Is German airport transit visa required for travelling through Frankfurt with AP

[ntpatil]

My wife and kids will be traveling next week to India via Frankfurt. They have approved AP. H4 visa has expired on the passport. Last when I checked the German consulate website about 2 months ago, it said that under exception 4 for India, we don't need a transit visa since we have an approved AP.
Now the website does not mention about AP at all, only unexpired visa or GC for no transit visa.

Any recent experiences for travel by Lufthansa through Frankfurt on AP.

Please share, as we do not have enough time to apply for transit visa now.

[rameshms]

I traveled to India and back in December 2009, via Frankfurt. I showed them my AP and did not need a transit visa. I am assuming you will not need it too, unless something has changed.

[ntpatil]

Originally Posted by rameshms

I traveled to India and back in December 2009, via Frankfurt. I showed them my AP and did not need a transit visa. I am assuming you will not need it too, unless something has changed.

Thanks ramesh. The reason I am concerned is that now they do not have AP as a acceptable document listed. Earlier it was explicitly there. So I was looking for someone who traveled in a month or two.

[newuser]

You shouldn't have any problems. Travelled a month back.

Here is the link that talks about re-entry document

German Missions in the United States - Transit Visa Country List


PS: Don't buy liqour from non european countries or airlines and travel via Germany. They don't allow through security check. Lesson learned hard way. Have to throwaway in the dustbin.

[istrategist]

Asked them this question two days ago by email. here's their response

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your mail. Our transit visa regulations for Indian Nationals are listed at the following links:
German Missions in the United States - Airport Transit


German Missions in the United States - Transit Visa Country List

Please note that an "Advanced Parole" paper is not listed among our exceptions at our website for Indian Nationals.
This means that holders of an "Advanced Parole" paper do require a transit visa or have to take an other flight route besides Germany.


Kind regards,

Visa Section, Consulate General
of the Federal Republic of Germany
871 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017

[KRS]

My Family came to US from India via Frankfurt (Lufthansa airlines) last week and had no issues. All they had was AP (no other visa). No problems in India, Frankfurt or US (had to wait for secondary inspection where they were asked nothing ).

[raj19720926]

"NewUser" may I ask you if you travelled back after April 5 2010 ? as the information on German website got changed after that ...and now as "ntpatil" has said they are not listing AP.

I am in the same boat like "ntpatil" I called Lufthansa USA customer service, as well as their India airport and reservation office...all the three Lufthansa sources indicate that AP holder does not need to get air transit visa. and they will take AP copy before boarding Plane in India.

on the other hand tI asked thegerman consulate …..see the email reply from German Consulate dated 5/ 10 /2010 ….says following

"Sorry an Advance parole is no Residence permit, neither does it exempt from requirement of Airport Transit visa.

At least that is what my headquarters in Germany told me, with an Advance Parole an Airport Transit Visa is needed.

Yours sincerely,
by order

Head of Visa Section
Vice Consul
Consulate General of the Republic of
Germany in Boston
Three Copley Place, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02116"

so the question is if Lufthansa is not asking for Air Transit Visa when boarding from India and German consulate is expecting AP holder to have one.....as per the above email

is there any one in Germany who is enforcing this new change when the passenger lands form a plan in India ....?

if you see the following link and fill in the correct information …..

Visa And Health - Star Alliance

it’s really not clear how the new changes are getting enforced

I am hoping someone who has just returned back to USA via Germany can inform us if any one asked or checked for a legal documents after arrival…

I

maybe it’s a very new change and Lufthansa has not just started enforcing it….but no question removal of AP from the website happened….in last month it was there before….

If they started enforcing it’s a hassle to travel via Germany

Anyone who has travelled back to USA via German Airport please share your experience

[ntpatil]

All,

Now I am confused completely. Do we need a transit visa to travel to India or when we are coming abck from India. This question is asked irrespective of the new rule (if it is changed or not)

[ntpatil]

All,

Now I am confused completely. Do we need a transit visa to travel to India or when we are coming back from India. This question is asked irrespective of the new rule (if it is changed or not)

[newuser]

Travelled back on April 4th. Did call German Consulate in New York before booking the ticket. Not sure if something had changed after that. You can call the consulate and confirm the same.

When I called, I was directed to the link that I provided to verify the eligibility. Also I was recommended to take a print out and carry with me if the air lines asks for more details.

Wear some warm clothes in Frankfurt as the transfer of flights invloves a long walk between the terminals and a bus ride.

Good luck.

[newuser]

Originally Posted by ntpatil

All,

Now I am confused completely. Do we need a transit visa to travel to India or when we are coming abck from India. This question is asked irrespective of the new rule (if it is changed or not)

Don't get tensed. Make a simple phone call to either German consulate or Embassy.

I doubt they would have chnaged the rule as a lot of India's go through Frankfurt as a transit point - (Air India etc)

[ntpatil]

Hi newuser,

On the link that you have provided, it talks about a permit to re-enter, but states its validity as 2 years. AP is normally for only 1 year right. So are they talking about AP here ?

[raj19720926]

"newuser": The link now has been updated and does not list AP any more. It seems new changes happned after April 5 2010.

"ntpatil": You do not need Air Transit visa when you leave USA and go to your home county ( I assume its India ) via Germany as per the old and new rules.

the confusion is more when you return back to USA and have no other document to re enter USA other than AP. so that is where the Airlines and Gemany Consulats do not agree

as you can see from " KRS" reply there were no issue...but who knows they start enforcing it after some time when the German authorities puts pressure on the Arilines....

as of today there is a rule but it seems no enforcement....if you want to be 100 % safe get a air transit vias before you leave USA ( for your return journy to USA) or obtain a USA valid visa in India before you return back....or take the chance to travel back to USA with Air Transit visa.

the other option as per the German embassy , New Delhi....website ...if you have valid ( not expired) UK or Canadian visa you do not need Air transit visa ( even if you are not going to Canada or UK) to return back to USA.

so there are some options....you can consider.....



Hope this helps....

[raj19720926]

"newuser": The link now has been updated and does not list AP any more. It seems new changes happned after April 5 2010.

"ntpatil": You do not need Air Transit visa when you leave USA and go to your home county ( I assume its India ) via Germany as per the old and new rules.

the confusion is more when you return back to USA and have no other document to re enter USA other than AP. so that is where the Airlines and Gemany Consulats do not agree

as you can see from " KRS" reply there were no issue...but who knows they start enforcing it after some time when the German authorities puts pressure on the Arilines....

as of today there is a rule but it seems no enforcement....if you want to be 100 % safe get a air transit vias before you leave USA ( for your return journy to USA) or obtain a USA valid visa in India before you return back....or take the chance to travel back to USA with without taking Air Transit visa

the other option as per the German embassy , New Delhi....website ...if you have valid ( not expired) UK or Canadian visa you do not need Air transit visa ( even if you are not going to Canada or UK) to return back to USA.

so there are some options....you can consider.....



Hope this helps....

[ireddy]

I came back to USA last week (May 3rd) via frankfurt with AP. They just checked AP and Passport and didn't utter a word. No worries... please go ahead.