travel to europe us permanent resident

Do U.S. citizens and green card holders need a visa to visit Schengen area?

As the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are rolled out around the globe, would-be travelers to Europe should be familiarize themselves with the Schengen area: a 26-country bloc comprising some of the most visited destinations on the continent, including Germany, France, and Italy. If you are from the United States, you may be wondering if you need a Schengen visa from the USA in order to travel to the Schengen area, or whether you might need to apply for some other kind of European visa for US citizens. At the same time, you may be concerned about your options if you are not yet a US citizen, and therefore seek to travel with a green card or travel with a permanent resident card to the Schengen area. Read on for more information about the visa options for green card USA holders, and whether or not you will need another kind of EU visa for USA if you are not an American citizen.

Do I need a Schengen visa from the USA as an American citizen?

• No. The United States is one of the countries that has visa-free access to the Schengen area. As a US citizen, you will therefore not need a Schengen visa in order to enter the Schengen area for a short stay.  
• While US citizens don’t need Schengen visas, starting in 2022, they will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Informational Travel Authorization) prior to entering the Schengen area. Unlike the Schengen visa, the application process for an ETIAS can be completed online in about 10-minutes, and costs €7. ( For more information on ETIAS, click here ). 
• Please note that you may need to apply for another kind of European visa for US citizens depending on how long you intend to stay in the Schengen area. For example, while American citizens do not need a Schengen visa to enter a Schengen state, they may need to ultimately acquire a national visa from a Schengen country, such a resident visa or a student visa, if they plan on staying in a particular Schengen county for longer than 90 days. 
• For example, if you are an American citizen who is visiting France for a two-week holiday, you will not need a Schengen visa (or any kind of visa) in order to enter and remain in the country. However, if you plan on staying in France longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a long stay visa from France. (Please note that applying for a national visa is separate from the Schengen application process).  

Schengen visa for green card holders in USA

• If you are not a US citizen, but you have a green card USA, you might need a Schengen visa from the USA in order to enter the Schengen area for a short stay (under 90 days). 
• Therefore, if you do not have a US passport, you cannot travel with green card to the Schengen area without a visa unless you are a citizen of one of the countries with visa-free access to the Schengen area. ( Click here for a list of countries that have visa free access to the Schengen area ).
• Put another way, even if you are a permanent resident of the United States and you hold a green card, you will not be allowed to travel without a visa to the Schengen area if you are from one of the non-visa free countries, all of which require citizens to obtain visa in order to enter the Schengen area. ( Click here for a list of countries lacking visa-free access to the Schengen area ). 
• For example, say you are a green card holder and a permanent resident of the United States, but you lack American citizenship. If you are a citizen of the U.K., you will be allowed to travel to the Schengen area without a visa-NOT because you have a green card, but because you are a citizen of the U.K., and U.K. citizens have, at this time, visa free access to the Schengen area. 
• Alternatively: let’s say again that you are a green card holder and a permanent resident of the United States who lacks American citizenship – only this time you are a citizen of Libya. Because you are a Libyan citizen, you will not be allowed to travel to the Schengen area without a visa because you are technically Libyan, not American, and Libya is not one of the states whose citizens are allowed visa-free access to the Schengen area. In this scenario, your identity as a permanent resident of America does not have any influence on whether or not you are allowed to enter the Schengen area without a visa.  
• In summary, the only thing that matters when it comes to visa-free entry to the Schengen visa is your citizenship. It doesn’t matter if you are a residency of the United States – what matters for Schengen visa purposes is where you have citizenship from, and whether your country of citizenship has visa-free access to the Schengen area. 

Do I need Schengen visa if I am a permanent resident of the US?

• A permanent resident card, also known as a USA green card, is given to non-temporary residents of the United States, allowing them to legally work and live in the country. Therefore, if you are a permanent resident of the United States, you will have a green card. 
• A green card is not equivalent to a US passport; you cannot get a US passport until you become a US citizen. Please keep in mind that most countries (such as all 26-Schengen countries) do not accept a green card as being valid for entry as an American travel document.
• You therefore cannot exclusively travel with a permanent resident card to the Schengen area ; you must have some other sort of valid travel document, such as a passport from another country, in order to travel to the Schengen area from the United States. The specific country your passport is from will ultimately determine whether or not you will need to apply for a Schengen visa from the USA in order to enter the area.
• Remember, when it comes to visa-free travel to the Schengen area, what matters is your current nationality,  not  your residency status. 

Visa Traveler

Exploring the world one country at a time

48 VISA-FREE Countries for US Green Card Holders [2024 Edition]

Updated: February 3, 2024 8 Comments

A US green card not only lets you reside in the US but also offers you visa-free access to many countries and territories. As of 2024, there are about 48 visa-free countries for US green card holders. 

A US green card is a pathway to a US passport. While you wait for your US passport, your US green card is already making your current passport strong . Not as strong as a US passport but quite strong. You already have visa-free access to 48 additional countries.

Table of Contents

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER Visa requirements change constantly but we make every effort to keep the information accurate and up to date. We provide links to official sources wherever necessary, so you can conduct your own due diligence to verify the visa requirements before planning your trip. We shall not be held liable for any damages incurred as a result of using the information in this article. Refer to our full disclaimer for more information.

Why are there VISA-FREE countries for US green card holders?

US passport (and US citizenship) is considered one of the strongest in the world. A US green card is a pathway to US citizenship. Many countries believe that someone with a US green card will not jeopardize their chances of becoming a US citizen by remaining illegally in another country. 

Working towards acquiring a US green card requires remaining several years in the US or investing enormous amounts of cash or building very strong family ties with the US. It’s silly for someone to let go of years of valuable time and millions of dollars of investments just to stay illegally in another country. Therefore, countries trust US green card holders as genuine travelers and treat them almost like someone with a strong passport. So, these countries offer visa-free access to US green card holders. 

How many countries can you visit with a US green card?

As of 2024, there are 48 countries and territories that you can visit with a US green card. This list of countries for US green card holders includes visa-free, visa on arrival and e-visa countries. Japan is the new addition to the list with the option to apply for e-visa without needing to go to the embassy.

Let’s look at what these countries are in detail.

Where can green card holders travel without a visa?

As of 2024, these are the 48 countries where green card holders can travel without a visa.

• Anguilla (British Territory)
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bermuda (British Territory)
• Bonaire (Dutch Territory)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands (British Territory)
• Cayman Islands (British Territory)
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• Sint Maarten
• South Korea
• Turks and Caicos (British Territory)
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• US territories

Let’s look into the entry requirements of each of these countries in detail.

RELATED: 53 countries you can visit VISA-FREE with US visa in 2024

North America

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
• Entry granted: 180 days
• Entry rule: Entry into Canada is only allowed if you present a valid passport from the country of nationality along with a green card.
• Official source: Government of Canada Immigration and Citizenship

Read more about traveling to Canada with US green card . This article will guide you through the requirements and border procedure when entering Canada with your US green card.

