travel to Europe and an I-551 stamp (2024)

Does anyone have any experience with obtaining a European visa
when the phisical plastic "green" card is not yet available?

I've just renewed my I-551 passport stamp in Chicago (in a valid Russian passport) and I also have a valid reentry permit.
I need to go to Italy, Spain and Switzerland in the summer and I was wondering if there would be any difficulties in obtaining their visas.

The instructions on their websites do not mention anything explicitly about a passport stamp and just say that if you are A PR then you need to show a green card when applying for a visa (in fact, for Switzerland it seems that with an actual green card and a valid passport one does not even need a Swiss visa, but I doubt that it will apply to people who just have a passport stamp).

Thanks for the input, JoeF.

I need to clarify the issue that I am really interested in. Of course, I do understand that I still need a visa to travel to Italy or Switzerland even if I do get a plastic "green" card.

All European countries generally allow a non-U.S. citizen to apply for an entry visa (for thavel to that European country) in the U.S. provided you have proof of some legal status in the U.S. other than B-1/B-2.

On their web-sites European consulates usually list specific requirements for such a proof of status:
for F-1 aliens it is I-20 and a valid F-1 stamp in the passport, for H-1 it is usually a valid H1 visa stamp and a copy of the H1 approval notice, etc. For permanent U.S. residents they usually say that you need to present an actual alien registration card as a proof of status when applying for a European visa in the U.S. At least that is what is written at the web-sites of Italian and Spanish consulates. They do not say if they consider an I-551 passport stamp as a sufficcient proof of a PR status in the U.S.

So what I really want to know is: are they likely to refuse a visa application (say for travel to Italy or Spain) if I don't have a plastic "green" card yet but do have a passport stamp?

Hmm, my past experience with European buraucracies indicates that the actual practices are often sufficiently different from the posted rules.

I'd like to hear from someone, if there are people like that out there, with practical experience of applying for a visa to visit a European country without having a green card but with a passport stamp and/or re-entry permit.

Yesterday I e-mailed the consulates of Germany, Italy and Spain and explained to them my situation (I do have a valid re-entry permit in addition to a valid passport stamp in a valid passport). I got three replies saying that my documents would be sufficient for me to get a Schengen visa....

Apply Schengen

Sir,

Make your life easy. Apply for Schengen which is valid for most EU countries.

Send following docs,

1. You passport showing I-551 stamp
2. Letter from INS that you are a approved I-485 person
3. Letter from employer that you are currently employed
4. Bank statement
5. Mortage for house from lender.

These docs indicate that you are,

a. a US Resident
b. You do not intend to reside in EU.

Docs listed above in 1,2,3 and 5 show that you have intention to come back to US.

Doc 4 indicates that you can support yourself while you are travelling in EU.

They may also require a Credit card copy. They asked me and I got visa in few hours. I am not GC holder but will get my GC soon.

I applied for a Schengen visa with my I-551 stamp last summer (July 2002) in San Francisco and had absolutely no problem getting the visa.

The woman behind the counter knew exactly what it was. The only other thing they asked me for was for proof of employment in the U.S., and I had a paystub/letter from HR stating that I was gainfully employed.

To answer any follow-up questions, I had no problems getting back into the country with the stamp.

The only thing I can remember is that someone at the gate re-inspected the stamp prior to my boarding the flight in Europe. That's only because airlines are held financially liable by the INS if they allow passengers without a valid visa to board flights to the U.S.

gb111, could you tell me at which country's consulate you applied for a Schengen visa?

Thanks!

It was Germany, but I doubt it matters....
Although the stamp looks ordinary, everyone who should know about it does!

I also remember the INS officer scanning it at the POE. I don't think you should worry about it. It is as good as having the plastic card.

Travelling to India

Can someone please suggest me what documents I need to carry while travelling to my home country. I have a stamped passport (not yet received the plastic card). While returning do I need to fill out I-94 form along with customs declaration form?

Thanks for your help...