Cost of a green card for a car in different countries

What does a green card mean?

The GreenCard system is an international insurance system that operates in 48 countries, so traveling around these countries by car without GreenCard insurance is strictly prohibited. If the absence of a green insurance card is discovered at the border, the car owner will immediately, at the border, have to purchase an insurance policy at a cost much higher than at home and pay a fine for its absence, and then return home, or buy local insurance, which can be completely impractical.

The policyholder compensates for the repair of damaged vehicles, instead of the person at fault who has a green card.

By concluding a green card insurance contract, the car owner can move freely abroad, while he gains the opportunity to:

• travel freely abroad from your home country,
• in the event of an emergency in a foreign country, quickly solve the problem with insurance compensation funds for the restoration of the car, guided by the legislation of the host country,
• for the second time do not purchase insurance from local insurers.

When the car has left the country, it will be impossible to purchase a green card for a car with Russian license plates.

Types of Green Card to Europe

First of all, the driver must understand: it is necessary to buy a “Green Card” for Europe before leaving the country and not at the last minute. There are several reasons for this:

1. The price of a Green Card at the border in kiosks near customs is usually several times higher than in any insurance company office in St. Petersburg;
2. When you go to the first roadside stall you come across, there is a very high risk of buying a fake.

Next, the buyer needs to decide what his route will be. The fact is that there are two main categories of Green Card for leaving the Russian Federation:

1. All countries;
2. Only Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus.

The “all countries” green card is the most universal policy; it allows you to travel everywhere and calmly cross the border, even if at first you did not plan to visit other countries beyond your planned travel program. A green card for the countries of Moldova, Belarus, and Ukraine will not allow entry into other European countries, since slightly different insurance standards apply on their territory.

The difference between these two policies is not only in price. The insurer provides a different maximum amount of insurance coverage for each type of policy. “All countries” insurance has a very high limit, and the Green Card insurance coverage limit for Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus is much lower. This difference is also due to different standards of insurance compensation for victims of road accidents in force in European countries.

Who and how concludes agreements under the green card system

There is one Green Card representative office in the country, which enters into contracts with insurance companies. The guarantee for compliance with all rights and obligations in relation to this insurance is carried out by RSA. In Russia, currently, only 10 large insurers have the authority to issue a green card.

To purchase a card, you need to contact the policyholder’s office and have only two documents with you:

• identification document,
• vehicle registration certificate issued at the place of registration.

IMPORTANT !!! You should know! A green card must be issued for all vehicles, even those that are not subject to MTPL insurance in Russia, such as trailers for trucks, cars, and mopeds with an engine capacity of less than 50 cubic meters. see and snowmobiles.

The insurance policy is not filled out by hand to avoid cases of fraud.

The amount of the insurance premium does not depend on the number of people driving the car. The insurance itself identifies the policyholder, the company that entered into the insurance contract, and not the car owner.

The positive aspect of obtaining insurance at the offices of insurers is reliability and the lowest amount of insurance premium. The downside is that it takes a lot of time.

ATTENTION !!! You can apply for an insurance policy on the insurer's website online. There are no negative aspects, since you can check the license for such insurance and the reliability of the insurance on the website of the RSA insurers, and simply by checking the policy by calling the policyholder. The policy is also paid online, and home delivery greatly simplifies the process.

The shortest period for which insurance is carried out is 15 days. The biggest one is one year. You cannot extend your insurance; you can only purchase new insurance. If at this time the car owner is abroad, you can only ask one of your acquaintances or friends for help. Purchase insurance 30 days before the scheduled trip.

Procedure for obtaining a green card

Depending on the basis, the issuance of a green card occurs in different ways. In the United States, the procedure is called “change of status”; abroad, it is called “consular check.”

Preparation of documents

Aliens must complete at least two forms: the Immigrant Petition and the I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status. The first one is usually filled out by the sponsor.

They are written in English and submitted in person or online on the official website for issuing green cards to America.

To correctly complete the Form I-485 application, watch the following video instructions:

What additional things may be needed:

1. “Fresh” color photograph. There are few photo requirements for the Green Card: size 5.08*5.08 cm on a white background, thin glossy paper.
2. Birth certificate with certified translation into English.
3. Proof of legal presence or entry into the United States.
4. Sponsorship letter of guarantee for financial support.
5. Conclusion on the results of medical examination and vaccination.
6. A criminal record certificate translated into English with notarization, and copies of all arrest and conviction records from the United States (if available).
7. Letter confirming acceptance of the immigrant's Form I-797 petition (if available).
8. Evidence of eligibility for status (documents, photos, videos).