• Entry granted: Varies depending on the itinerary
• Entry rule: Green card must be valid for the entire stay in Mexico
• Official source: National Institute of Migration, Mexico

Read more about traveling to Mexico with a US green card . This article will help you understand the requirements and entry procedures at the airport when traveling to Mexico with your US green card.

03. United States Territories

• Includes the US territories: US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam
• Excludes the US territories: American Samoa (American Samoa has its own immigration rules and does not honor US tourist visa )
• Official source: American Samoa Visitors Bureau   and Department of Legal Affairs  

RELATED: 38 countries you can visit VISA-FREE with Canada visa in 2023

Central America

• Entry granted: 30 days
• Official source: Embassy of Belize in Washington DC, USA

05. Costa Rica

• Entry rule: US green card must be valid for at least 3 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC, USA

06. El Salvador

• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Papua New Guinea
• Turkmenistan
• Entry granted: 90 days
• If entering by air, a fee of $12 USD will be charged for a tourist card
• If you have already entered Guatemala or Honduras, you can enter El Salvador from Guatemala or Honduras by land without any additional visa requirements as per CA-4 Border Control Agreement
• Official source: IATA Travel Centre

07. Guatemala

• Côte d´Ivoire
• Entry rule: If you have already entered Honduras or El Salvador, you can enter Guatemala from Honduras or El Salvador by land without any additional visa requirements as per CA-4 Border Control Agreement.
• Official source: Consulate of Guatemala in New York, USA

08. Honduras

• Cote d’Ivoire
• South Sudan
• Entry rule: If you have already entered Guatemala or El Salvador, you can enter Honduras from Guatemala or El Salvador by land without any additional visa requirements as per CA-4 Border Control Agreement.

09. Nicaragua

• Afghanistan
• Congo, Dem Rep of
• Congo, Rep of
• Sierra Leone
• Timor-Leste
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL
• VOA fee is 50 USD, payable in USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• Besides VOA fee, there is 10 USD tourist card fee, 2 USD land border migration fee (for land border only) and 1 USD municipality tax (for land border only) (payable in USD only)
• Green card must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Must show proof of economic solvency for a minimum of 500 USD
• Official source: Embassy of Panama in the USA

RELATED: 40 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa in 2023

11. Anguilla (British Territory)

• Official source: Anguilla Tourist Board, entry requirements

12. Antigua and Barbuda

• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but green card holders are eligible to obtain a Visa ON ARRIVAL (VOA)
• VOA fee is $100 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• Official source: Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda in NYC, USA
• Official source: Netherlands Worldwide

14. Bahamas

• Official source: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

15. Bermuda (British Territory)

• Entry rule: Green card must be valid for a minimum of 45 days beyond the date of departure from Bermuda
• Official source: Government of Bermuda

16. Bonaire (Dutch Territory)

17. british virgin islands (british territory).

• Entry rule: Must arrive directly from the US
• Official source: Government of Virgin Islands (British)

18. Cayman Islands (British Territory)

• Entry rule: Must present a return ticket back to the US on arrival
• Official source: Cayman Islands Customs and Border Controls

19. Curaçao

20. dominican republic.

• Entry rule: If arriving by land or sea, must purchase a Tourist Card on arrival for 20 USD. If arriving by air, the tourist card is included in the airfare.
• Official source: Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the US

21. Sint Maarten

22. turks and caicos (british territory).

• Official source: Ministry of Border Control of Turks and Caicos

RELATED: 51 non-Schengen countries you can travel VISA-FREE with Schengen visa in 2023

South America

24. Colombia

• Official source : Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru

RELATED: How to book flight tickets with 24 hour FREE cancellation on Expedia – A step-by-step guide

26. Albania

• Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania

27. Armenia

• Marshall Islands
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Solomon Islands
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Entry granted: 21 or 120 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but green card holders are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL
• VOA fee is 3,000 AMD, valid for 21 days, single-entry (OR) 15,000 AMD, valid for 120 days, single-entry
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

28. Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities, except Kosovo
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina

29. Georgia

• Entry rule: The total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

30. Moldova

• São Tomé and Príncipe
• South Africa
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova

31. Montenegro

• Official source: Government of Montenegro
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
• Algeria (those aged 15-18 and 35-65)
• North Korea
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but green card holders are eligible to apply for Turkey e-Visa online
• E-Visa fee is $43 USD, validity is 180 days, and single-entry only
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

If you hold a US green card and are eligible to apply for a Turkey e-Visa, read this step-by-step guide to  apply for Turkey e-Visa . This step-by-step guide has instructions and screenshots to guide you in filling out the application and downloading your approved e-Visa.

34. United Kingdom

• Entry granted: 24 hours only (Transit Without Visa)
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but green card holders are eligible to request a 24-hour entry at London (LHR) or Manchester (MAN) airports
• Must be traveling to or from the US only
• Must arrive and depart by air only
• Must hold the boarding pass for the onward flight
• Onward flight must be within 24 hours (on the same day or the next day before midnight)
• Granting 24-hour entry into the UK with a green card is at the sole discretion of the immigration officer
• Official source: GOV.UK

RELATED: How to turn your weak passport into a strong passport (with examples)

Middle East

35. Bahrain

• Entry granted: 14 days or 30 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Bahrain eVisa
• Single-entry VOA fee is 5 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days
• Single-entry eVisa fee is 9 BD, valid for 14 days, entry up to 14 days
• Multiple-entry VOA fee is 12 BD, valid for 3 months, entry up to 30 days
• Multiple-entry eVisa fee is 16 BD, valid for 1 month, entry up to 14 days
• For VOA, the green card must be valid for the entire stay in Bahrain
• For eVisa, the green card must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Bahrain eVisa Portal
• Congo, Dem. Rep. of
• Guinea Bissau
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but green card holders are eligible for Jordan e-Visa
• Official source: Jordan E-Visa
• Entry granted: 10 or 30 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but green card holders are eligible to obtain Oman 26M or 26N Tourist Visa online
• 26M eVIsa fee is 20 OMR, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• 26N eVIsa fee is 5 OMR, valid for 10 days, single-entry only
• Official source: Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for A3 Visa online on the Hayya Portal
• A3 Visa fee is QAR 100, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
• Must provide hotel booking for the entire stay reserved through the Discover Qatar website
• Green card must be valid on the day of A3 Visa application
• Official source: Qatar Tourism Board

39. Saudi Arabia

• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Saudi Arabia eVisa
• VOA or eVisa fee is 300 SAR, valid for 1 year, multiple-entry (plus service fee and insurance fee)
• Official source: Saudi Arabia Tourism Authority

40. United Arab Emirates

• Eligible Nationalities: India passport holders only
• Entry granted: 14 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but green card holders are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at UAE airports
• VOA fee is 100 AED, valid for 14 days, single-entry only
• Official source: UAE Government Portal

RELATED: 5 ways to get proof of onward travel for your next trip

41. Morocco

• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but green card holders are eligible to apply for Morocco e-Visa online
• E-Visa fee is 770 MAD, valid for 180 days, single-entry only
• Green card must be valid for at least 90 days from the day of arrival
• Official source: Morocco E-Visa Portal

• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but green card holders are eligible to apply for Japan eVisa
• E-Visa fee is JPY 3,000, valid for 90 days, single-entry only
• Must submit proof of residence to prove that you reside in those countries
• Must show the visa issuance confirmation via the eVisa website on your phone at the immigration (Prints and PDFs are not accepted)
• Must enter Japan by flight only
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

43. Malaysia (Currently suspended)

• Entry granted: 120 hours (5 days)
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT but green card holders are eligible to obtain Transit Without Visa (TWOA) at the VOA counter
• TWOA is free of charge, valid for 120 hours (5 days), single-entry only
• TWOA is available at Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA1 and KLIA2 terminals) only
• Issuing of TWOA is at the discretion of the immigration offices at Kuala Lumpur Airport
• Official source: High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi, India

44. Philippines

• Green card must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of departure
• Official source: Embassy of the Philippines in India

45. Singapore

• Entry granted: 96 hours (4 days)
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to obtain Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF) upon arrival
• Must be traveling to or from the country of passport. Example: Must be traveling to a third country from India via Singapore or traveling to India from a third country via Singapore. An example itinerary would be India-Singapore-Bali or Bali-Singapore-India.
• Both arriving and departing flights in Singapore must be on the same itinerary
• Green card must be valid for at least 1 month at the time of arrival
• Official source: Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

46. South Korea

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities (except these 23 countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameron, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen)
• Entry rule: Must be traveling to/from the US through South Korea (OR)
• Official source: South Korea Embassy in Washington DC, USA
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to apply for ROC Travel Authorization Certificate online
• ROC Travel Authorization Certificate is free of charge, valid for 90 days, multiple-entry
• If using an EXPIRED US green card, the green card must have expired in the last 10 years only
• Official source: Bureau of Consular Affairs of Republic of China (Taiwan)

48. Thailand

• Entry granted: 60 days
• Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Thailand e-Visa online
• E-Visa fee is 40 USD, valid for 90 days or 180 days, single or multiple-entry
• Official source: Thailand e-Visa Portal

There are about 48 countries green card holders can travel without visa. US green card holders had to invest enormous amounts of money and time to acquire the green card, which will eventually lead to US citizenship. Therefore, countries believe that US green card holders will not jeopardize their chances of becoming US citizens by remaining illegally in another country. They consider green holders as genuine travelers and provide them with VISA-FREE access.

There you go, guys! Those are the 48 countries you can visit with a green card without a visa. If you know any country that I haven’t listed, let me know in the comments below.

Change history: For those who are interested, here are the changes to this list.

03 Feb 2024

• Added:  El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, British Virgin Islands, Colombia, Moldova, Saudi Arabia

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

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In Europe's Schengen area , your passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of your entry. At present, the Schengen area includes most European Union (EU) countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland.

If you are transiting through Canada or the United Kingdom (UK) enroute to the Schengen area : your passport must be valid for at least six months, even though Canada and the UK do not themselves have the six-month rule. If your passport will expire within six months, airlines may not let you board your onward flight to Europe.

Traveling in Europe

If you plan to travel in Europe, you need to know about the Schengen Borders Agreement, which allows you to move freely within a number of countries without border checks. Tourists, exchange students, and people visiting for business from certain countries, like the United States, can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days. The Schengen area includes most EU countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland. It also includes four non-EU countries: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Before you travel to the Schengen area, we recommend you do the following:

• Check the expiration date on your passport book carefully before traveling to Europe. Ensure your passport book is valid for at least six months when you enter the Schengen area. This is especially important for minors under age 16 as their passports are only valid for five years. In contrast, U.S. citizen adults aged 16 and older receive passports that are valid for 10 years.
• Always carry your passport book with you when traveling to another country in the Schengen area. Even if there is no border check at that time, officials may reinstate border controls without notice.
• Be prepared to explain your purpose of travel.
• Be prepared to provide proof of sufficient financial resources for the visit.
• Comply with other entry requirements for each country you will visit or transit.

On our Country Information pages , you can find passport validity requirements and other important information for your destination country. If your passport does not meet the Schengen requirements, you may be:

• Refused boarding by the airline at your point of origin or while transferring planes.
• Denied entry when you arrive in the Schengen area, regardless of how long you will stay.

An immigration official will determine if you qualify for visa-free entry to the Schengen area when you first cross any external Schengen border. You will have to present your passport at that time. The officer may deny your entry if you do not qualify.

You should also check passport validity requirements if traveling onward from the Schengen area to a country outside the Schengen area. You can find this information in our Country Information pages.

HOW LONG CAN I REMAIN?

• With a valid U.S. passport book, you can stay up to 90 days in the Schengen area for tourism or business during any 180-day period. You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area.
• If you plan to stay in the Schengen area longer than three months, contact the embassy of the country where you plan to spend the majority of your time and apply for a visa.

Countries in the Schengen area may reinstate temporary internal or external border control without notice. U.S. citizens should carry their U.S. passport book at all times when entering or leaving the Schengen area. They should also bring it when traveling between Schengen countries.

How can the U.S. government help me if border officials do not let me enter?

• We can give you the contact information of foreign embassies of the countries you wish to visit.
• We can provide information about hiring an English-speaking foreign attorney overseas if you choose to do so.
• Note: We cannot influence a foreign government’s decision about allowing you to enter. We cannot intervene in another country’s criminal or administrative procedures.

What countries are members of the Schengen Borders Agreement?

Click on the country name for more information.

Bulgaria (entering in March 2024)

Czech Republic

Liechtenstein

Netherlands

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Can I travel outside the U.S. with a green card?

Yes, you can travel abroad as a green card holder — that’s one of the many benefits of being a permanent resident . However, your trip must be temporary and you cannot remain outside the United States for more than 1 year. If the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer believes you do not intend to continue living permanently in the United States, they could revoke your status as a permanent resident.

In this guide, we’ll go over which documents you’ll need and provide tips for traveling outside the United States as a permanent resident.

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when you leave

You’ll want to be absolutely sure you have the necessary documents when leaving the country. Most green card holders will need to present the passport from the country where they’re a citizen, or in some cases, their refugee travel document.

You should also be sure to have your green card on you for the duration of the trip. And remember different countries have different requirements for entry. You may find that some countries require you to have a visa upon arrival. It’s a good idea to contact the embassy for the country you intend to visit.

Check out the U.S. Department of State’s “ Before You Go” webpage for general information on traveling abroad.

when you come back

When returning to the United States, you’ll need your green card (officially called Form I-551 , Permanent Resident Card ) and your passport. You may also present other identifying documents such as a U.S. driver’s license or a foreign national I.D. The CBP officer will look over these documents to determine whether or not you can reenter the country.

Boundless can help you obtain a green card. We make it easy to complete your green card application and avoid common problems . Learn more about what Boundless does , or start your application today .

If your trip will be longer than a year, it’s a good idea to submit Form I-131 (officially called “Application for Travel Document”) in order to apply for a reentry permit . With this permit, you can be admitted into the United States, and you won’t need to obtain a returning resident visa from the U.S. Embassy. While this document doesn’t guarantee successful admittance into the U.S., it can serve as evidence demonstrating your intent to live permanently in the United States.

