Travelling Experiance thru Frankfurt on AP

[HydHero]

I have a travel plan from Chicago to Chennai thru Frankfurt by Lufthansa and coming back in the same route. Would like to know is there any Transit visa issues at frankfurt with Advanced Parole? If any one share their recent experiance that would be great help. Thanks in advance.

[HydHero]

Bump......

[honeylime]

I don't think you can travel via frankfurt without a valid visa anymore. AP is not a valid visa and they do not recognize it as a travel document. Hope that helps!! You will need a transit visa. Do check with the airline/travel agent, they will confirm this with you.

[mendenken]

I traveled via Frankfurt using AP back in August last year. I took transit visa just to avoid any issues at the airport. No one asked for transit visa so another $90 waste of money.
I have several friends who traveled through Frankfurt on AP without transit visas and had no issues.

As you might see in other forums, there is a rule that you will need to have a transit visa to transit through Frankfurt if you don't have a valid visa. But airport just doesn't implement the policy.

[ram04]

My family travelled with AP without Transit few months back, they had no problems at all.

I did all research and Lufthansa confirmed they dont bother about transit visa if it is only few hours. Even called Lufthansa center in Frankfurt.

When contacted German embassy they always said they need transit visa.

Hope this helps.

- Ram

[dassumi]

I traveled via FRA in Sep 2011 without any issues. I was supposed to fly on Continental from New York to Bombay directly, to avoid this exact issue, but that flight got cancelled and they put me on this one. The agent at the CO desk confirmed that I did not need a transit visa and it turned out to be correct.

[foobar2001]

even though the german embassy website says transit visa is required if travelling under AP and expired visa, I myself travelled in dec and know 3 other cases who did without any issues -- as i mentioned in another thread, there is a disconnect between what is posted on embassy website and what is enforced at airports -- so you should be able to travel without transit visa based on recent traveller experiences. (also confirmed with lufthansa airline officials)

[frustratingGC]

even though the german embassy website says transit visa is required if travelling under AP and expired visa, I myself travelled in dec and know 3 other cases who did without any issues -- as i mentioned in another thread, there is a disconnect between what is posted on embassy website and what is enforced at airports -- so you should be able to travel without transit visa based on recent traveller experiences. (also confirmed with lufthansa airline officials)
In worst case, if airport officials of any European country ask for transit visa, what is the remedy at that time?

[HydHero]

Thanks for the reply to every one. I do have the same question "In worst case, if airport officials of frankfurt ask for transit visa, what is the remedy at that time? ". any one any idea?

[soarin3655]

Hero,

Do not worry too much.
They will NOT ask you for a Transit Visa. I traveled thru Frankfurt quiet a few times with family as well as alone using AP. No issue at all.

Probably you are traveling thru Frankfurt for first time using AP. You should be ok:D.

[The7zen]

Thanks for the reply to every one. I do have the same question "In worst case, if airport officials of frankfurt ask for transit visa, what is the remedy at that time? ". any one any idea?

Find out by yourself and let us know. I traveled in 2010 with the transit visa, I am not sure anyone checked or not...just didn't want to take the risk. It was a big Hazel going to the consulate and getting the visa,lost couple of days and few hundred bucks. In future I wont travel via Germany.

[foobar2001]

In worst case, if airport officials of any European country ask for transit visa, what is the remedy at that time?

We're specifically talking about frankfurt in this thread. Other european countries need to be considered on a case by case basis (eg UK I know turns back folks if they dont have transit visa when going thru london).
As for "remedy at that time" - i dont know - the only way to be absolutely safe is of course to get a transit visa but as many on this thread have noted, you should be ok for Frankfurt *based on past experiences*.

[HydHero]

Thanks for responding.