Hi all. My mother and father in law emigrated to the US about 10 years ago from Colombia. My father in-law is now a Citizen, however my Mother-in law is still a perm resident.

They just planned a trip to Spain over Thanksgiving. However, they were told that they have to go to the Spanish Consulate in NYC because my Mother in-law needs special permission from the Consulate to go to Spain.

Specifically, they are saying that she needs to provide all that info as if she were applying for a Visa - passport photos, birth certificates, financial info...etc... They are also telling them that they need travel insurance for up to $38,000.

What's going on here? I thought that once you receive the perm resident card and received the permission to remove conditions to travel, you can travel anywhere?

Is Spain a special case??

Appreciate any help,

Thanks,

True, US Citizens qualify for VWP between USA and other countries, however LPRs do not, they are treated as if they are from other country.

Spain does not have a visa waiver program with columbia.

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...rt_information/

US LPR status makes no difference when it comes to visa requirements imposed on a person based on their nationality. Only exception to the rule is Canada, Mexico, and most of the Caribbean they honor the I-551 green-card.

Wow, thanks for the info. So I guess the bottom line is that she'll need a US Visa... What if she had a Colombian Visa?

Any idea about the travel insurance? What's that all about and where can they get it?

Muchos Gracias, Amigo.

J

She will need a Schengen Visa to visit Spain and Europe in her Columbian passport.

http://www.schengenvisa.cc/index.html

Travel insurance is also a wise thing to have, but am not sure if is a requirement, I have never had travel insurance when traveling abroad.

Do you know how fast she can get a Schengen Visa?

If she can't get the Shengen Visa, will she need a US VISA or a PASSPORT?


Thanks!

US visa is for people entering the USA, US passport is for US Citizens.

You apply to the Spanish consulate having jurisdiction over your US residence.

http://www.eurovisa.info/WhereApply.htm

http://www.mae.es/Embajadas/Washington/en/...ios+Consulares/

Depending on country you may be able to mail the passport to the consulate along with the fee, and they will mail it back, you may be able to use Fed-Ex for overnight service.

And apparently Switzerland.

Green Card holders shouldn't have much of a problem getting Schengen visas. I wouldn't worry about it. It's what was said before, fill out the application, provide proof of your perm residency in the US, pay the fee, and send your passport to the nearest Spanish consulate.