It’s important to note that the reentry permit expires after 2 years. So if you think you might be out of the country for longer, you can apply for an SB-1 (officially called a “ Returning Resident Visa ”). To do this, you can go to the local U.S. Embassy or consulate. As a part of the application process, you’ll need to get a medical exam and demonstrate your eligibility to receive an immigrant visa.

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If this happens, you can file Form I-131A (officially called “Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation)”). With the carrier documentation you should be able to fly back to the United States without receiving any sort of penalty. Form I-131A may also be helpful if you’ve been away for more than 2 years and you’ve lost your reentry permit.

Traveling abroad will, in most cases, have little to no impact on your permanent resident status. That being said, your trip must be temporary, and you must have every intention of returning to the United States. If the CBP officer suspects you do not intend to live permanently in the U.S., they could revoke your status as a permanent resident. When making their decision, the officer may consider whether:

• You’ve been gone for more than a year
• You still have a job in the U.S.
• You still have connections to friends and family in the United States
• You’ve filed income taxes as a resident of the United States
• You intended to take a temporary trip abroad
• You’ve previously communicated your intention to continue living permanently in the United States
• You have U.S. bank accounts
• You own property or manage a business in the U.S.
• You have a U.S. driver’s license
• You have a U.S. mailing address

This list is not exhaustive. The CBP officer may consider other documentation when determining whether you truly intended to take a temporary trip abroad.

If you’re out of the country for 6 months or longer, you may have issues satisfying the continuous residency requirement. If you plan on leaving the country for more than a year, you can submit Form N-470 (officially called “Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes”).

As a reminder, as part of the naturalization process , you have to show one of the following:

• That you have resided continuously in the United States for 5 years prior to submitting the application
• That you have resided continuously in the United States for 3 years (for qualified spouses of U.S. citizens)

No time for research? We provide an easy, guided application experience, with 4 anti-rejection checks and a lawyer review. Get started for free .

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Schengen Visa For US Green Card Holders And Permanent Residents

Are you planning a trip to Europe from the United States? Whether you are a US passport holder or US permanent resident or a US green card holder or have US visa, you need to know certain a requirements to apply for a Schengen visa from the United States. While there are various exemptions for US citizens, these can be quite confusing. So, this article gives you a detailed information on how to apply for a Schengen visa from the United States.

For entering the  Schengen area , which comprises of 26 European countries, the US passport holders are allowed a free visitor entry for a period of 90 days. However, this exemption does not apply to the citizens of other countries such as indian passport holders residing in the US as permanent residents and green card holders or US visa holders. Nevertheless, in either case, you will need to fulfill certain visa requirements and follow certain guidelines to apply for a Schengen visa from the United States.

APPLYING FOR SCHENGEN VISA FROM THE UNITED STATES  — FOR US CITIZENS

If you are a US citizen with a valid blue passport, you do not need a visa to enter any Schengen member country for a 90 days trip. However, if you are planning to stay for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a visa from the Embassy of the country you’re visiting, just like the process of applying for Schengen visa from the United States by a US resident or U.S. visa holder.

On the other hand, even if you’re planning to stay only till 90 days, in order to enter the Schengen area, you need to carry certain proofs and documents. Some of the mandatory documents are:

• A valid US passport : If you’re eligible for a visa-free entry to Schengen area, you need to have a US passport with a validity that extends to more than 6 months from the date of your return from the Schengen area.
• Covering letter : The covering letter should contain a brief description of the purpose and nature of your trip, along with all the important details, such as the dates of travelling, the flight number for the return journey, the places you’ll be visiting, the people you’re planning to meet, and the arrangement for your accommodation.
• Proof of sufficient funds : You need to show the embassy that you have sufficient funds to cover all your expense for the entire duration of your stay in the Schengen area. Along with cash, traveler’s cheque, and international credit cards, you may also be asked to provide your current bank statement for the last 6 months and Income Tax Returns Certificate for the last three years.
• Accommodation proof : The accommodation proof is simply the arrangement that you have made for your trip. You can show proofs such as a hotel reservation receipt for the entire duration of the stay or an attested invitation letter from your host in the Schengen area country you’re planning to visit.
• Specific entry requirements,  depending on the particular country you’re visiting.

APPLY FOR A SCHENGEN VISA FROM THE UNITED STATES  — FOR US PERMANENT RESIDENTS & GREEN CARD HOLDERS AND US VISA HOLDERS

In case you’re a foreign citizen residing in the US with a valid permanent residency permit and a green card or have a valid visa, applying for a Schengen visa from the United States is quite easy. However, choosing the consulate/embassy from where you should apply is a little tricky and depends on various factors:

• If you’re planning to stay in only one Schengen country, you need to apply for a EU visa from the consular office of the country you’re visiting.
• If you’re planning to visit multiple Schengen countries, you need to apply for a Europe visa at the consular office of the country where you’re spending more days.
• If you’re staying for an equal number of days in multiple Schengen countries, you need to apply for a EU visa at the embassy of the Schengen country you’ll be entering first.
• If you’re planning to spend more than 90 days in a Schengen country, you need to obtain a residency permit, instead of the EU visa.

Once you’ve decided the country to which you will be apply for a EU visa from the United States, you can collect the following documents and apply for the visa at the Consulate of the country you’re applying to.

1) You need to submit all the documents mentioned in the section for US Citizens  (section above)

2) Visa application form : You can download the visa application form from the Embassy website of the destination country. Ensure that the application form is filled with sincerity and duly signed.

3)   Passport photos : The passport-sized photos need to be recently taken, and must comply with the passport format. It should have a full-face coverage and a white/light background.

4)   Round trip flight itinerary : The round trip flight itinerary, dummy flight reservation, or actual flight tickets showing the flight numbers and the dates of the two-way journey is a mandatory document. You can obtain the flight itinerary for visa or dummy flight booking from a reliable travel agency, such as  Visa Reservation .

5)   Travel insurance policy : The travel health insurance policy should be taken for a sum of at least 30,000 EUR and needs to be valid in all the Schengen states.

You may also need some additional documents depending on nature and purpose of your travel. They are:

If the applicant is a minor , the mandatory documents would include the birth certificate, application form signed by both the parents, court order (in case of one parent having full custody of the child), attested ID proofs of both the parents, and a notarized No Objection Letter stating that both the parents have no objection towards the minor travelling abroad.

If you’re applying for a business visa , you will need an  NOC  from the employer, short description of your company, proof of the existence of your business, and proof of business relationship with the company in the Schengen member state.

For a student visa application , you need to submit two fully-filled visa application forms, letter of acceptance or admission from the school/college/university in the Schengen country, proof that shows, you can financially sustain yourself during your stay period.

In order to apply for an employment visa , the documents that need to be submitted includes two visa application forms and an employment contract between you and your future company in the Schengen area.

