chats

Moderator: Welcome to our visa chat. Please submit your questions now.

Anna: Does a visa guarantee that I can enter the United States?

Konsul: The immigration officer at the port of entry in the United States decides if a traveller may enter the U.S., and if so, for how long.

jenny: Hello everybody! Can I ask in German?

Konsul: Ja, natuerlich.

Konsul: Jenny, was ist deine Frage?

jenny: Prima! Ich komme aus China und studiere an einer Fachhochschule hier. Ich hab einen Austauschplatz nach University of West Florida bekommen. Kann ich hier als andere deutsche Studenten das J-Visum beantragen?

Konsul: Sie koennen 0190 85 00 55 anrufen und einen Termin vereinbaren.

Anna: Can I pay the visa processing fee and the SEVIS together?

Konsul: No, you must pay the SEVIS fee on-line. The visa fee you pay via an Ueberweisung.

Michael: Can I take a holiday after I have completed my studies in the U.S.?

Konsul: If you are in the U.S. on an exchange program, you may stay 30 days after you finish your program to have a holiday. If you are studying in the U.S., you may stay 60 extra days.

Janne: hallo!

Becksi: hallo

Matthias: How can I change my status in the US?

Konsul: Yes, you can change you status in the U.S. You need to contact the Department of Homeland Security office near you.

Kati23: Hello, I was an au pair 4 years ago, my host family still wants me to come back and stay with them, what kind of visas can I get?

Konsul: Kati, it depends what you want to do in the U.S. A holiday? Study? Work?

Kati23: I would like to ba able to stay for a year or longer, support the family and maybe work at the airport like I do here

Konsul: You can go to the U.S. on vacation for 90 days or less without a visa.

Kati23: I have relatives there, can they help me?

Konsul: Kati, in order to get a visa, the most important things are 1)what you want to do in the U.S., and 2) what are your ties to Germany?

Kati23: I was born in Germany, but my relatives emigrated years ago, I want to live and work there. Is it easier when I find a job first?

Konsul: Kati, if you want to work in the U.S., you need to find an employer first.

Janne: How long I must wait to get a date at the consulate? Does the date depend on the day you will left Germany?

Konsul: Janne, right now you can get a visa appointment in a day or two.

Becksi: i´ve got the afghan citizenship. do i need other formulas except the DS - 2019 too? My german friends who also take part in an exchange program need only the DS -2019

Konsul: Becksi, every applicant also needs a DS-156 visa application form.

Becksi: oh, i did not know that. My exchange organisation said that we exchange students need only the "J-1" and the DS - 2019. the did not say anything DS - 156

Konsul: The DS-156 is the visa application form. You can find it on line at www.usembassy.de

Becksi: but i am attending a school and not a university, do i need beside DS - 2019 also DS - 156?

Konsul: Every applicant needs to fill out a DS-156.

Alexander: What if I plan to look for appropriate housing in the US, thus do not have a fixed address available under which I can be reached in the US - is the address of the University sufficient in this case?

Konsul: Alexander, the university address is enough.

Alexander: What is usually expected of students to bring along as proof for the intention of returning to Germany after achieving their academic degree - are family ties sufficient or do I need some kind of document?

Konsul: Alexander, we look at your family's situation, and your future plans.

vivi: Which visa would I need if I would like to spend 3-6 months in the USA and do a job eg in a restaurant or if I do an intership?

Konsul: Vivi, it sounds like you need a J-1 visa. First you have to find an employer or a sponsoring organization. They will supply you with a DS-2019 form.

Alexander: And how long will I be allowed to stay in the US after finishing my studies holding an F-1 visa - for example for traveling and visiting friends?

Konsul: Alexander, you can stay 60 days after you finish your studies.

Nina: Hello, how simple or difficult is it to find a job because I´m a secretary now and which visa I need?

Konsul: Nina, it may be difficult to find a job that will let you work in the U.S. You need special skills that we can't find in the U.S.

Kati23: to work as a nanny, does that count as a real job?

