Huge mistake...need visa asap for flight to spain!

[MrTee12 64]

I made a huge mistake. I booked a flight for my wife and I to Spain to visit family and honeymoon. I really had know idea that my wife (permanent U.S. resident) had restrictions on where she could travel. I thought all that was over once she received her green card (guess not).

Does anyone know if the Embassy of Spain (NYC) issues visas the same day or next day? I know this is last minute but I'm literally just finding out about the visa requirements and I'm trying my hardest not to lose our money and spoil our plans. Flight is scheduled for this Tues June 28 6pm. We have already emailed the consulate, filled out and gathered req. documents, and we plan on traveling to NYC tomorrow. Any postive advice or suggestions are welcome. Thx.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Can you change your travel plans and pay a slight fee? Without first speaking with the Spanish Consulate, this might be a difficult undertaking with such short leadtime.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I made a huge mistake. I booked a flight for my wife and I to Spain to visit family and honeymoon. I really had know idea that my wife (permanent U.S. resident) had restrictions on where she could travel. I thought all that was over once she received her green card (guess not).

Does anyone know if the Embassy of Spain (NYC) issues visas the same day or next day? I know this is last minute but I'm literally just finding out about the visa requirements and I'm trying my hardest not to lose our money and spoil our plans. Flight is scheduled for this Tues June 28 6pm. We have already emailed the consulate, filled out and gathered req. documents, and we plan on traveling to NYC tomorrow. Any postive advice or suggestions are welcome. Thx.

Yeah it ain't gunna happen sorry Here's a website: http://www.learn4good.com/travel/es_visa.htm#tim that says it takes 15 days for a short stay visa, not issued on the spot and can take longer up to 30 days. Try and change your flights, hopefully it's cheaper.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

A Green Card is the document proving resident status of a legal alien in the US. It has nothing to do with travel restrictions or travel permissions to Europe. If your wife is a citizen of the Dominican Republic, she needs a visa to visit Spain. The U.S. and her residency here has nothing to do with Spain or any other European or African or Asian country and neither Australia.

The only perk a Green Card provides for a foreigner is visa-free travel to Canada, Mexico, and he Caribbean.

[SMR 368]

The one thing that a Green Card does do for you is that it greatly increases your chances of getting visas to first world European countries that might otherwise consider you a risk of not returning. But that doesn't preclude the requirement to get the visa. It just means it's a pretty sure thing that you will get it.

This post should be a warning to others. For some countries, obtaining a visa is not a quick process. Americans are somewhat numb to this fact since only a few countries require visas for Americans (mainly the BRIC and some middle eastern countries). But green card holders are not considered Americans by most foreign governments.

[MrTee12 64]

Thanks to everyone who posted their responses; they were very helpful. Now I fully understand the "power" of a green card, it surely does not hold its weight compared to having U.S. Passport. I will just have to postpone this trip of ours until we go through the visa process for her to enter Spain legally. I think someone should make a sticky post informing everyone that Green Cards does not allow you to travel as freely as an American citizen.

Even better a list of countries Green Card holders can travel to Visa-Free. I don't want anyone to make the same mistake I did.

Edited June 28, 2011 by MrTee12