Now, that you’ve learned how to apply for a Schengen visa from the United States for both US citizens and US permanent residents & green card holders, US passport holders, US visa holders, you can plan your visit by fulfilling these requirements and following the guidelines. Since some documents such as travel insurance, hotel reservation for visa, or dummy flight itinerary for visa are commonly requested for entering the Schengen area, you can easily obtain them from  our website . Once you choose your desired package, you can also get additional support and assistance from our experts at any time of your visa application process! Get in touch with us using our  contact  page to know more.

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• Fact Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Updated Date: April 21, 2022

Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.  On April 21, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend these requirements. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

These requirements apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply. See  CDC guidance  for more details regarding air travel requirements.

Below is more information about what to know before you go, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about cross-border travel.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. what are the requirements for travelers entering the united states through land poes.

A:  Before embarking on a trip to the United States, non-U.S. travelers should be prepared for the following:

• Possess proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the  CDC  website.
• During border inspection, verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status. 
• Bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  compliant border crossing document, such as a valid passport (and visa if required), Trusted Traveler Program card, a Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card when entering the country. Travelers (including U.S. citizens) should be prepared to present the WHTI-compliant document and any other documents requested by the CBP officer.

 Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

A:  Children under 18 years of age are excepted from the vaccination requirement at land and ferry POEs.

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

A:  Per CDC guidelines, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), will be accepted.

Accepted Vaccines:

• More details are available in CDC guidance  here .
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

A:  No. The CDC guidance for “full vaccination” can be found here.

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

A:  No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation.

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

A: No, there is no COVID testing requirement to enter the United States via land POE or ferry terminals. In this respect, the requirement for entering by a land POE or ferry terminal differs from arrival via air, where there is a requirement to have a negative test result before departure.

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022 

Q: new changes were recently announced. what changed on january 22.

A:  Since January 22, 2022, non-citizens who are not U.S. nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents have been required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States at land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or nonessential purposes. Previously, DHS required that non-U.S. persons be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States for nonessential purposes.  Effective January 22, all non-U.S. individuals, to include essential travelers, must be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. DHS announced an extension of this policy on April 21, 2022.

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

A: This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. It applies to other noncitizens, such as a citizen of Mexico, Canada, or any other country seeking to enter the United States through a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

A: Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation. 

Q: What is essential travel?

A:  Under the prior policy, there was an exception from temporary travel restrictions for “essential travel.” Essential travel included travel to attend educational institutions, travel to work in the United States, travel for emergency response and public health purposes, and travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g., commercial truckers). Under current policy, there is no exception for essential travel.

Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

A: While most non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States will need to be vaccinated, there is a narrow list of exemptions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order in the air travel context.

• Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the CDC Order
• Children under 18 years of age;
• Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;   
• Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
• Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
• Individuals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 [business] or B-2 [tourism] visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified in the CDC Order
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
• Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

A:  Non-U.S. individuals are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request regardless of the purpose of travel.

The current documentation requirement remains the same and is available on the CDC website . Documentation requirements for entry at land ports of entry and ferry terminals mirror those for entry by air.

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

A: If non-U.S. individuals cannot present proof of vaccination upon request, they will not be admitted into the United States and will either be subject to removal or be allowed to withdraw their application for entry.

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

A: There is no COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers at land border ports of entry, including ferry terminals.

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

A: See CDC guidance for additional information on this topic. Note that the vaccine requirement does not apply to children under 18 years of age.

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions.

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions. These requirements also apply to bus drivers as well as rail and ferry operators.

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

A:  As travelers navigate these new travel requirements, wait times may increase. Travelers should account for the possibility of longer than normal wait times and lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are kindly encouraged to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP OneTM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

A: CBP’s current staffing levels at ports of entry throughout the United States are commensurate with pre-pandemic levels. CBP has continued to hire and train new employees throughout the pandemic. CBP expects some travelers to be non-compliant with the proof of vaccination requirements, which may at times lead to an increase in border wait times. Although trade and travel facilitation remain a priority, we cannot compromise national security, which is our primary mission. CBP Office of Field Operations will continue to dedicate its finite resources to the processing of arriving traffic with emphasis on trade facilitation to ensure economic recovery.

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual?  

A:  The unvaccinated individual (if 18 or over) would not be eligible for admission.

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

A:  No, if you are a non-U.S. individual. The policy announced on January 22, 2022 applies to both essential and non-essential travel by non-U.S. individual travelers. Since January 22, DHS has required that all inbound non-U.S. individuals crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

A:  Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa are not excepted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements at the land border. This is a difference from the international air transportation context.

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: what are the covid vaccination requirements for air passengers to the united states  .

A:  According to CDC requirements [www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html | Link no longer valid], most noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily must be fully vaccinated prior to boarding a flight to the United States. These travelers are required to show proof of vaccination. A list of covered individuals is available on the CDC website.  

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States?  

A:  Effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. ET, CDC will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers.

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad

Travelling to the EU and Schengen area

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply:

• you’re staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period
• you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons

Other reasons include:

• studying a short course
• getting medical treatment
• travelling for business for your UK employer, for example to attend a business meeting or conference
• journalism or other media activities

Check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting to find out what you can and cannot do during your stay.

These rules do not apply to travelling and working in Ireland .

Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period

You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period. How long you can stay in each country depends on whether or not it’s in the Schengen area.

The countries in the Schengen area are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. It does not matter how many countries you visit. The 180-day period keeps ‘rolling’.

To work out if your stay is within the 90 day limit, use the following steps.

Check the date you plan to leave the Schengen area on your next trip.

Count back 180 days from that date to get the start of the 180-day period.

Add up the number of days you have already spent in the Schengen area in that 180-day period (you can use the dates stamped in your passport showing when you entered and left a country).

Work out how many days you will spend in the Schengen area on your next trip. Add this number to the number of days you worked out in step 3.

Check that the total number of days is not more than 90.

Travelling to Cyprus

Cyprus is not in the Schengen area. You can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in Cyprus without a visa.

Any time you spend in the Schengen area does not affect the number of days you can spend in Cyprus.

When you may need a visa

​​You may need a visa or permit if you want to either:

• stay for more than 90 days

If you’re travelling for work, check the rules for the country you’re visiting .

If you’re travelling for another reason or staying longer than 90 days, check the entry requirements for the country you’re visiting .

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What International Travelers Should Know Before Visiting

Cbp releases trade and travel fiscal year 2021 report.

Agency Adapts to Secure and Facilitate Essential Trade and Travel amid Pandemic.

Almost a million times each day, CBP officers welcome international travelers into the U.S. In screening both foreign visitors and returning U.S. citizens, CBP uses a variety of techniques to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong. Descriptions of CBP processes and programs are available for first-time and frequent travelers.

For U.S. Citizens/Lawful Permanent Residents

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling abroad, get the information you need to smoothly navigate your return back into the U.S.

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If you are a visitor to the U.S. coming to work, study, conduct business or immigrate, get the Information you need to smoothly navigate the process and procedures to enter the U.S.

CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs provide expedited travel for pre-approved, low-risk travelers through dedicated lanes and kiosks.

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If you are a traveler coming to the U.S. through a land border Port of Entry and have a Ready Lane-eligible document, get the information you need to experience significantly faster processing.

