Non-Immigrant Visa
Berlin: Clayallee 170, 14195 Berlin.
The Embassy in Berlin processes applications for nonimmigrant visas -
except K (fiance/fiancee), E-1 (treaty trader), and E-2 (investor) visas -
for residents of the German States of Berlin, Brandenburg, Sachsen-Anhalt,
Sachsen, Thüringen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein,
Niedersachsen, Hamburg, and Bremen.
Frankfurt: Gießener Str. 30, 60435 Frankfurt am Main.
The Consulate General Frankfurt accepts all applications for nonimmigrant
visas for individuals resident in the German States of Hessen,
Rheinland-Pfalz, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, Bayern, and
Nordrhein-Westfalen. In addition, Frankfurt processes all applications for
immigrant and K (fiance/fiancee) visas (both categories by appointment
only), E-1 (treaty trader) and E-2 (investor) visas for individuals in
Germany.
The requirements to travel under the VWP are that the
individual must be:
- A citizen of a Visa Waiver Program
country (Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Germany,
Finland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland or Spain)
- Have a valid passport issued by the
participating country that is valid for six months beyond your intended
visit.
- Traveling for business, pleasure or
transit only.
- Staying in the U.S. for 90 days or
less.
- Holding a return or onward ticket:
travelers with onward tickets terminating in Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or
the Caribbean Islands must be legal permanent residents of these areas (if
entering the U.S. by air or sea)
- Entering the U.S. aboard an air or sea
carrier that has agreed to participate in the program; and in possession
of a completed form I-94W, obtainable from airline and shipping
companies (if entering the U.S. by air or sea)
- In possession of a completed form
I-94W, issued by the immigration authorities at the port of entry, and a
USD$6.00 fee, payable only in U.S. dollars (if entering the U.S.
by land from Canada or Mexico)
If you are traveling on the VWP, you will
not be able to change your visa status in the United States, nor will you
be able to extend your stay beyond the 90-day limit. In general, one
cannot study or work without a visa.
You must apply for a visa if you:
- intend to accept paid or unpaid employment in the USA (also applies
to journalists, au-pairs and interns);
- wish to travel to the United States for more than 90 days in order
to attend secondary school or university (as part of an exchange
program or a self-organized stay);
- have been denied entry on a previous occasion or have been expelled
from the USA during the last five years;
- have a criminal record or suffer from a serious transmittable
disease or mental disorder.
Everyone applying for a visa, including applicants renewing visas, is
required to schedule an appointment for a visa interview and appear in
person except for the following:
- Children under 14 years of age;
- Persons over 79 years of age;
- Diplomats on official business.
To schedule an appointment for a visa interview
call
Live Operator Service at 0190 - 85 00 55, 7am to 8pm, Monday - Friday
(EUR 1,86/min) You should have your passport in front of you when
you call. The customer service representative will ask you for
information from your passport. If you currently live abroad and wish to make an
appointment for an interview, you should have a friend or relative in
Germany make the appointment for you.
All NIV applicants not eligible to use
the VWP must submit the following documents when applying for a
non-immigrant visa:
- A valid passport or
child identification card (for German and
most European citizens valid for at least the duration of your intended
stay in the United States). If more than one person is shown on the
passport, a separate visa application is needed for each person who is
traveling to the United States;
- One recent passport photograph for
each applicant, also for children Please note that applicants for a U.S.
passport have to submit two identical photos. Visa applicants have to
submit one photo only. The following minimum requirements must be met or
your application will not be processed. Please see the paragraphs below
for more details.
1. The photographs must not be older than six months.
2. The photographs must measure 5 cm x 5 cm.
3. The photographs of the applicant’s head must be between 2.5 cm and
3.5 cm when measured vertically.
4. The photographs must have a white background.
5. The applicant must face the camera directly, with both ears
visible.
-
Completed and signed Application Form DS-156
- Completed and signed form DS-157 (for
males between 16-45 years)
- Completed and signed form DS-158 (for
all applicants seeking a student or exchange visitor visa J, F or M) If
you are a student applying for a visa to study in the U.S., talk to the
U.S. academic institution or exchange program sponsoring you to obtain
all the forms you will need to present your application.
- Pay
SEVIS fee before the visa can be issued (for most students and
international exchange visitors)
- Proof of payment of
non-refundable application fee (EUR 85
per person)
- A self-addressed stamped (EURO stamps
only) large enough for the return of your passport and documents. Please
do not use registered mail
- Proof of your ties to Germany and of
your intention to leave the U.S. after your temporary stay
- Documents to support the application
detailing employment, reason for travel, and financial status. Visa
applicants should bring supporting documentation to the consular section
in an unsealed, transparent plastic folder. Documents in non-transparent
or sealed envelopes or folders cannot be brought into the consular
section.
Security Notice for Visa Applicants With Appointments in Berlin and
Frankfurt
In order to ensure everyone's safety and to ensure that security
screening does not delay visa interviews, no electronic devices, including
cell telephones, may be brought into the Embassy or Consulate. Backpacks,
suitcases, attaché cases, and strollers are also not permitted. Security
personnel will not store items for visa applicants and will confiscate all
weapons. We therefore suggest that all such items be left at home, in a
locked car, or with a friend or relative who remains outside the premises.
Documents relevant to the visa application are the only items that we
encourage applicants to bring with them. Your cooperation will help to
ensure everyone's safety and will help us to ensure that we are able to
interview you as quickly as possible.
Immigrant Visa
An immigrant visa is required of anyone who wishes to enter the United
States to reside there indefinitely, whether or not that person plans to
seek employment in the United States.
U.S. immigration law provides for the
issuance of immigrant visas in four general categories:
1. Immediate relatives,
2. Family based,
3. Employment based and
4. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, known as the "green card lottery".
Attorney Representation
U.S. Embassy in Berlin: No right to counsel. Generally, counsel is not permitted inside the
consulate.
U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt: Attorneys are generally
allowed into the consulate with their clients. How much attorney may
participate in an interview is left to the discretion of the officer
involved.
Contact Information
BERLIN:
American Consulate General
Clayallee 170
14195 Berlin, Germany
Main: (+49) 30-83050 or (+49) 30-8305
Consular Section Fax: (+49) 30-831-4926
All visa information can be obtained via toll numbers:
Fax on demand (from Germany): 0190-8500-5801 (EUR 1.86 /minute) (24 hours)
Live information/Appointment requests: 0190-850055 (EUR 1.86/minute)
(Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-8:00 pm)
FRANKFURT: American Consulate General
Gießener Str. 30
60435 Frankfurt am Main
Main: (+49) 69-7535-0 or (+49) 69-7535
IV Fax: (+49) 69-7535-2260
NIV Fax: (+49) 69-7535-2258
www.usembassy.de
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