Family visit

[Motet 0]

My sister is a resident in Germany, have a permanent resident card, she has her own business and want to visit us in the US but she does not have normal passport, instead she has a Travel Document since she have had a refugee status. 

I am a US citizen and would like her to visit for a few months here. Not sure of the process on my end or hers'.  Can her family visit using that kind of travel document? what is the process, what kind of forms does she need to apply for? And, do I need to proof anything, like citizenship or sending her an invitation letter? 

 

[Boiler 43,857]

Nothing to do with you, up to her to apply.

 

Does not sound like a strong case

[Motet 0]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Nothing to do with you, up to her to apply.

 

Does not sound like a strong case

what do you mean by a strong case? 

for a visit visa, they have a business running and only visiting. A visa agency suggested that I write a letter inviting her to visit me.  

[SusieQQQ 11,585]

Well I disagree with the opinion just above, if she already has legal residence status in Germany what would be the incentive to overstay illegally in the US?

 

Is her travel document a German RTD?

[SusieQQQ 11,585]

Just now, Motet said:

what do you mean by a strong case? 

for a visit visa, they have a business running and only visiting. A visa agency suggested that I write a letter inviting her to visit me.  

Visa agency talks nonsense. US Dept of State says letter is not taken into consideration. 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa.

[Motet 0]

2 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Well I disagree with the opinion just above, if she already has legal residence status in Germany what would be the incentive to overstay illegally in the US?

 

Is her travel document a German RTD?

Yes it is a German RTD. 

[SusieQQQ 11,585]

7 minutes ago, Motet said:

Yes it is a German RTD. 

I cannot find the exact info on Google, but Germany allows holders of US RTDs to enter visa free so there is a possibility that may be reciprocal (but not necessarily). She should contact her closest US consulate to find out if she needs a visa to travel to the US. The RTD certainly will be accepted in place of a passport (indeed, that is its raison d’etre).

 

edit: IF there is visa free travel allowed it will be limited to a 90 day stay. 

Edited October 20, 2022 by SusieQQQ

[SusieQQQ 11,585]

It seems Germany has pretty low wait times for a visit visa appointment if she needs one

 

Frankfurt 29 days 

Munich 22 days 

Berlin 45 days 

[Boiler 43,857]

7 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

I cannot find the exact info on Google, but Germany allows holders of US RTDs to enter visa free so there is a possibility that may be reciprocal (but not necessarily). She should contact her closest US consulate to find out if she needs a visa to travel to the US. The RTD certainly will be accepted in place of a passport (indeed, that is its raison d’etre).

 

edit: IF there is visa free travel allowed it will be limited to a 90 day stay. 

I would have thought it was unlikely she was from a VWP country or Canadian

[SusieQQQ 11,585]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I would have thought it was unlikely she was from a VWP country or Canadian

As I said, Germany accepts holders of US RTDs visa free and there may be reciprocity. I am sure many if not practically all holders of US RTDs also come from countries that normally need visas for Germany. That’s a different matter. Regardless, luckily for OP it’s only a few weeks to a visa appointment in Germany so that’s not the issue so much as answering the two main questions of can she use the RTD (yes), does she need an invitation letter (no).

[Motet 0]

23 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

I cannot find the exact info on Google, but Germany allows holders of US RTDs to enter visa free so there is a possibility that may be reciprocal (but not necessarily). She should contact her closest US consulate to find out if she needs a visa to travel to the US. The RTD certainly will be accepted in place of a passport (indeed, that is its raison d’etre).

 

edit: IF there is visa free travel allowed it will be limited to a 90 day stay. 

what are you referring to is ESTA, not possible since she is not a citizen yet. 

[Motet 0]

2 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

As I said, Germany accepts holders of US RTDs visa free and there may be reciprocity. I am sure many if not practically all holders of US RTDs also come from countries that normally need visas for Germany. That’s a different matter. Regardless, luckily for OP it’s only a few weeks to a visa appointment in Germany so that’s not the issue so much as answering the two main questions of can she use the RTD (yes), does she need an invitation letter (no).

Thank you for the help! 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,585]

1 minute ago, Motet said:

what are you referring to is ESTA, not possible since she is not a citizen yet. 

Well if you and she are sure there is no special reciprocal dispensation for RTD holders then I suggest she move ahead with making a visa appointment without delay.  The visa process is pretty simple and straightforward for the US.

[MaxP22 173]

You say she is a German resident but what is her country of origin and country of her travel document? As that's also an important factor.

 

Regardless, I very very very much doubt she will get approved for a B2 visa considering she is a refugee. Personally I would not even waste money applying.

 

Wait till she gets citizenship and passport.

[PaulaCJohnny 712]

1 hour ago, Motet said:

My sister is a resident in Germany, have a permanent resident card, she has her own business and want to visit us in the US but she does not have normal passport, instead she has a Travel Document since she have had a refugee status. 

I am a US citizen and would like her to visit for a few months here. Not sure of the process on my end or hers'.  Can her family visit using that kind of travel document? what is the process, what kind of forms does she need to apply for? And, do I need to proof anything, like citizenship or sending her an invitation letter? 

 

Does she have the Reiseausweis für Flüchtlingle?
She need to do a better research.

 

Here some good information:

 

https://handbookgermany.de/en/traveling-abroad-refugees