Prepare and gather all necessary documents for your U.S. visa application. This article covers available visas and tips for quick approval.
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How to apply for a U.S. visa from Germany
To apply for a U.S. visa from Germany before you need to know the following:
If you’re a Visa Waiver Program member.
So, German citizens may travel for 90 days or less without a visa if they satisfy these requirements:
- Have a chipped passport (e-passport);
- Register online for ESTA, and
- Meet VWP standards.
For specific visa categories and age groups, German citizens or individuals with permanent residency status can apply for a United States visa through the mail.
To enter the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program, you must:
- Be a citizen of a qualifying country with a VWP.
- Have ESTA authorization.
- Stay for 90 days or less.
- Plan to travel for business, pleasure/tourism, or transit.
Those who come to the U.S. by air or sea must:
Carry a return ticket. The immigration inspector must see a copy of the itinerary for electronic tickets. Travelers holding onward tickets to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, or the Caribbean Islands must be legal residents.
Types of Visas You Can Apply For:
The type of visa you need to obtain for travel to the U.S. is determined by U.S. immigration law and corresponds to the purpose of your visit.
There are several types of visas that you can apply for:
B-2 visa: for tourism & visit visa.
B-1 visa: for business visa.
F-1, M-1, J-1, Q-1: These types of visas are for study & exchange visas.
H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, H-4, L-1, L-2, O, P, and Q: These types of visas are for employment visas.
For other types of visas, you can find more here.
Also, check How to Apply For a US H-1B Work Visa.
Do German citizens need a U.S. visa
How to get a U.S. tourist visa for Germany
To get a U.S. tourist visa for Germany, you must apply for ESTA authorization, valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
German nationals fill out a short online application form to acquire authorization under the visa-waiver program.
The following documents are necessary for German people to apply for a US ESTA:
- A current passport is required.
- To pay the processing charge, you must use a valid bank card.
- The email address is currently in use.
How to get a U.S. work visa for Germany
You will need a nonimmigrant work visa to work in the United States temporarily. With a tourist or business visa or through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you can’t work.
To work temporarily in the U.S., you need a specific visa based on the work you will be doing. Your prospective employer or agent must file a petition I-129. Approval of a petition does not guarantee a visa if you are ineligible under U.S. immigration law.
There are several visa categories for the United States, including:
H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, H-4, L-1, L-2, O, P, and Q.
The application process varies based on the type of visa, and it is generally recommended to apply up to 90 days before the beginning of employment status.
To apply for H, L, O, P, or Q visas, you need to submit the following:
- DS-160 Form
- Valid passport
- Recent photograph
- Book your appointment by visiting this webpage.
- Application fee payment.
If applying for an L-1 visa on a blanket petition, you must also pay a fraud prevention and detection fee.
When to Apply
If you intend to apply for an H, L, O, P, or Q visa, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate can process your application up to 90 days before the start of your employment status mentioned in the I-797 form.
However, it’s essential to keep in mind that you can use the visa to enter the U.S. only, starting ten days before the approved status period indicated on your I-797.
How to get a U.S. student visa
All student visa candidates must be recognized and authorized by their school or program before applying.
The U.S. has two types of visas:
F-1 visa: is for academic studies at an approved U.S. school and;
M-1 Visa: is for non-academic or vocational study/training at a U.S. institution.
To apply for a U.S. student visa for Germany, follow these steps:
- Fill out the Electronic Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160).
- You must pay the visa application cost.
- Book your appointment online with your passport number, CGI reference number, and the ten-digit barcode from your DS-160 confirmation page.
- Attend your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Note:
If someone under 21 wants to come to the U.S. with the primary visa holder, they must apply for an F or M visa. Parents of F or M holders can’t get this kind of visa. If family members just want to visit, they can apply for a B-2 visitor visa.
But if a spouse or dependent wants to work, they need their work visa – they can’t work on a derivative F or M visa.
How to get a U.S. family visa for Germany
To apply for a family visa to bring non-US citizen family members to the U.S. from Germany, follow these steps:
Determine which family visa category applies.
File a petition with USCIS – Form I-130 and wait for USCIS approval.
After USCIS approves your petition, NVC creates your case in their system. They send you a Welcome Letter with instructions to manage your case through CEAC.
Pay fees, in your case in CEAC
Complete an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864)
After completing the Affidavit of Support, sponsors should gather financial evidence and supporting documents.
After paying fees and getting a ‘PAID’ status in CEAC, complete the DS-260 form. You might want to look at a sample.
Collect Civil Documents. Use the Document Finder to learn about the civil document.
Documents Collected Should Be Scanned and submit documents, log into CEAC
Attend a visa interview through your country’s official U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
Wait for visa approval.
Source: U.S. Travel Docs
The caption of the cover image above is 63 S 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA, United States. Photo by Chris Murrayon Unsplash.
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