If you are a traveler coming to the U.S. through a land border Port of Entry and have a Ready Lane-eligible document, get the information you need to benefit from dedicated primary vehicle and pedestrian lanes and experience significantly faster processing.

Can US permanent resident green card holders travel to Europe?

Faqs about us permanent resident green card holders traveling to europe:, 1. do green card holders need a visa to travel to europe, 2. can green card holders travel to any european country, 3. are there any limitations on the duration of stay in europe, 4. what documents do green card holders need to travel to europe, 5. can green card holders work or study in europe, 6. can green card holders travel to europe during the covid-19 pandemic, 7. do green card holders need travel insurance for europe, 8. can green card holders bring their family members to europe, 9. can green card holders travel to europe for medical treatment, 10. are there any restrictions on the activities green card holders can engage in while in europe, 11. how can green card holders obtain assistance in case of emergencies while in europe, 12. can green card holders travel to europe while their green card renewal is in process, can us permanent resident green card holders travel to europe.

Yes, US permanent resident green card holders can travel to Europe. However, before planning your trip, it is important to understand the specific requirements and restrictions that may apply. As a green card holder, you are generally allowed to travel to Europe for tourism or business purposes without needing a visa for short stays. This is because the United States has a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) agreement with certain European countries.

No, green card holders do not need a visa to travel to Europe for short stays. They can stay in the Schengen Area, which includes most European countries, for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa.

Yes, green card holders can generally travel to most European countries without needing a visa. However, it is important to check the specific requirements for each country you plan to visit, as some may have additional entry restrictions or visa requirements.

Green card holders can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without needing a visa. It is important to keep track of your duration of stay and ensure that you do not exceed the permitted period to avoid any immigration issues.

To travel to Europe as a green card holder, you will need your valid green card as well as a valid passport from your home country. It is also advisable to carry proof of your residence in the United States, such as a driver’s license or utility bills, as additional documentation.

While green card holders can travel to Europe for tourism or business purposes, their green card does not grant them the right to work or study in European countries. If you wish to work or study in Europe, you would need to explore the specific visa and permit options available for those purposes.

As travel restrictions and requirements can change rapidly due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to check the latest updates and guidelines before planning any international travel. Many countries have implemented entry restrictions, quarantine measures, and testing requirements to ensure public health and safety.

Travel insurance is not mandatory for green card holders traveling to Europe, but it is highly recommended. Travel insurance can provide coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost baggage, and other unforeseen circumstances that may occur during your trip.

The ability to bring family members to Europe may vary depending on the specific circumstances and immigration laws of each European country. Some countries may allow family reunification or visa sponsorship for immediate family members of green card holders. It is advisable to consult the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit for specific information in this regard.

Green card holders can travel to Europe for medical treatment, but it is important to consider the specific requirements and procedures of the destination country. Some countries may require a medical visa or additional documentation for medical purposes. It is advisable to consult with the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit for specific guidelines.

As a green card holder, you are expected to comply with the laws and regulations of the European countries you visit. It is important to be aware of any specific restrictions on activities such as employment, volunteering, or engaging in certain leisure or recreational activities. Violating local laws can have serious consequences, including potential deportation or legal action.

In case of emergencies while in Europe, green card holders can seek assistance from the nearest embassy or consulate of their home country. It is advisable to carry the contact information of your embassy or consulate and familiarize yourself with their services in case of any unforeseen situations.

It is generally allowed for green card holders to travel internationally while their green card renewal is in process. However, it is important to ensure that you have the necessary documentation to prove your lawful permanent resident status, such as your expired green card, I-797 notice of action, and a valid passport. It is advisable to consult with an immigration attorney before making any travel plans in such circumstances.

Please note that the information provided in this article is general in nature and may vary depending on individual circumstances and changes in immigration policies. It is always advisable to consult with the relevant authorities or seek professional advice before planning any international travel.

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When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: June 2024

Are you seeking to adjust your status and become a U.S. permanent resident under a family-sponsored or employment-based preference immigrant visa? If you have not yet had a relative or employer file an immigrant visa petition on your behalf, please learn more about the Adjustment of Status Filing Process . If you already have a petition filed or approved on your behalf, you may have to wait for an available visa in your category (if applicable) before you can file your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status . This page will help you determine when to file your adjustment of status application.

When to File

Use the Visa Bulletin charts below to determine when to file your adjustment of status application.

To use the charts:

• Find your visa type in the first column (on the left) of the appropriate chart (Family-sponsored or Employment-based).
• Stay in that row and move directly to the right to find the corresponding date under the country of your birth (as listed in the boldface columns across the top).
• If the date on the chart is current (“C”), or your priority date is earlier than the date on the chart, you may file your adjustment of status application, if otherwise eligible to do so.
• “U” means unauthorized; for example, numbers are not authorized for issuance.

Your priority date is generally the date when your relative or employer properly filed the immigrant visa petition on your behalf with USCIS. If a labor certification is required to be filed with your immigrant visa petition, the priority date is the date the labor certification application was accepted for processing by the Department of Labor.

About the Visa Bulletin

DOS publishes current immigrant visa availability information in a monthly Visa Bulletin . The Visa Bulletin indicates when statutorily limited visas are available for issuance to prospective immigrants based on their individual priority date.

On Nov. 20, 2014, the Secretary of Homeland Security directed USCIS to work with DOS to:

• Ensure that all immigrant visas authorized by Congress are issued to eligible individuals when there is sufficient demand for such visas, and
• Improve the Visa Bulletin system for determining when immigrant visas are available to applicants during the fiscal year.

Additionally, in July 2015, the Administration issued its report on Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century (PDF) . This report included detailed recommendations to revise and update the monthly Visa Bulletin to better estimate immigrant visa availability and provide needed predictability to nonimmigrant workers seeking permanent residency.

USCIS, in coordination with DOS, revised the procedures for determining visa availability for applicants waiting to file for adjustment of status. The revised process will better align with procedures DOS uses for noncitizens who seek to become U.S. permanent residents by applying for immigrant visas at U.S. consulates and embassies abroad.

This revised process will enhance DOS’s ability to more accurately predict overall immigrant visa demand in determining the cut-off dates for the Visa Bulletin. This will help ensure that the maximum number of immigrant visas are issued annually as intended by Congress, and minimize month-to-month fluctuations in Visa Bulletin final action dates. Additional goals are outlined in the White House report, Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century (PDF) .

New Visa Bulletin Charts

The Visa Bulletin will now have two different charts because of the revised procedures. DOS will post two charts per visa preference category in the DOS Visa Bulletin. The charts are:

• Application Final Action Dates (dates when visas may finally be issued); and
• Dates for Filing Applications (earliest dates when applicants may be able to apply).

When USCIS determines there are immigrant visas available for the filing of additional adjustment of status applications, the Dates for Filing Applications chart may be used to determine when to file an adjustment of status application with USCIS. Otherwise, the Application Final Action Dates chart must be used to determine when to file an adjustment of status application with USCIS.

