Traveling back to India from US without a valid visa on the passport

[robby_254]

Hi 

I came to US early 2014 and I had my Visa stamped on my passport which was valid until December 2014. I changed my employer after coming to the US and got my H1 extended till April 2017 but I haven't gone back to India after that so the stamped visa on my passport still says it is valid till December 2014.

 

Now I am planning to go  to India and I would like to know if I can go via Germany or Canada. I browsed through the internet for this information but nothing was clear. Some mention on what to do when you travel with the "expired" visa  but I am not sure if I fall in that category because technically I am legally allowed to stay in the US because I got my H1 extension done till 2017. 

 

Following link has some information but it was not clear either. I did not understand the "Required" or "Not Required" under the column "Expired USA Visa". What does it even mean? First of all, should I consider my visa "expired" because the one stamped on my passport is expired OR should I consider a "valid" visa because I have my H1b extended and I have the approved I797?

http://www.*************.com/**************.html

 

Kindly help me. Your help is much appreciated. Thank you so much! 

[jairichi]

Your visa is expired. To travel via Canada you will need to have a transit visa. To travel via Germany you will need a valid US visa which you currently do not have.

[pontevecchio]

You have no valid visa now. Your visa has expired.

[livliv]

Avoid UK, you will need a transit visa for UK.

 

For any other country search for their requirements for Transit Visa.

[rahul412]

Best thing to do is, call the airline's customer service.

[garemidi]

I was in semilar situation week back, I was able to travel TO India through Germany (Frankfurt) with expired U.S visa with  4 hour layover between flights. (U.S-Franfurt-India). No questions asked, U.S Air ways.

 

How many stops you planning to have in euro area before you reach India ?. IF its a single stop, you can travel. However i recommend you double check with airlines.

 

Good luck!

[jairichi]

I was in semilar situation week back, I was able to travel TO India through Germany (Frankfurt) with expired U.S visa with  4 hour layover between flights. (U.S-Franfurt-India). No questions asked, U.S Air ways.

 

How many stops you planning to have in euro area before you reach India ?. IF its a single stop, you can travel. However i recommend you double check with airlines.

 

Good luck!

http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/05__Legal/02__Directory__Services/01__Visa/__Transit__Visa.html

• Exceptions: Nationals from the above list are entitled to transit through the international transit zones without an airport transit visa:

   

  1. If they hold a valid visa for the United States of America

  2. If they return from the USA after having used the visa

[sharin]

Always avoid Canada and UK if travelling on expired US visa. You'll need transit visa.

 

Try Emirates (stops in Dubai) or Turkish Airlines (stops in Istanbul)

[robby_254]

Thanks for all the responses guys. It is really helpful. 

 

I am planning to stop only at Frankfurt and no intention to stay there for more than a couple of hours only for transit purpose. 

I will call the airlines anyway to make sure everything is okay.