Expired US visa via Frankfurt

[Minion040190]

I am travelling from the US to India via KLM. My H1B visa expired in May 2016. Do I need a transit visa for my 3-hour layover at Frankfurt airport?

 

Prasun Roy

Answered Feb 18, 2018

 

 

 

I faced a similar situation few months back when my wife traveling with an approved I797 but an expired US visa was denied boarding by Lufthansa. They say that either an unexpired US, Canada, Japan, Schengen or a transit visa is required for any layover in Germany. I checked with the German Consulate in Chicago and their response is below. German consulate is not taking any responsibility and says the final decision is with the airlines and the airlines says the final decision is with German immigration. It may sound stupid but we deal with stupid people everyday, don’t we all.

Dear Mr./Mrs. XYZ,

please read the following statement on our website:
http://www.germany.info/

Vertretung/usa/en/05__Legal/

02__Directory__Services/01__

Visa/__Transit__Visa.html

“Expections:
Nationals of the above named countries Do NOT require an airport transit visa if

1. they hold a valid visa for the United States of America, or
2. they return from the USA immediately after having used the visa
[...]
Airport transit privilege does not apply and you will need a visitor visa if:

1. you have to pick up your baggage and/or have to check-in again (please verify with your airline) or
2. you are transiting through two or more airports in the Schengen Countries (for example: Miami-Frankfurt-Paris-India or New York-Frankfurt-Munich-India) or
3. you hold an open ticket.”

Therefore, if you return to your home country - with a valid US visa, you may transit through Germany without a Transit visa - as long as you have only one stop in the Schengen Area.

If your US visa is already expired:
The longer the time gap between, the expiration date of the visa and the return from the USA, the higher the likeliness of facing complications when transiting through Germany.

The final decision whether an airplane can be boarded or a transit zone can be entered, without a transit visa, lies with the Airlines or German Border Police, respectively. Therefore the Embassy advises clients, whose US-Visa has expired to apply for a transit visa.

Therefore, if your US visa is already expired, we suggest that you apply for an Airport Transit visa!

Please note that the advance parole (I-512) and the approval notice (I-797) are not valid documents for visa free airport transit on your way back to the United States of America!

All necessary information regarding the application process can be found on our website:
http://www.germany.info/

Vertretung/usa/en/05__Legal/

02__Directory__Services/01__

Visa/__Transit__Visa.html

Please schedule your appointment at:
https://service2.diplo.de/

rktermin/extern/choose_

realmList.do?locationCode=

chic&request_locale=en

General visa information can be found at:
http://www.germany.info/

Vertretung/usa/en/05__Legal/

02__Directory__Services/01__

Visa/__Business__Visa.html

Additional visa information can be found at:
http://www.germany.info/

Vertretung/usa/en/05__Legal/

02__Directory__Services/01__

Visa/Visa__Dlds.html

Information regarding visa fees:
http://www.germany.info/

Vertretung/usa/en/05__Legal/

02__Directory__Services/01__

Visa/__Visa__Fee.html

Our FAQs can be found at:
http://www.germany.info/

Vertretung/usa/en/05__Legal/

03__FAQ/Visa/__FAQ__Visa.html

Sincerely,

Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
676 North Michigan Ave, Suite 3200 | Chicago, IL 60611-2804
Tel.: +1(312) 202 0480 |Fax: +1(312) 202 0466
E-Mail: [email protected] |Internet: www.chicago.diplo.de

 

[kasi]

@Katti_Ramdas ??

[Katti_Ramdas]

1 minute ago, kasi said:

@Katti_Ramdas ??

Adi 2016 and i am not sure if aomething changed.. nen ivanni chusa nen book cheyaka mundu

 

ayina nen vellina ani chebutunna.. ika mee istam lendi.. you make your own judgement

[KondapalliRaj]

On 6/11/2019 at 10:38 AM, Minion040190 said:

Expired visa tho India ki potunna. FrankFurt medaga povacha?

Online lo chooste mixed replies unnai.

DBians evaraina poyara recently?

I am 100% sure you can travel through Frankfurt with expired visa.

 

link: https://www.germany.info/blob/917514/fffb0bebdc4dca0c6744cc066bc3b7ca/airport-transit-country-list-data.pdf

Exceptions:
Nationals of the above named countries Do NOT require an airport transit visa if
1. they hold a valid visa for the United States of America, or
2. they hold a used valid or expired visa issued by the USA and return from the USA
and travel to a non-Schengen Member State within 24 hours after the expiration
of their visa, or

 

 

we have travelled recently without any issues.

 

[Minion040190]

51 minutes ago, KondapalliRaj said:

I am 100% sure you can travel through Frankfurt with expired visa.

 

link: https://www.germany.info/blob/917514/fffb0bebdc4dca0c6744cc066bc3b7ca/airport-transit-country-list-data.pdf

Exceptions:
Nationals of the above named countries Do NOT require an airport transit visa if
1. they hold a valid visa for the United States of America, or
2. they hold a used valid or expired visa issued by the USA and return from the USA
and travel to a non-Schengen Member State within 24 hours after the expiration
of their visa, or

 

 

we have travelled recently without any issues.

 

na visa expire ayyi 1 yr paine ayndi bayya... 

Ne visa epudu expire ayndi velle time ki?

[KondapalliRaj]

1 hour ago, Minion040190 said:

na visa expire ayyi 1 yr paine ayndi bayya... 

Ne visa epudu expire ayndi velle time ki?

Doesn’t matter bayya. Nadi 10 months aindi when I was travelling.

 

Take the print of the pdf  and keep with you while traveling 

[Katti_Ramdas]

4 hours ago, Minion040190 said:

na visa expire ayyi 1 yr paine ayndi bayya... 

Ne visa epudu expire ayndi velle time ki?

 

2 hours ago, KondapalliRaj said:

Doesn’t matter bayya. Nadi 10 months aindi when I was travelling.

 

Take the print of the pdf  and keep with you while traveling 

Naadi 1 year datindi expire ayyi

[andhra_alludu]

On 6/22/2019 at 5:12 PM, Amrita said:

.https://www.quora.com/My-H1B-visa-is-expired-Which-are-the-countries-I-can-travel-to-India-from-USA

Ammu akka is the best!!! 

[Hector8]

ee lolli antha enduku 

emirates, qatar, eithad , cathay,  air ind unnay ga 

[Minion040190]

34 minutes ago, Hector8 said:

ee lolli antha enduku 

emirates, qatar, eithad , cathay,  air ind unnay ga 

Etihad booked vayya... 

Frankfurt via povaddu ani finalized.