Visa to another country

[baddi 1]

Hello,

I'm on conditional residence in States which has been extended until I get permanent green card. I understand American citizens don't need visa to enter certain countries. Is the same rule applicable to  myself ?

[OldUser 6,669]

@baddi only some countries, mostly Canada and Mexico.

 

Here is the list:

 

• Canada
• Mexico
• Costa Rica
• Georgia
• The British Virgin Islands
• Aruba and Curaçao
• The Balkans
• Singapore
• Peru

Read more here, but I would be careful with anything other than US neighbors to the north and south.

 

https://visaguide.world/visa-free-countries/green-card-holders/

[Mike E 11,739]

There are several more though some nationalities are excluded from a visa waiver. 
 

https://www.visatraveler.com/blog/visa-free-countries-for-us-green-card-holders/ is a pretty well maintained / frequently updated website 

Edited September 16, 2022 by Mike E

[JeanneAdil 6,505]

• youtube video on border security showed a green card holder trying to visit Brazil
• USC do not need a visa as most green card holders do either
• but this man was Cuban born and that requires a visa
• he was denied entry
• not sure about other countries but always check if u need a visa for your birth country

[Mike E 11,739]

I was surprised that Honduras apparently no longer provides a visa waiver.  We traveled to Roatan last year via cruise ship.  Glad we were able to do it when we could.  
 

Honduras must be overrun with green card holders over staying /s

 

Note that Canada now grants a visa exemption to gc holders instead of a visa waiver as was past policy. Benefits:

 

* no more electronic travel authorization 

* 6 month authorized stay 

 

Also https://www.iatatravelcentre.com is a web site that will tell you if you need a visa for a particular itinerary 

Edited September 16, 2022 by Mike E

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from ROC General Discussion to Working & Traveling During US Immigration -- topic is about travel for LPR with conditional GC ***

 

[baddi 1]

Thank you all for your response. The links above mention green card holders. I'm on conditional green card. Am I counted as green card holder ?

[OldUser 6,669]

23 minutes ago, baddi said:

Thank you all for your response. The links above mention green card holders. I'm on conditional green card. Am I counted as green card holder ?

You should be in theory. But in practice, it depends how well immigration officer of another country knows this

[Mike E 11,739]

51 minutes ago, baddi said:

Thank you all for your response. The links above mention green card holders. I'm on conditional green card. Am I counted as green card holder ?

Yes you are. My wife’s conditional green card has been accepted for Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Belize, and Honduras (with the caveat that Honduras appears to have changed policy).  

[OldUser 6,669]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

Yes you are. My wife’s conditional green card has been accepted for Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Belize, and Honduras (with the caveat that Honduras appears to have changed policy).  

Good to know. Was she travelling with extesion letter?

[Mike E 11,739]

59 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Good to know. Was she travelling with extesion letter?

She has used her extension  letter for Mexico and Canada. We have not had the opportunity to use the extension letter for other countries.  
 

The largest  barrier to the use of extension letter is not the USA or the country that grants the visa waiver.  Instead it is the under trained airline or cruise line personnel.   Each time we departed the USA on an extension letter, the front line staff were clueless.   
 

I hate extension letters. 

Edited September 16, 2022 by Mike E

[OldUser 6,669]

@Mike E that's exactly what my concern is. I'd say it's safer to travel Canada / Mexico with extension letter. There's bigger chance of getting stuck in other destinations because of not so knowledgable people on the ground.

[baddi 1]

@Mike E do you know the process to apply for Schengen visa for travel to Spain.

[OldUser 6,669]

@baddi Schengen Visa application is a whole new topic. I'd suggest this page as a starting guide:

 

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/how-to-apply-schengen-visa/

[Mike E 11,739]

58 minutes ago, OldUser said:

@Mike E that's exactly what my concern is. I'd say it's safer to travel Canada / Mexico with extension letter. There's bigger chance of getting stuck in other destinations because of not so knowledgable people on the ground.

Travel always entails risks. 

47 minutes ago, baddi said:

@Mike E do you know the process to apply for Schengen visa for travel to Spain.

No idea.  We will wait until my wife is a U.S. Citizen