So, imagine our reaction, twenty-four hours before taking off for Europe together, that I get a message from Delta:
"One of these passengers needs a visa in order to get into the European Union."
And I knew that this passenger was not me, since I've crossed that border many times over the last twenty years. No, it was my beloved and brand-new-green-card-carrying dear husband. We were told by our immigration lawyers, who had helped us get Zheng's green card, that he would not need a visa to travel as an American Green Card Holder (90 days in Europe, no questions asked), and that he'd be able to re-enter the US without a problem.
He didn't leave on this trip. The advice we had gotten was wrong.
He needed what is called a "Schengen Visa." The Schengen Area in Europe is collection of countries, belonging to the EU, who have agreed to have a common borders and customs policy. One Schengen Visa will allow you to visit many places (these are now memorized). Hong Kong-ese, and citizens of Macau and Taiwan do not need passes, but People's Republic of China citizens do indeed need one.
As we learned - how you can travel is dependent on which country issues your passport.
I am proud of both of us, how we are handling the last-minute change when we had planned to be here together. He is holding down the fort at home, and I am here, recovering from jetlag, enjoying some very close friends, and staying in an area (Italy, but Europe in general) which is definitely a "second home." Thanks to technology, wi-fi and FaceTime (we are an Apple family), my husband and I can talk for free and look at each other, with a pretty good connection.
Here's to staying connected with loved ones!
PHOTO: Taken two days before I left, while we were visiting my grandmother.
