Are you a US Green Card Holder? Do you plan to travel to any of the Schengen area countries? If so, are you confused about the Schengen visa and how you can apply for one?
Once you have completed reading this article, you will know everything, starting from whether or not green card holders need a Schengen visa, what the required documents are, and what the application process is!
Do US Green Card Holders Need a Schengen Visa?
The US is among the countries whose residents do not need a visa to travel in Europe. US passport holders do not need a visa to enter Europe and are allowed visa-free travel, but this is not for all US passport holders.
Additionally, US green card holders need a Schengen visa to travel to Europe as the green card holders are nationals of third countries.
Any US green card holder must apply for a Schengen visa to visit any Schengen state. You can't go to visit any of the Schengen European countries if you cannot acquire a Schengen visa. You can apply for the Schengen visa of that Schengen country where you will stay for the longest time, or you can apply for the one through which you will be entering the Schengen zone.
What are the Different Types of Schengen Visas for the US Green Card Holders?
You can get a Schengen visa for either the purpose of travel or for business-related activities. Moreover, you can obtain a visa to visit any family or friend in any Schengen country.
The business Schengen visa can be used to attend meetings and conferences or negotiate any business deals. The tourism Schengen visa can be used mainly for exploring the Schengen countries or visiting relatives.
Both types of Schengen visas allow a short stay of 90 days. Moreover, most of the time, they are valid for 180 days. You can get a single or multiple entry visa, but regardless of the type, whichever visa you choose you will be allowed to stay for 90 days only.
For a more extended stay, you should apply for a national visa as it allows longer stay.
What are the Schengen Visa Requirements for the US Green Card Holders?
When applying for a Schengen visa, you must also fulfill specific requirements. The required documents you need are as follows:
First, you have to fill out the Schengen visa application form. The visa application form should be filled out correctly, and you must enter all accurate information. You must also sign the application form.
Moreover, you have to submit your original valid passport. The passport should be valid for at least six months after you depart from the Schengen zone and should have at least two blank pages.
You also have to submit passport-size pictures that shouldn't be too old and preferably have a white background.
You also have to provide proof of your residency. Hence, a US residence permit, which can be a green card or a US residence visa, will be required. The residence visa should be valid for at least three months once you have departed from the Schengen zone.
You must also provide your travel itinerary, which states your travel plans. You can submit proof of accommodation, such as hotel bookings or any invitation you have received from your host. Or you can provide proof of round trip flight itinerary booking as well.
You have to provide a cover letter that states why you want to enter the Schengen area and how long you wish to stay there.
To prove that you can cover the cost of your stay, you must also provide proof that you have sufficient funds. You can do so by providing a bank statement or a sponsorship letter.
If you wish to travel to Europe or any Schengen country, you should also have travel health insurance. So that in case during the trip something unfortunate occurs, your cost is covered.
You must also pay the visa fee, and if you are applying through any agency, you must pay their service fee.
How Can US Green Card Holders Apply for a Schengen Visa?
To apply for a Schengen visa, you can complete the application process by visiting the Embassy, Consulate, or visa application center of the respective Schengen member states you plan to visit. You must take all the required documents and schedule your visa interview appointment beforehand.
You can also apply for the visa online on VisaHQ. VisaHQ will guide you through every step to obtain the visa. Even if you wish to apply through the Embassy or Consulate, VisaHQ will precheck your documents to smooth your Schengen visa application process Hence, this is an additional service they provide apart from letting applicants apply online. And you can apply online, too, by choosing your destination country and your citizenship. After which, the site will display the types of visas available and their requirements.
Wondering how to complete the steps? You can fill out the visa application form online, scan and upload the documents, and wait for the visa to be processed and delivered by email.