Transit through Frankfurt

[helpwanted]

Hi,
I am traveling from Washington DC to Calcutta via Frankfurt. My H1-B stamp in passport is expired. I do have H1-B extension (I-797). I called the airline and they do not have the information as to if I require a transit visa. The German Embassy in DC says I do require the Visa. Their website also says that I require a transit visa.

My flight arrives on Terminal 1 and leaves from Terminal 1 of Frankfurt Airport. So I am not changing terminals and would of course be in the international transit area.

Should I suck up and pay $111 (92+19) for the transit visa or there is no visa required. What happens if there is a change in Terminal for some reason. Please advise.

Thanks!

[bandoayan]

Originally Posted by helpwanted

Hi,
I am traveling from Washington DC to Calcutta via Frankfurt. My H1-B stamp in passport is expired. I do have H1-B extension (I-797). I called the airline and they do not have the information as to if I require a transit visa. The German Embassy in DC says I do require the Visa. Their website also says that I require a transit visa.

My flight arrives on Terminal 1 and leaves from Terminal 1 of Frankfurt Airport. So I am not changing terminals and would of course be in the international transit area.

Should I suck up and pay $111 (92+19) for the transit visa or there is no visa required. What happens if there is a change in Terminal for some reason. Please advise.

Thanks!

You do not need a transit visa to travel through Frankfurt because you are returning from USA after having used the visa. Here is the link from German consulate Chicago which clearly mentions this. I was in similar situation in 2011 travelling from DTW to CCU and had no problems while transiting through Frankfurt.

[vine93]

on another note

Just recently for Parolees rules got changed.

On AP you have to take transit visa if you are travelling through Frankfurt.

[ksprabhu]

I think you need the transit visa. Even I had the same question although for my wife on H4.

They (germany.info) have updated the exception document to this:
2. If they return from the USA after having used the visa (however,
the return has to occur within latest four days after expiration
of the validity of the visa)
The note in the bracket starting with (however,) they have added recently. Because it was not there when I checked few weeks back when we applied for transit visa.

[ksprabhu]

Originally Posted by ksprabhu

I think you need the transit visa. Even I had the same question although for my wife on H4.

They (germany.info) have updated the exception document to this:
2. If they return from the USA after having used the visa (however,
the return has to occur within latest four days after expiration
of the validity of the visa)
The note in the bracket starting with (however,) they have added recently. Because it was not there when I checked few weeks back when we applied for transit visa.

Here is the link:
German Missions in the United States - Airport Transit

[helpwanted]

When did you travel? Did you get a visa? Did they let you board without visa?

[helpwanted]

i noticed that as well and that is the reason i was wondering if i should get one. I called the airlines and they said no. but the germany.info clearly lists that we do need a visa. Now they obviously make money and that is why they could say this, even though it is not required.

[ateet]

Originally Posted by helpwanted

Hi,
I am traveling from Washington DC to Calcutta via Frankfurt. My H1-B stamp in passport is expired. I do have H1-B extension (I-797). I called the airline and they do not have the information as to if I require a transit visa. The German Embassy in DC says I do require the Visa. Their website also says that I require a transit visa.

My flight arrives on Terminal 1 and leaves from Terminal 1 of Frankfurt Airport. So I am not changing terminals and would of course be in the international transit area.

Should I suck up and pay $111 (92+19) for the transit visa or there is no visa required. What happens if there is a change in Terminal for some reason. Please advise.

Thanks!

Me and my wife just transited through Munich from EWR to MUC to BOM via Lufthansa on Nov 10, 2011. Nobody at airline counter asked or checked for transit visa or asked for I-797 or anything. We just made sure we gave back our I-94's attached on I-797 approval notice. Our H1B and H4 stamps expired in Sep of this year. We got our stamping done in Mumbai on Nov 25 and we came back to US on Nov 30.

Always remember the fact that originating and transiting country doesn't care since you are going to back to your country of citizenship. Your country of citizenship should never deport you as that would render your position as a stateless person.

While it is reverse coming back since US can always deny you entry. So airlines must all details on your Visa, AP or GC in India when you are coming back to US. Hope this clears confusion. Don't spend much time on researching this issue and money on Germany transit visa. Also Germany consulate officers will always play on safer side. They don't know all the facts and tell you to get transit visa.

Hope this helps and good luck with travel.

[helpwanted]

Originally Posted by ateet

Me and my wife just transited through Munich from EWR to MUC to BOM via Lufthansa on Nov 10, 2011. Nobody at airline counter asked or checked for transit visa or asked for I-797 or anything. We just made sure we gave back our I-94's attached on I-797 approval notice. Our H1B and H4 stamps expired in Sep of this year. We got our stamping done in Mumbai on Nov 25 and we came back to US on Nov 30.

Always remember the fact that originating and transiting country doesn't care since you are going to back to your country of citizenship. Your country of citizenship should never deport you as that would render your position as a stateless person.

While it is reverse coming back since US can always deny you entry. So airlines must all details on your Visa, AP or GC in India when you are coming back to US. Hope this clears confusion. Don't spend much time on researching this issue and money on Germany transit visa. Also Germany consulate officers will always play on safer side. They don't know all the facts and tell you to get transit visa.

Hope this helps and good luck with travel.

Thanks! I was hoping someone who has traveled recently tells me this. and this confirms my doubts.

[ksprabhu]

Originally Posted by helpwanted

When did you travel? Did you get a visa? Did they let you board without visa?

To update: My wife reached India and at Frankfurt she was NOT asked the transit visa...
It is just a money making tactic that they require you to get the transit visa...

[foobar2001]

I did a fair amount of research (calling consulate, following internet threads) and the conclusion seems to be that though the german consulate website seems to require transit visa if you are travelling on AP or expired H1B (that has expired more than a few days), this is not enforced at airports.
My brother and sis in law who were travelling on AP from US to India via heathrow in dec 2011 were not allowed to board their flight because they didnt have the DATV transit visa. They were given the option of flying lufthansa, which they hesitantly took due to websites and consulate emails indicating they would need a visa for transiting via frankfurt too. However, on the basis of several recent experiences of friends, we concluded that though official website (and even some email responses from consulates) indicate that transit visa would be reqired, they were not asked for transit visa either while boarding in USA or transiting via germany.

So, BOTTOM LINE: Official stance is transit visa required to transit via germany, but this is not being enforced at US or German airports.

Hope this helps and bon voyage!!

[prabirmehta]

Originally Posted by ateet

Always remember the fact that originating and transiting country doesn't care since you are going to back to your country of citizenship. Your country of citizenship should never deport you as that would render your position as a stateless person.

While I totally agree with your logic, my experience has been different. I was flying from Atlanta to Mumbai 5 years ago on Air France transitting through Paris. I am an Indian citizen - I was holding a valid Indian passport with an unexpired I-797, though the H1b visa had expired.

I was not allowed to board my flight in Atlanta by Air France because of the expired H-1b visa even though I had a valid I-797; visa appointment letter for Mumbai and other relevant documents.

I tried to escalate the issue to a supervisor but they didn't care. All they said was that Air France/French government did not recognize the I-797 and only things in the passport were considered. They didn't care about the the fact that I was heading to India. They kept on saying that Air France would be fined 500 Euros for every passenger who didn't have valid documents.

I finally gave up and took a different flight (at considerable expense) through Dubai which did not have these requirements.

I wish there was some consistency in transit laws.