i just moved with my husband (active US Army) to Germany..I have my country's passport and my husband is a US Citizen..I know for tourist,that its up to 90 days to live in Germany..Im command sponsored but was told to get a SOFA stamp in order to reside in Germany..For those who were stationed in Germany or overseas know that its about 2-3 years to be stationed overseas..i was told in order to get a SOFA stamp,i need to get some kind of USA visa (green card)..theres some spouse,same situation,just applied for SOFA stamp and got approved without getting a permenant residence card (green card)...the military legal is no help and its hard getting thru the US consulate..any suggestion would help..thanks :)
You need to be command sponsored through his unit. If you are not, then you don't get a SOFA stamp. SOFA stamps are aquired on the passport when inporcessing the base/flying onto a military installation. You show your dependant ID along with a copy of orders showing you're command sponsored. Then you get your stamp. If you aren't command sponsored, then you can not get the SOFA stamp, because you will not fall under SOFA.
You do NOT need a Green Card in order to get a SOFA Stamp. That is just wrong. All best answers are for 10 points. If you are command sponsored, and you say you are, you take your passport and a copy of his orders to admin and let them process the SOFA Stamp for you.
Green Card/Alien Resident Card is NOT necessary for you to get the SOFA Stamp at all. You will not go through the US Consulate as you are not a US Citizen, you need to go through the German Consulate and find out if a visa from them for your home country is required or not. They can require it or they might not. Either way you will get the SOFA stamp after arrival. If you are already in Germany then you need to go through German Immigration.