In coordination with the DOS, USCIS will monitor visa numbers each month and post the relevant chart on this page under When to File.

Determining Visa Availability

USCIS considers several factors to determine if there is a greater supply of visas than the demand for those visas. To determine visa availability, USCIS will compare the number of visas available for the remainder of the fiscal year with:

• Documentarily qualified visa applications reported by DOS;
• Pending adjustment of status applications reported by USCIS; and
• Historical drop off rate of applicants for adjustment of status (for example, denials, withdrawals and abandonments)

See Europe as the Europeans do this summer with these pro tips | Cruising Altitude

Americans are heading to Europe for vacation as much as ever these days, and that means the typical tourist spots like Venice, Paris and London are sure to be crowded this year. But, because this is Cruising Altitude, we’ll look at the aviation angle first.

First and foremost: If you’re really determined to go to Europe this summer and haven’t booked yet, stop reading now and get on it. 

“I’ve never seen a year like this … We’re at the point where there’s no more availability,” Brigitte Armand, President of Eurobound , a tour organizer that specializes in European packages, told me. “Book as quickly as possible.” 

How to get around

According to Armand, trains are generally a great way to get from place to place within Europe, but for farther-flung stops, the continent’s network of low-cost airlines offers travelers a reliable alternative.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

“Don’t think of one airline as being your network and entry point within Europe,” Laura Lindsay, public relations director at online booking platform Skyscanner told me.

She said if you’re flying to Europe from the U.S., you may well rely on a large network carrier like British Airways, KLM or Lufthansa to get across the Atlantic and then book your intra-European flights separately.

“You’re suddenly opening up Europe in a different way if you search for different airports and multiple airlines,” Lindsay said. “It’s pretty straightforward to get around, so don’t feel put off by jumping through a few different countries or trying a few different destinations.” 

Tips for European airlines

According to Lindsay, European low-cost carriers like Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizz Air often have stricter baggage policies like American ULCCs Spirit and Frontier.

“(The) top tip would be always make sure you understand the luggage allowance that is part of your ticket,” she said. “More often than not, don’t book the basic fare without checking.”

It’s also a good idea to be flexible with your airports and dates of travel if you want to get the best deals on those shorter flights.

“You’ll get a number of places that have more than one airport,” Lindsay said, noting that Skyscanner has a tool that allows travelers to search for flights to or from nearby airports when choosing a destination. “Just getting a map out and actually looking at where exactly you want to travel and where the nearby airports are.” 

Armand added that if you take the train instead, you may need to secure a reservation in advance, particularly for some of the more tourist-heavy routes like panoramic trains in Switzerland. 

Last week's Cruising Altitude: There was no Golden Age of flying. We're in it now.

Where to go

If you really want to summer like a European, you should consider places a little more off the radar for most Americans.

“Albania is somewhere that broke through a couple of years ago as somewhere that people recognized as offering a huge value for money,” Lindsay said. “Sarajevo is reporting its busiest April on record for travelers.”

Armand said it can also be a good idea to try different parts of countries that are already popular if you want a more authentic, less crowded experience.

“We recently arranged a whole trip for some clients in the Abruzzo region of Italy,” she said. “The Abruzzo region, it’s on the Adriatic, people don’t know this region, and I think this is the first time ever we put together a package to get to that region.” 

Data from Skyscanner shows that some destinations in Europe are picking up in popularity with travelers on the continent. Here are some of the trends that are bubbling up year over year from 2023 to 2024.

• Ljubljana, Slovenia, saw a 188% increase in searches from Spanish travelers
• Tromso, Norway, saw a 130% increase in interest from Italian holidaymakers
• Dusseldorf had a 122% spike in interest from Brits

According to Armand, the best last-minute availability seems to be in eastern Europe, like Bulgaria and Poland.

“There are some good deals there perhaps, even the Czech Republic I’m finding some decent space,” she said.

So go on, get packing.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

UPDATE: San Jose residents speak out against diverting affordable housing funds

I n the face of the growing housing crisis, San Jose residents are urging elected officials to preserve funds for permanent affordable housing.

The San Jose City Council is considering reallocating housing funds from Measure E, a property transfer tax approved by voters in 2020, to instead support and shelter homeless residents in the short term. Under the two scenarios put forth in the city’s draft budget for fiscal year 2024-25, the reallocation would either leave $11 million of the $50 million fund for affordable housing — if the city can score extra state funding — or none at all. Affordable housing construction is 75% of the property transfer tax’s focus, with 25% going to homelessness prevention, rental assistance and shelters.

“Hollowing out affordable housing capital dollars will increase delays and drive up the costs of permanent supportive housing developments,” Tamra Chavez, regional director of homeless services nonprofit PATH, said.

Councilmembers on Tuesday held a public hearing on the potential reallocation, but took no action in choosing a proposal. They will make a decision during the budget process next month. The only comments from the dias came from Mayor Matt Mahan.

“We face an unenviable situation where we have very urgent needs,” Mahan said. “It’s a very tough balancing act.”

A consortium of community groups known as the REAL Coalition opposes the proposals, and held a protest ahead of the council meeting. One of those groups is SV@Home, who said there are 70,000 rent-burdened families in San Jose struggling to get by.

“I know people severely affected by the housing crisis. For the mayor to divert funds from permanent affordable housing is very distressing,” Peggy Elwell, a member of the South Bay Progressive Alliance’s steering committee, told San José Spotlight.

Those people include resident Debra Townley and her son, who were homeless for five years due to a series of unfortunate events. Townley urged the mayor not to cut funding from Measure E and to fund permanent supportive housing. Shelters are not the way for those struggling with mental and physical health conditions to live, she said.

“Please keep permanent supportive housing alive and allow us the time we need to recover from homelessness while we are finding ways to add value to our community in spite of our struggles,” Townley told San José Spotlight.

Mahan’s March budget message shaped the Measure E proposals by piggybacking on a push he started last year to divert affordable housing dollars. He didn’t succeed. The council settled on a compromise that still favored affordable housing development over temporary homeless housing, but there was a shift in the fund’s priorities. This year city leaders are leaning toward realigning Measure E monies to tackle homelessness in the short term.

San Jose expects to spend $27 million clearing out the estimated 1,000 homeless people living along creeks and rivers, in response to orders by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board due to high pollutant levels . Officials say if they fail to do so by June 2025, the city could face litigation and $60,000 per pollutant in daily fines. A spokesperson for the state water board said there’s no basis for the city’s claim of paying $60,000 per pollutant in daily fines.

Related Stories

‘absolutely stunned’: san jose mayor inflates costs of not sweeping homeless camps, san jose commissioners oppose diverting housing funds, san jose mulls diverting affordable housing funds — again.

Tuesday’s protest came days after the San Jose Housing and Community Development Commission rejected recommending either proposal for reshuffling Measure E funds. Commissioners scorned the proposals for “abdicating” the city’s commitment to long-term homelessness solutions, with some saying it betrayed the trust of voters who passed the property transfer tax in 2020 with the goal of creating more housing.

Two housing commissioners backed the mayor up last week and said the city is caught between a rock and a hard place. Some residents echoed that sentiment on Tuesday.