Konsul: To work as an au pair you need to work with an exchange organization. They will supply you with a DS-2019.

Kati23: if I apply for a job in the U.S., will my employer take care about the visa, or do I have to arrange that?

Konsul: Kati, if you want to work in the U.S., you need to find an employer first. The employer will file a document in the U.S. When it is approved, you will receive a confirmation of that, and then you can apply for your visa.

Kati23: is it possible to make an appointment with the U.S. embassy in my home city, and talk about visa possibilities and special skills?

Alexander: One of the forms asks for contacts who can verify information about me - what kind of information should they be able to give?

Konsul: Alexander--what kind of form asks for contacts?

Alexander: I think it is the DS-157

Alexander: no, the ds-158

Konsul: Alexander, the DS-158 asks for contacts. They will probably not contact the people on the form.

xenia: I intend to take part in an exchange programm. What kind of visa do I need and which documents are required to apply for it?

Konsul: Xenia, to take part in an exchange program, you need to get a DS-2019 form from an exchange organization.

xenia: OK.What am I expected to do with this form after filling it out?

Konsul: Xenia, I suggest you look at the embassy website: www.usembassy.de

Mareen: I have a valid F1 visa and I am on OPT right now. Due to various factors I had to return to Germany. Now, I got accepted into Grad School. Do I need a new F1 visa to return to the US?

Mareen: My OPT expires on June 6, 2005 and the F1 visa in January 2006.

Konsul: Mareen, you must have a valid F-1 visa to reenter the United States.

Mareen: It still is valid. So all I need is my new I-20 from the Grad School?

Konsul: Mareen, you need a valid F-1 visa and a valid I-20.

Mareen: And it does not matter that my OPT expires on June 6, 2005 and while I will still be in Germany?

Konsul: Mareen, you said that you I-20 is still valid. Does your program end in June?

Konsul: Mareen, if you are starting a new program at a new university/institution, you probably need a new F-1 visa.

Mareen: I still have a valid I-20, but I graduated in May 2004 and I am on OPT. Due to various factors I needed to return to Germany. My OPT and therefore my I-20 will expire on June 6, 2005. Now, I already got accepted into Grad School for the fall semester 2005 and I will get a new I-20 from Grad School.

Mareen: Yes, I am starting grad school.

Konsul: Mareen, you need a new F-1 visa.

Mareen: Okay, thank you.

Becksi: How much have I as a student with the afghan citizenship pay for the issuance of the J - 1

Konsul: Becksi, I'm not sure if there is a fee for Aghani citizens. Probably not.

Becksi: Well, german students have to pay 85 €, so there is a fee. But I do not whether I have to pay the same.

Becksi: I mean 85 euro

Konsul: Every visa applicant must pay a 80 euro application fee.

vera: we would like to make a round trip through the us with our son who then has finished his exchange year.He'll be in the us on a 10 months visa, is it possible to extend this visa for 1 month more?

Konsul: Vera, after finishing an exchange program, your son can stay another 30 days to enjoy a holiday.

Alexander: By the way, are all embassy employees fluent in German - that is, does it matter whether forms and letters which I bring with me to the interview are in English or German?

Konsul: Alexander, all Embassy employees speak German and English.

Alex: Hi. I´m 24 years old and in summer 2005 I am a state certified technican for care of ancient buildings and a master carbienet maker. I´d like to work on a cattle ranch in Colorado for 6-12 month. I told with the ranch company and they said, that I can come . Is it possible to get a visa for this time and job? If yes, which visa? Thanks

Konsul: Alex, anyone that wants to work and be paid in the U.S. must find an employer and the employer must file a work petition on their behalf.

vera: thank you Mr.Consul!

Michael: Can I enter the U.S. on my student visa before the program begins?

Konsul: Michael, you can enter the U.S. 30 days before your program starts.

vivi: If my J1 Visa expires, can I stay 30 day after expiration?

Konsul: Vivi, you can stay in the U.S. days after your J-1 program ends.

