Traveling with a Green Card

Author Message   Gary J. Roberts Senior Member Username: Roadrunner58 Post Number: 402 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 70.128.0.227 Posted on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 - 08:37 pm:    Ron....thanks for posting that good info on the Japanese Transit Visa! On one trip we were stuck at Yokota AFB for 4 days before getting a flight out to Singapore....no problems at all with the Japanese Immigration office. And as I stated earlier, be sure to ask for the "multi-entry" transit visa. Good luck!   Ron Allen Advanced Member Username: Rona Post Number: 176 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.54.72.14 Posted on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 - 02:18 pm:    Just got another email from the Consulate and looks like they understand military space-a. Here is the email they sent for others information. Ronald, The requirements would be the same in your case. Flying standby would still require your wife to get a transit visa since she doesn't have any plans to visit Japan. A transit visa will still give her flex time in case she needs to stay 2-3 days waiting for another flight. The 2 day rule applies to people who are traveling to Japan specifically for tourism. You can come in person to apply or do it by mail. Either way the process still takes 4-5 business days to process. If you do it by mail, you will need to provide pre-paid return postage. You will still need the following requirements. I know getting a flight itinerary flying on military flights can be a hassle, but we still need it for the visa. Most of the time, the military personal provide us with a proposed schedule, along with their space available reservations, and copies of their military I.D's. Either way, an itinerary is required. Visa Section 1. Valid passport properly signed by the bearer (original passport is required; please be sure your passport has available visa pages) 2. 1 application form No. 1-C, completely filled out and signed by the applicant 3. 1 photograph (2 in. x 2 in.) of applicant; picture must have a white background and be less than 30 days old 4. Proof of roundtrip passage (flight itinerary of airline ticket) 5. Visa of the other country/countries being visited 6. Copy of U.S. Green card or resident visa of the U.S. and proof of Florida residency 7. Release of Liability form 8. Payment of visa fee $7. This fee is payable in exact cash, U.S. money order, or cashier's check, and must be made payable to the Consulate-General of Japan   Ron Allen Advanced Member Username: Rona Post Number: 175 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.54.72.14 Posted on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 - 01:44 pm:    Gary I just received an email from The Japanese Consulate in Miami and looks like I will need a Visitor Visa because a Transit Visa is only good for one night stay. Never can tell how long it might be before we could get a flight out. Ron "....Transit Visas - any foreign national (whose country of citizenship is NOT on the visa exemption page) traveling through Japan en route to another country and staying for 1 night only. Note: anyone staying for 2 or more nights must apply for a Temporary Visitor visa...."   Ron Allen Advanced Member Username: Rona Post Number: 173 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 71.200.216.156 Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 02:24 pm:    Thanks Gary, that's what I will do. RonA   Gary J. Roberts Senior Member Username: Roadrunner58 Post Number: 401 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 70.128.0.227 Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 02:02 am:    Ron....have traveled Space A to Yokota AFB then on to Singapore with my Filipina wife at least four times in the past five years. All but one of those times she was traveling on a Philippine Passport and U.S. Greencard. To enter/leave Japan, she will need a Japanese Transit Visa which you can purchase before your trip thru the Miami Japanese Consulate you mentioned....last one we bought for her was around $30, best I remember. If you intend to come back to the U.S. thru Japan, just tell the Japanese Consulate that you'll need a "multiple entry" Transit Visa. Earlier this year we made the same trip to Yokota-Singapore....but wife was a U.S. citizen traveling on a U.S. Passport....so much easier! Good luck!   Ron Allen Advanced Member Username: Rona Post Number: 171 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.54.72.80 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 04:22 pm:    Thanks folks... just found out a Japanese consulate office is in Miami. We live in the Fort Myers, Fl area so a visit there should help. Yes, I am retired... can't believe it's been almost 20 years now. RonA   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4533 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 06:01 am:    Ron, You can certainly check the Foreign Clearance Guide(FCG) (if you have .mil access) but I wouldn't use that as the sole reference document. The FCG main intent is to outline the requirements for (aircraft) and military personnel travel (duty and leave) to foreign countries. I don't know if you are retired or active duty. If active duty you should definitely consult the FCG. With that in mind I would also consult the entry/exit requirements for the respective country(s) your wife is planning to visit/transit (especially if you are retired and not active duty). For example, the Japanese Embassy site lists the countries that have visa exemptions with Japan. Looks like she may need a visa to visit but you may need to contact the Embassy depending on what your definition of "transiting" is. p.s. As a side note, the Entry/Exit Requirements for US Citizens visiting to foreign countries can be found by clicking on the country came in the Spacea.net location listings.   mike~p Senior Member Username: In_japan Post Number: 519 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 67.119.12.41 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 12:06 am:    The green card has no status in countries other then the USA. You must have a passport of your birth country and follow the entry requirements for that country when entering another country. For Japan, you must have a prior issued visa to enter or transit. Visit the Japan embassy page to see the requirements for obtaining a visa. If your wife becomes a naturalized citizen, she is treated as USA citizen and the visa problem goes away when visiting most countries.   Dave Nosek Intermediate Member Username: Waterman15 Post Number: 55 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 134.215.253.245 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 12:01 am:    Ron contact the nearest AMC terminal if you can and ask them to check the Foriegn Clearance Guide. It should give you details on visa requirements for any country you might travel through. It also will tell you if your wife will need a visa. It all depends on what country her passport if from and differs for just about every country in the world. An Example is the UK which I do know required visa's for Phillipne passport. They refused entry to a spouse who was joining her husband when I was stationed in Scotland. We had no choice but to put her back on the same plane to the states where she was able to obtain a visa. The green card is used for reentry into the US and proves that a person has a right to enter the United States only. You can also check with the individual countries immigration authorities but the FCG is pretty comprehensive when it comes to travel on Military controlled aircraft including the Pat EX. Just give them some time to do the research since it's sometimes complicated but as a I said it all depends on what country issued the passport (not the Green Card) and what agreements that country has with the other countries concerned. Hope this helps but if not send me an E mail and I will do my best to explain it furthur. Dave   Ron Allen Advanced Member Username: Rona Post Number: 170 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.54.72.239 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 11:26 pm:    Anyone here travel space-a with their Filippa spouse that has a Green Card? Was wondering about Visa's that might be needed while passing through countries, i.e., Japan. RonA