Transit Visa through Germany?

[Da & Nu 7]

Next month my Turkish husband is coming to the US on his new I-551 visa. He has a 90-minute transfer in Munich before connecting to Denver. 

 

I attached a PDF I found on Germany's website. It states that Turkish passport holders need transit visas with a number of exceptions, which include having an I-551 visa valid for 2 years. My husband's is only valid for 6 months, unlike what's listed. 

 

My assumption is that he is still excluded from needing a transit visa, because he holds a valid visa from the USA (first exception on the list). Is this correct?

 

Stakes are too high for us to get this wrong! Thank you in advance!

airport-transit-country-list-data.pdf

[Mike E 11,739]

There is no such thing as an I-551 visa.  
 

An I-551 is not a visa. It is a document that is evidence the holder is a lawful permanent resident of the USA. Some I-551s are issued when a person with an immigration visa enters the USA.  I suspect this (an unused immigration visa) is what he has, and if so, per,

 

“they hold a valid visa for the United States of America”

 

he can transit. 
 

Or perhaps he enter the USA on  his immigration visa in the past 365 days (and no longer). In which case, per, 

 

“Valid temporary residence stamp in a valid passport (valid for one year from the date of issue).”

 

he can transit. 
 

Please fill in your timeline so that we can understand where he is in the process. 

Edited July 29, 2022 by Mike E

[Crazy Cat 41,844]

11 minutes ago, Da & Nu said:

which include having an I-551 visa valid for 2 years. My husband's is only valid for 6 months, unlike what's listed. 

That is referring to a conditional Green Card.....which your husband will not have until he enters the US.   

Your husband fits item #1, a valid visa for the US.  He can transit.

Edited July 29, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Chancy 6,241]

6 minutes ago, Da & Nu said:

Next month my Turkish husband is coming to the US on his new I-551 visa.

 

Just to be clear -- your husband does not have an I-551 visa.  What he has is an immigrant visa, which will become a temporary I-551 document only after he enters the US.  Transit visa is not required for Turkish travelers as long as they have a valid US visa and do not leave the transit area during their layover in Germany.  The policy requires only that the US visa be valid, regardless of the expiry date.

 

[Da & Nu 7]

Thank you all for the helpful clarifications! Yes, he has a conditional green card, so it seems like he's good to go without a transit visa.

 

 Now fingers crossed that the Lufthansa strike will all be in order soon...

[Chancy 6,241]

44 minutes ago, Da & Nu said:

Yes, he has a conditional green card

 

If your VJ timeline is correct that your husband has yet to enter the US with his visa, then it's impossible for him to already have a conditional green card.  GCs are only issued after US entry with a visa, never before.  That means your husband's current US travel document is an immigrant (spouse) visa, not a conditional GC.  Regardless, transit visa still not required for Germany layover.

 

[Crazy Cat 41,844]

@Da & Nu, It is important to learn the difference between a visa and a green card.  Since you have stated he has both, we are unclear.  Good luck.

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

this is the site u need

 

https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/buergerservice/faq/33-transit/606710

 

Exceptions from the requirement to hold an airport transit visa:

• Holders of valid visas and national residence permits from EU and Schengen countries
• Holders of certain national residence permits from the following countries: Andorra, Japan, Canada, San Marino, United States of America
• Holders of valid visas from the EEA countries (the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) and visas issued by Japan, Canada and the United States of America

 

 

 

[SalishSea 17,824]

14 hours ago, Da & Nu said:

Yes, he has a conditional green card,

Not yet.  He has a CR/IR-1 visa.