Kati23: who can I talk to to find out if I have special skills for working in the U.S.?

Konsul: Kati, you need to look for an employer who is looking for your skills.

Kati23: what do you think aboút the greencard lottery? is it worth the money? is it smart to fill out the form on my own, or with help?

Konsul: Kati, as a German you have a better chance of winning the visa lottery (fewer applicants). But if you have special work skills you shouldn't have a problem finding an employer who will sponsor you for immigration.

Becksi: What if the travel document ist not machine readable? My exchange organization said that this is important

Konsul: Becksi, it is not important if your passport is machine-readable or not, as long as you have a visa in your passport.

Tina: How much money is sufficient for a 2-term-exchange programm? I don´t have Bafög .

Konsul: Tina, do you mean sufficient to get a visa?

Tina: Yes. I think the costing standard is as same as here and I don´ t need to pay for the tuition.

Leonie: How long is a visa good for?

Konsul: Leonie, visas are usually valid for five years, but if your program ends sooner, your visa does too.

Alexander: How long does it take until the SEVIS fee payment is known to the
consulate - and in what respect does Homeland Security "track me and family members" (even in Germany?!)?

Konsul: Alexander, the SEVIS fee is paid on line and we have confirmation of it in a day or two.

Konsul: Alexander, Homeland Security wants to track when you change programs in the U.S., not in Germany.

Alexander: thank you!

Alex: Can you tell me, what is my first task to get a visa, if I have the assent of an employer?

Konsul: Alex, the employer should file a work petition on your behalf.

Becksi: Well, the information of my exchange organization seem to be very old. In the formula which they gave me they said that it is important for the American Embassy that the travel documents are machine - readable. They have Even underlined several times the word "machine - readable".

Konsul: Becksi, I think in a few years every passport everywhere in the world will be machine-readable.

Konsul: Becksi, your passport doesn't need to be machine-readable. Just make sure you have a J-1 visa.

Becksi: I live in Hamburg. Must I go to Frankfurt or to Berlin in order to apply for visa?

Konsul: Becksi, you should apply for your visa in Hamburg.

Konsul: Becksi, I misspoke. You need to apply for your visa in Berlin.

Tina: ?

Konsul: Tina, I can't give you exact information on how much money you need to have available to live in the U.S.

Kati23: can my relatives in the U.S.help me in any way?

Konsul: Kati, to qualify for a visa, you have to prove you are a qualified student/exchange visitor and have ties to Germany.

Barbara: who can provide me with a DS-2019 form when doing an internship connected to the partnership between my German university and an American university?

Konsul: Barbara, the best thing to do is to ask your university about the possibilities.

Alex: Is it possible to work for 6-12 month in the USA without an study?

Konsul: Alex, if you want to work, you need to find an employer, and the employer will file a work petition on your behalf.

Klaus: My old visa says "indefinite". Is it still valid?

Konsul: Klaus, we don't issue indefinite visas anymore. You can trade that for a nice, 10 year visa.

Alexander: I heared it is not a good idea to show sufficient funding by an awarded scholarship, but personal funds are preferred - is that true?

Konsul: Alexander, we want to make sure you can pay for your studies. A scholarship is great.

Barbara: the problem is that they aren't experienced with all these issues as the partnership is still very young...

Konsul: Barbara, they/you can send a question to ConsBerlin@state.gov.

Konsul: Barbara, they can send an email to ConsBerlin@state.gov

Barbara: Thank you very much!

Kristopher: Can you explain a little about the new regulations that you have to have a biometric in your passport? I just got my passport a few months ago--do I have to get a new one?

Konsul: Kristopher, if you have a visa, it doesn't matter if your passport is biometric or machine-readable.

Kati23: thank you for your help! And have a great day!

Becksi: Mr Konsul, thank you very much indeed. Have a nice day!

Alexander: Thanks, much nicer (and cheaper :-) ) than the visa hotline! Goodbye

Konsul: Thank you all for your questions. Check the U.S. Embassy website (www.usembassy.de) for updates on visa issues.