Filing an application

The standard registration of a Green Card takes place in several stages:

1. The sponsor submits an immigrant petition (I-130, I-140, or other) to USCIS and pays the fee. If everything is correct, he receives an I-797 confirmation, which allows the alien to legally remain in the states while the petition is being considered.
2. An immigrant in the United States files Application I-485—Notice of Residence Address and Application to Adjust Status.
3. Next, he awaits letters from USCIS describing further actions: where and when to come for an interview, medical examination, fingerprinting, etc.
4. USCIS sends the decision on the green card application to the applicant by mail.

Passing an interview at the US Embassy

For immigrants in their home country, the entire green card process goes through US consular offices. As a rule, in this case, you also need someone in America who will file an immigration petition for the applicant (relative, employer).

Once the petition is approved, the alien may receive an immigrant visa. He pays the fee and waits for an invitation to an interview at the consulate.

You will learn about how the interview with a green card applicant goes in the following video:

You need to bring with you your international passport, certificates of financial status, work, medical examination results, and a copy of the notice of positive consideration of the petition.

An exact list and detailed instructions will be sent by mail.

If the alien receives an immigrant visa, the consul will give him a sealed packet of information. It cannot be opened before arriving in the States. Also, before receiving a Green Card, you need to pay a fee.

Upon arrival in the United States, the visa package is handed over to a Customs and Border Protection officer. The foreigner is checked, and if his documents are in order, the fee is paid, he is not bringing anything illegal, he is allowed into the States with a new status. He receives his “green card” in 2 weeks by mail.

How long does the application process take?

The process of obtaining a green card depends on its basis. In addition, quotas are limited, so applicants receive a place in the general queue according to their priority:

1. Immediate family members of US citizens have the highest priority. They receive a green card in 2–4 months.
2. Those who have priorities from 4 can wait for the treasured document for years.

If circumstances change during this time, you will have to start the whole process again.

How much does registration cost?

At various stages, the immigrant and his sponsor pay fees.

How much does a green card cost in the USA in 2021:

What to do in the event of an accident

If an insured event occurs, you should immediately:

1. Notify the policyholder using the telephone number recorded on the policy or through the information center of the Russian Society of Insurers. Notify your local office by calling your insurance company.
2. Together with other participants in the accident, fill out the damage notice as correctly and clearly as possible.
3. Sometimes, if the damage to the vehicle is minimal, and if the police do not go to the scene of the accident, you should fill out a notice and, having reached the nearest police station, certify it with a stamp.
4. Contact the office of an international insurance company, or a national insurance agency that exists in the country.

You should not give the original green card to the insurance company; without the card, you cannot prove its existence. Stock up on several copies, because one of them must be presented to the party involved in the accident, and he, accordingly, must present his card and provide you with a copy to submit documents to the local GreenCard insurance office.

Is it legal to buy a Green Card abroad?

You cannot renew your Green Card in your host country. In Russia, for a foreign car with expired insurance, you can buy compulsory motor liability insurance for the required time, but not less than 5 days.

In the EU, you can try to buy an insurance policy remotely from your insurance company and ask them to send it to you by mail.

Green Card insurance is issued at the place of registration of a car or other vehicle and it does not replace compulsory motor liability insurance. The Green Card does not limit the number of drivers allowed to drive a vehicle. insurance documents are issued to the applicant who has submitted the required documents. In this case, the applicant may not be the owner of the car.

The price of an insurance policy and the conditions are the same throughout Russia and for all insurers. If you have transit numbers, Green Card insurance is issued for a period of no more than one month.

It is not possible to purchase a Green Card insurance policy more than thirty days before your trip. Remember that citizenship of another state does not exempt you from liability

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Tariff for purchasing a green card

Established by the Russian Bureau of the International Representation of the Green Card, in agreement with the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. The policyholder himself is responsible for regulating the cost of insurance, which is a distinctive feature from compulsory motor liability insurance, the cost of which is set by the state.

The amount of the insurance premium for purchasing a green card may depend on:

• categories of vehicles leaving the country,
• duration of stay in other countries
• where the car travels, on the territory of a neighboring state, or throughout Europe.

The tariff for travel to the neighboring countries of Belarus, Moldova, Lithuania or Azerbaijan is much lower than the tariff for European countries. The cost of insurance for a year is much more expensive than insurance for 15 days. Passenger cars are cheaper to insure than trucks or special vehicles.

What determines the amount of car insurance?

The amount for which a car owner insures his vehicle is not limited by anyone. But, the compensation payment of funds for the restoration of the damaged car depends on the maximum amount established by the state in whose territory the accident occurred. If the amount of your green card insurance is greater than that established in a given state, the payment corresponds to the maximum insurance compensation of the country, and the difference can be received upon returning to your home.