philippino spouse To Germany

[matt tristan 0]

I am a Solider stationed in S.Korea. I am having a really hard time trying to find out how to bring my wife to Germany. I Deros in October we will go to the states first on her CR1 visa for a month and I do have her on my orders to Germany but my question is how do I get her from the states to Germany I know I need a sofa visa but I was told to send her visa to 1st perscom, Germany to get the sofa stamp which I do not feel comfortable with at all(sending it half way across the world). Do you know if i can initially get her in Germany on orders alone and her id card / Philippine passport then get the sofa visa or do I have to sent her passport to 1st perscom, Germany before I can bring her with me.

Thank You For The Help

[nivesito 0]

I am a Solider stationed in S.Korea. I am having a really hard time trying to find out how to bring my wife to Germany. I Deros in October we will go to the states first on her CR1 visa for a month and I do have her on my orders to Germany but my question is how do I get her from the states to Germany I know I need a sofa visa but I was told to send her visa to 1st perscom, Germany to get the sofa stamp which I do not feel comfortable with at all(sending it half way across the world). Do you know if i can initially get her in Germany on orders alone and her id card / Philippine passport then get the sofa visa or do I have to sent her passport to 1st perscom, Germany before I can bring her with me.

Thank You For The Help

I can ask my sister, maybe she knows, but let you know afternoon. She work for AF Personel in Germany, so if you have time to wait...

[matt tristan 0]

sounds good thanks

[nivesito 0]

Here what I got as an answer from my sister:

"Sofa card can be a stamp, but it is stamped when dependents obtain no-fee passports prior to assignment to Germany. That is the case for new passports (they get stamps in the same time as a passport) and it is for US citizens. Sofa is also obtained as a card in a case of already having no-fee passport or for nationals with a foreign passport. It is not stamped in foreign passports. I know that in Germany, passport agents and in some cases personnel offices issue Sofa cards. However, for certain countries only 1st Perscom in Heidelberg can issue sofa cards. Not sure what countries. Either way, sofa cards are obtained prior to travel to Germany. If there is a passport agent on base in Korea, he should be able to issue Sofa card. I wouldn't recommend travel to Germany without it, but sofa card can be obtained after the arrival. Not sure what are travel restrictions to Germany for Philippines citizen. "

So I guess she should be able to get sofa card prior coming to Germany. Can't you get it somwhere in the States?

[Schatzi 0]

I am a Solider stationed in S.Korea. I am having a really hard time trying to find out how to bring my wife to Germany. I Deros in October we will go to the states first on her CR1 visa for a month and I do have her on my orders to Germany but my question is how do I get her from the states to Germany I know I need a sofa visa but I was told to send her visa to 1st perscom, Germany to get the sofa stamp which I do not feel comfortable with at all(sending it half way across the world). Do you know if i can initially get her in Germany on orders alone and her id card / Philippine passport then get the sofa visa or do I have to sent her passport to 1st perscom, Germany before I can bring her with me.

Thank You For The Help

Hello! All you need is a SOFA card a.k.a. AE form 600-77C. It is a blue laminated card with an eagle hologram with a passport number in it and the signature of the commander in Germany. It is a must that you go to the nearest passport office on any army post. I know it may seem like it's not a good idea to send an important document such as a passport halfway across the world but that's how I did it. I got mine in 3 weeks and I'm going to tell you there is no other way. I was skeptical at first because as a filipino citizen, they will have to mail the Philippine passport together with your orders and a copy of her military card. If only I was a US citizen, it would be much easier. They will only stamp the blue passport and it could be done only in one day. But as a Pinoy citizen, this is the only option we have and you don't have to worry about a thing because first of all - it's safe, second they only require you your wife's passport, military id copy and your official orders to Germany with her on it and the best thing of all - it's free of charge. Pls let me know if you have any more questions. I hope this helps!!

Edited September 18, 2007 by fussycathy