. accdg. to German Consulate

First of all, thanks for everyone's prompt responses to my question.

I called two German consulates - Chicago and San Francisco - and both said I need a transit visa as the H1 visa on the passport has expired. According to the consular officials, NEITHER the I-797 doc (the notice of action document with departure card, as they put it) NOR the advance parole document constitute a valid visa - they expect a vlaid visa recorded in one's passport or valid greencard. That the advance parole doc is inadequate is actually mentioned in the automated phone info for Chicago (312-580-1199).

As some of the forum members have experienced, the airline does not check but I am not going to take a chance. I can apply by mail (I'm in Michigan) and it is only $13 bucks per transit visa - it is worth getting one to be safe.
My only gripe is the travel agent has no clue about this requirement. I would have probably considered travel options other than Lufthansa.


kn12_2000
 
kn12_2000 said:
I am travelling to India to get my H1 visa stamped. The H1 visa stamp on my passport has expired but I am in valid H1 status until late next year. My travel agent says I need a German transit visa to fly Luthansa. Does the I-797 document (H1) constitute a valid visa (atleast for departure from the US) since it has a valid departure card (I-94) on it?

Does anyone have any experience in this matter?


kn12_2000
Click to expand...

I am in the same situation. Travelling to india via frankfurt through Emirates on Oct 28th. Well each German consulate has different version and I do not want to take risk, so i drove 4hrs to Atlanta german consulate and applied for transit visa. And the lady there is really friendly and she told me that I do need visa. So i applied there and waiting for it to receive now. So if possible apply for one either personally or by mail.
 
Obtained German airport transit visa

Hello all,
I obtained the airport transit visa. I sent it Thursday to the German consulate in Chicago by express mail and got the visa stamp back on Saturday - yes, a two day turnover.

I sent my passport, original H1-B notice of action (I-797) document and copy of itinerary along with the application.


kn12_2000
 
Different Answeres

I sent emails to Atlanta and New York German Consulates... The Atlanta Consulate says that if you have valid AP you don't need Transit Visa. But the New York consulate says that I need Transit Visa even though I have valid AP. I sent a mail back to New York consulate asking them why they don't have the same answere... I am still waiting for the reply....
 
Guys,
For travelling via Paris, if you do NOT have a valid US Visa stamped, you need an "Airport Transit Visa", if your stay at the Airport is less then 6 hours, else a Transit Visa.

There are NO Exceptions to this and you have to get this done, or you might be stopped at the Airport and NOT allowed to board.
This is the information I got when I went to get my "Airport Transit Visa" stamped at the French Consulate in NY.

Hope this helps..
 
Going to India by Air India via Paris

waitingforgc04, I am in the same situation valid H1 approval but no stamping ..I would like to know how long it takes to get the french visa if you go personally to french consulate in NY and any other docs you have to take other than application, pp, copy of tickets ? as I am going to do it for my wife and kids.
Thanks,
 
gc_321,
This is what you need :

The fees for One Transit Visa is $42.68.

The Docs you need are:
- Schengen Visa form (downloadable from there website)
- Passport
- Copy of I-797 ( though they did'nt even check mine)
- Original Tickets and a Copy of the Tickets with Itenerary.

It took us 30 minutes to get it done at the Consulate. I got it done yesterday.

Hope this helps..
 
Got Transit Visa for Britain

Yesterday I got transit visa for my wife and son who are travelling by BA to India with AP.... The Visa stamp has expired... went to British Consulate in NYC with appointment... and the forms filled in advance.... they took around 2 hours to process the application and stamp the visa. They gave us 5 years multiple entry transit visa.....

link to make appointment

https://www.britainusa.com/eappointments/ny/make_detail_mainam.asp
and the link for other info..

http://www.britainusa.com/visas/other_show.asp?SarticleType=25&Other_ID=313
 
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