For all those with US Green Card, it’s an offer from European Union to live, work and travel forever in any country of EU. What if you get the passport from Ireland, Latvia, Estonia or Cyprus? Why go through all that hassle when you can simply get citizenship of one of those countries and enjoy a European lifestyle without the hassles of re-entry visa.  If you have a US Green Card, then the first thing that comes to your mind is “I don’t need another Visa”. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The US visa program is quite complex and even green card holders may have hurdles to clear before they can travel without a visa to Europe.

In a world of increasing globalization, people regularly travel abroad for work related reasons. When this happens frequently, you start to need a way to stay in the country longer than your current visa allows. If you are an American citizen and living in Europe, you most likely have the Eur…Green Card holders reside in the United States legally, but not as US citizens. The green card is the permit to live and work in the country on a permanent basis. This permit is issued for two years. At the end of this period, you are eligible to apply for citizenship. Also known as permanent resident cards, they act as identification as well as employment authorization and travel documents.

Europe Visa For Green Card Holders

Applying for a Schengen Visa in the US – EU Visa for Green Card Holders and US Permanent Residents

If you are living in the US, you already have the chance to see some of the top world attractions as Times Square, Walt Disney World and the Japanese Tea Garden, without the need to even have a passport with you when passing from one state to another.

However, statistics show that a very high number of US visitors each year enter the EU visa-free zone, which consists of 26 countries.

In 2017 alone, a number of 140,004 applications were received by the Schengen embassies in the US. Taking into account that US passport holders visiting Europe are visa-exempt, the number of visitors is multiple times higher.

According to the Schengen rules, some of the US residents may need a visa to enter the Schengen Area, while some may not.

This article will further explain to you, who does and who does not need a Schengen visa when traveling from the US to Europe.

Who Needs to Apply for a Schengen Visa in the US?

The Schengen States have a list of the countries that need a visa to enter any of them, and another for those who do not. There are rules and eligibility criteria regarding who is permitted to enter visa-free, and who has to obtain a visa prior to their trip in Europe.

The US is among the first countries with which the European Union has established a visa-free regime. Therefore, US passport holders do not need to obtain a visa in order to enter Europe. However, not all US residents and US citizens can enter Europe visa-free, due to their nationality and their situation. Following, find more information in this regard.

As per the foreign nationals residing in the US on a temporary or permanent residence permit, the following do not need to obtain a visa to enter Europe:

• Foreign passport holders coming from one of the countries that have established the visa-free regime with the EU
• Foreigners with dual citizenship, one of which is of a country that has established the visa-free regime with the EU (These people will have to travel with their EU-visa-exempt-country passport)
• Foreigners that hold dual citizenship, one of which is of an EU member country (These persons will have to travel with their European passport)

On the other hand, there are still categories of people residing in the United States that have to obtain a visa in order to be permitted to enter Europe.

These categories are as follows:

• Internationals living in the United States, coming from one of the countries that have not established a visa-free regime with the EU
• Internationals living in the United States, coming from one of the countries that have established the visa-free regime with the EU, but were previously denied entry to the Schengen Area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuGZFXl3Wmc

Do Green Card Holders Need a Visa to Travel to Europe?

US Green Card holders, who are also nationals of third countries that have not established a visa-free regime with the EU, will need to obtain a Schengen Visa, in order to be able to travel to Europe.

If you have read the article so far and you are already convinced that you do not need a visa to enter Europe from the US, read about EU entry requirements for US Citizens.

Who Can Apply for a Schengen Visa in the US?

The Schengen member states have established their embassies, consulates, and visa application centers in the United States of America. These are responsible for the admission and procession of Schengen visa applications. However, not everyone can file a Schengen visa application while in the US.

Only the following qualify for visa application submission at the Schengen embassies/consulates / VACs in the US:

• US passport holders who have been refused entry to Europe.
• Nationals of third countries, which are required to obtain a visa to Europe, living in the US under a permanent or temporary residence permit.

Please note that if you are in need of a visa to enter Europe, but you are in the US on a visiting visa (B1/B2 visa), you will instead have to apply for an EU visa at the appropriate Schengen embassy in your home country.

Embassies in the US only process visa applications of foreigners residing in the US on a permanent or temporary residence permit.

Schengen Visa Requirements for US Green Card Holders and Permanent Residents

To apply for a Schengen visa in the US, you need to submit the following documents:

• Visa application form – completely fulfilled with the required information. Try to avoid any mistakes, and give correct and honest information. Here you can find a guide on how to fill up a visa application form! After giving the information you are asked to, print the form twice, and sign both copies at the end.
• A valid passport or Travel document. Please make sure that:
  • Your passport has been issued (not extended) within the previous 10 years,
  • Your passport has 2 full blank pages, one for the visa stamp and an additional spare page,
  • Your passport will be valid for at least three (3) months after the date you exit the EU.
• US residence permit. Original of valid US alien registration card (residence permit aka. Green Card) or valid US residence visa (e.g. type A, E, F plus endorsed I-20 by a competent authority, G: H; I; J; plus J1 documents, L, O, R) must be presented.
  • The US residence permit or visa should be valid at least three months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen Area.
• Photo – taken within the last three months. The photo must be taken according to the photography requirements as set by the Schengen countries.
• A cover letter. In which you explain the reasons you wish to enter the Schengen Zone, the countries you are planning to visit and the amount of time you wish to spend in each and other details about your trip.
• Round-trip Flight Itinerary. A booked flight reservation from the US to Europe and back. If you will be taking any internal flights, you will have to include those tickets too.
• Proof of accommodation in Europe: This can be one of the following:
  • Evidence of a hotel booking or rental agreement (Find and Book Best Hotels in Europe!),
  • Invitation from your Europe host (family member, friend) along with a copy of their passport or ID (Proof of sponsorship if dependant)
  • Rent agreement – between you and a landlord in the country where you will be staying in the Schengen territory.
• Means of Subsistence. A document that proves you have enough money to financially support yourself during your stay in Europe. This document could be:
  • Bank Statement – A recent statement of a US bank account for the last three months, as proof that you have enough money.
  • Letter of Sponsorship – a letter written by another person why is willing to financially support you. A bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months, has to be attached to the letter, in order for it to be valid.
• Europe Travel Health Insurance. A document that proves you have purchased travel health insurance that covers the whole territory of Schengen Area, in cases of medical emergencies as accidents and illnesses, as well as repatriation to the United States in case of death, with a minimum coverage of €30.000. The insurance policy can easily be purchased online from Europ Assistance or AXA Schengen.