A common question among US Green Card holders is whether they can travel to Germany. The answer is nuanced and depends on various factors. This guide provides a comprehensive overview for Green Card holders planning a trip to Germany.
Holding a US Green Card grants you the privilege to live and work permanently in the United States. However, it doesn’t automatically entitle you to visa-free entry into Germany or other Schengen Area countries.
Whether you need a visa to travel to Germany with a Green Card depends on your nationality. If your country of citizenship has a visa agreement with the Schengen Area, you might not need a visa for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period).
To determine if you need a visa, consult the official website of the German embassy or consulate in the US, or the Schengen Area’s official immigration website. These resources provide up-to-date information on visa requirements based on nationality.
Even if your nationality generally requires a visa for the Schengen Area, your Green Card can be a valuable asset when applying. It demonstrates your established ties to the US and your intention to return, which can strengthen your visa application.
The German Consulate General in Atlanta processes visa applications for residents of Atlanta and its surrounding areas. For those residing elsewhere in the US, the German consulates have outsourced their Schengen visa application process to BLS International.
BLS International operates several visa application centers across the US, and you are required to apply for a German visa at the center closest to your place of residence. The BLS application centers and their jurisdictions are:
-
BLS Application Center in Washington DC: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.
-
BLS Application Center in Boston: Connecticut (excluding Fairfield County), Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
-
BLS Application Center in New York: Bermuda (British overseas territory), Fairfield County in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
-
BLS Application Center in Chicago: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
-
BLS Application Center in Houston: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
-
BLS Application Center in Los Angeles: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah.
-
BLS Application Center in Miami: Florida, Puerto Rico, and the American Virgin Islands.
-
BLS Application Center in San Francisco: All remaining counties of California, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and the American overseas territories.
At the application center, a staff member will receive your application details and collect your biometric data. This information will be registered on the Visa Information System (VIS) and transmitted to the German consulate for processing and decision-making. Your data will be stored in the VIS for up to five years and may be used for future visa applications to the Schengen Area.
German Flag
If you live in Atlanta or its surrounding areas, you can submit your application directly to the German Consulate General in Atlanta. However, you must schedule an appointment through their online appointment system beforehand.
In conclusion, traveling to Germany with a Green Card requires careful planning. Check your nationality’s visa requirements, gather the necessary documentation, and apply through the appropriate channel, whether it’s a BLS International center or the German Consulate General in Atlanta. Plan your trip well in advance to avoid any delays in your visa processing.
