Lufthansa-Transit Visa on AP-Recent Experience

[rameshraju11]

Originally Posted by GCWAIT_2009

Yes, I took an appointment in German consulate Houston.

Hi,

if you traveled to India , did they ask for transit visa ?

Thanks,

[shan24]

Originally Posted by tamil12

Today German Consulate Atlanta

Did you travel to india. Share your experience

[GCWAIT_2009]

I travelled to India last month, but no one asked for a trasit Visa.

[sunshi]

Like one of the members replied earlier....Just Avoid them totally ...Emirates is getting price competitive...and they don't need transit visa. If the lay over is more than 9 hours they give a Dubai transit visa while boarding ( they gave me one in Houston itself - FREE ) and they have good food...plus in-seat TV with many Indian movie/TV episode options. You never get bored unlike in Lufthansa.

[nshalady]

I traveled to India with my family by Lufthansa (Wash DC to Bangalore) in the 3rd week of March with AP without transit visa and returned in the 3rd week of April. Nobody asked for transit visa in DC or Frankfurt or Bangalore. Lufthansa staff seem to accept AP in lieu of transit visa. It is not just us - I know a friend who has done it too last year. By the way, I had checked with German consulate before leaving, and they had told me that a transit visa IS needed if you are traveling on AP.

I am just sharing my experience. If you don't want to take any risk, get transit visa.

[viks14]

Originally Posted by tamil12

No Need of Transit Visa...

I got Email confirmation from Vice Consul German Consul as follows ...

"with a I-512L holder you are fine transitting Frankfurt airport through India and back to US. Please keep in mind that you are not allowed to leave the transit area."

I am travelling next week..

Hope this help

I am in a similar situation - traveling via Munich on AP - would it be possible to share the email from the consulate as you mentioned in your post?

[coopheal]

Originally Posted by viks14

I am in a similar situation - traveling via Munich on AP - would it be possible to share the email from the consulate as you mentioned in your post?

Germany and its seems most of the Europe is no longer allowing to travel if you have just AP. They are now requiring either to have a valid current US Visa or Transit visa.

I had called German consulate and they confirmed it.

German Missions in the United States - Airport Transit
Please note that the advance parole and the approval notice (I-797) are not valid documents for visa free airport transit!


I have choosen to do away with Europe and use the direct flights.

[viks14]

Thanks! I am aware of the requirement - its just that folks had written that they traveled via Germany on AP without Transit visa. I would hoping "tamil12" could share his/her email.

Here is a list of requirements for each country specifically for Indians- http://www..com/visas/transit-visa-requirements.html

[alterego]

Generally it is easier to choose the middle eastern carriers from the US and bypass these Euro nations.
If enough people do this, then their carriers will feel the pinch, will pressure their gov't and they will make a more sensible policy.
I've generally found travel via the middle east more comfortable, cheap and convenient. Ideally We would have more direct flights to Asia, but that will take time.

[frustratingGC]

This issue was going for long time, I never heard AP holder stuck in Frankfort/Munich because of this.

Rule is in book but not implemented, airport officers are not good with visa rules as consulate. if even one officer is enforcing rule, affected people would have put that information in forum....

If I were you, I will analyze risk reward going thru Munich...

[ktmailserv]

Last I looked into this issue, there were differing rules for Frankfurt airport vs other airports in Germany.

I think part of the confusion on this topic is due to the above factor. Some say you don't need a transit, some say you do.

The best thing to do is to ask the airline rep. directly as well the consulate before you book the ticket!

When factoring in total cost for your airfare, do bear in mind that there might be additional direct costs such as transit visa cost as well as indirect cost such as time off work, travel to/from consulate etc.

The issue is very similar to London/UK transit (British Airways et all).

[The WalL]

I've traveled through LHR and FRA on my India trips. On both trips, I didnt have a valid US visa on my passport. During my US-LHR-India leg of a trip, I needed to get DATV (Direct Airside Transit Visa) from British consulate in the US because they argued that since I was transiting through London, I must have some reason for it. I told them I was going to India, my home country and as the passport holder, I shouldnt require it...but their interpretation of their rules were odd. I ended up buying the visa.

On US-FRA-India leg, they didn't ask me anything about needing a visa. The german embassy pointed me to a notice that specifies travelers going onward to their home countries through FRA didn't need to get a visa for transiting. I believe their rules are different for other airports for whatever reason.

[IreneS2]

I had to travel last month and they did ask for the visa!

I was lucky to finish it all in a week because it takes a lot longer if you go the usual way.

http://www.mawista.com/blog/en/schen...a-information/ for all those that want to know how the process goes and what documents you need along the way.

The customs authorities are not always informed about changes and they can be a pain in the a*s when you try to explain it to them.