“With a $52 million deficit , nobody is going to get everything they want,” Dimitri, a resident from District 3, told councilmembers. “The city must prioritize moving people off the streets and creeks today and cleaning up the blight that everyone can see…that is harming the competitiveness of our city.”

Under the current proposals, $15 million in Measure E dollars could pay for homeless services, with funds for the sweeps coming from the general fund. The city will pay $10 million of the remaining amount from the general fund and $2 million from other special funds.

If the city can keep $11 million for affordable housing this upcoming budget cycle, $5.8 million would go toward the development of extremely low-income housing and $5.2 million for low-income housing, according to a city memo.

Even with continued state grant funding in the following fiscal year 2025-26, the allocation for affordable housing further decreases in city budget projections to just $6 million.

While proponents say Measure E is critical for affordable housing development, it’s not the only revenue source available to fund construction. The city in its report to housing commissioners said it has six funds that can support such development.

In addition to these funds, city officials say the potential sale of Vermont House, a 17-unit permanent housing facility, and construction of the Monterey-Bernal emergency interim housing site could bring in more cash for affordable housing.

Councilmembers are slated to hold budget study sessions and public hearings throughout May and are expected to formally adopt a budget on June 18.

Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X, formerly known as Twitter. Contact Joyce Chu at [email protected] or @joyce_speaks on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the source of funds for the encampment sweeps.

The post UPDATE: San Jose residents speak out against diverting affordable housing funds appeared first on San José Spotlight .

Ukraine war latest: Russian port suffers 'massive' overnight attack and oil refinery left in flames - as Putin's forces advance

The northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv came under attack once again overnight, according to officials. This one lasted more than 16 hours, according to reports. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is in China, where he has met with president Xi Jinping.

Friday 17 May 2024 10:21, UK

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• Russian troops advance - but situation 'stabilised', says Zelenskyy
• Kharkiv 'attacked' in 16-hour air raid alert - longest since war began
• Footage shows oil refinery fire and burning fuel depots after 'massive' overnight attack
• Putin in China: Leaders warn against nuclear war - and agree to expand military drills
• Were Putin and Xi really pictured with their 'nuclear footballs'?
• Analysis: Great power politics on display in China visit
• Live reporting by Narbeh Minassian

Ask a question or make a comment

Kyiv is preparing troops to defend the northern region of Sumy, according to the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces.

Oleksandr Syrskyi says he expects fighting to intensify as Russia continues to attack Kharkiv - with Sumy the next possible target, roughly 170km northwest.

Russia's attack on Kharkiv has expanded the area of active fighting by almost 70km, he added, which was designed to force Ukraine to divert stretched resources to the region.

Vladimir Putin in the northern province of Harbin today as part of his official visit to China.

Today, he's said Russia's strategic alliance with China in the energy sector will strengthen further - adding Moscow is ready to supply clean energy to its neighbour.

Speaking at a Russia-China Expo, Mr Putin said the close relationship between the two countries is a guarantor of energy security.

Here are some of the first pictures coming out of his second day of the trip.

Ukraine's military claims it has shot down all 20 drones it says Russia dispatched overnight to Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odesa and Mykolaiv.

As we reported earlier, Kharkiv sounded its longest air raid alert since the invasion began (see our 6.37am post).

The region of Kharkiv has been increasingly targeted this spring, with Russia intensifying aerial attacks and mounting a new offensive in the border areas, forcing Kyiv's outnumbered troops to try to hold the line on a new front.

The attack damaged five buildings, one of them belonging to the district administration, Kharkiv's regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said on Telegram.

Kharkiv city mayor Ihor Terekhov reported four explosions during the attack, adding one of the strikes caused a fire.

Three drones were shot down over the Poltava region with no casualties or infrastructure damages, according to its regional governor, Filip Pronin.

Also on Telegram, Mykolaiv's regional governor, Vitaliy Kim, said there had been no casualties after the overnight attacks.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the situation in Kharkiv has "stabilised" as of today, as cited by news outlet RBC-Ukraine.

He says Russian forces have advanced 10km (6 miles) in one area of the region, which has been intensely targeted by Moscow in a bid to stretch Ukraine's already-outnumbered troops.

“Today, our defence forces have stabilised the Russians where they are now," he said. 

"The deepest point of their advance is 10 km."

Later, he posted on X "we must use all available means to force Russia to make a real and just peace", adding the country's defence is "critical" for this.

We have reported this morning Russia claimed a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery in Krasnodar (see our 6.44am post).

Footage shared by The Wall Street Journal's chief foreign affairs correspondent, Yarsolav Trofimov, shows a fire at the Tuapse refinery.

The attacks may have been more successful than Russia lets on, with another video showing burning fuel depots at the Novorossiysk railway, also in Krasnodar.

The Russian defence ministry said air defences downed 51 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, another 44 over the Krasnodar region and six over the Belgorod region. 

Russian warplanes and patrol boats also destroyed six sea drones in the Black Sea, the ministry added.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has again denied reports of arms exchanges with Russia - insisting the country's updated weapons systems are not for sale.

According to state-run KCNA, Kim Yo Jong said North Korea's recently-shown tactical weapons, such as rocket launchers and missiles, are for defence against South Korea, with the two countries technically still at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty.

The US and South Korea have accused North Korea of transferring weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Despite vowing to deepen military relations last year, both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations.

While ties between the two countries have strengthened dramatically in recent months, Kim Yo Jong said the North Korea-Russia arms deal "theory" made up of prejudice and fiction was the "most absurd theory", according to KCNA quoting her press statement.

She called it a false rumour spread by its hostile forces.

A Russian official claims a Ukrainian drone strike killed a mother and her four-year-old son in the southern region of Belgorod.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, says the pair were traveling in a car earlier today when one of several drones opened fire in the village of Oktyabrsky.

The woman died at the scene, while the boy died of his injuries at hospital.

The boy's father and a man driving the car were injured, but survived.

New satellite imagery appears to show damage at Belbek airbase in Russian-annexed Crimea.

Among the apparent targets were a fuel storage facility and several types of fighter jet.

Officials in Russia's Krasnodar region reported another Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery, this time causing a fire.

So far, no casualties have been reported at Tuapse oil refinery and authorities say they have contained the fire.

Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry claims its air defence and the Black Sea fleet destroyed 102 Ukrainian drones and six unmanned boats overnight.

As a result of that attack, the governor of Sevastopol, in annexed Crimea, says an electrical substation was damaged.

"There will be isolated blackouts," he wrote on messaging app Telegram.

He says he has cancelled classes "in all schools, institutions of secondary vocational education and kindergartens".

As we reported last night, Ukrainian officials claimed Kharkiv region came under drone attack.

Some more information has now come to light.

Public broadcaster Suspilne reports the air raid alert lasted more than 16 hours - the longest recorded since Russia's invasion began.

Governor Oleh Syniehubov said at least five drones had struck Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, while Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the city's Osnovyanskyi district had been hit, causing a fire.

There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage and the air raid alert was lifted early on Friday, after a missile warning was also in place.

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