Immigrant Visas

What Documents do I need?

Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants
Applying for a Visa in Frankfurt

While no specifics at this time can be given regarding the appointment date of your visa interview, you should now prepare for that appointment and obtain the documents required for your visa application.

When you have obtained all of the required documents and are prepared for the interview, please notify us. You may notify us that you are prepared for the interview by mailing to the Immigrant Visa Unit, the Applicant's statement on the Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants checklist (pdf).

What do I do next once I receive the confirmation letter?

1. The biographic data form DS-23O (pdf) should be completed for each person applying for a visa, regardless of age. The form may be photocopied if insufficient copies are received for each family member. The DS-23O (pdf) should be completed and returned immediately to

U.S. Consulate General
Immigrant Visa Section
Giessener Strasse 30
60435 Frankfurt

Failure to return the DS-230 Part I promptly will delay the processing of the application.

The DS-23O (pdf) contains questions regarding specific biographical information required for the immigrant visa.
Each family member that is eligible to travel to the United States with you under this visa classification is required to complete the DS-23O (pdf).
Please fill out the DS-23O (pdf) completely. If a question does not apply to you then you must mark it with a N/A and answer all questions as accurately and as detailed as possible to avoid any delay in your visa processing.
If you have any questions on completing the DS-23O (pdf), please contact the Immigrant Visa Section at frankfurtiv@state.gov.

2. Assemble all of the relevant documents required in support of your application and forward the Applicant's statement on the Form Instruction for Immigrant Visa Applicants, Notification of Applicant(s) Readiness, to the Immigrant Visa Unit.

DO NOT SEND ANY DOCUMENTS TO THE CONSULATE!
You will bring all required documents with you on the day of the formal visa interview.

Document requirements for the visa interview are listed below:

Form DS 230 (pdf), part II (in case you have not provided Part II, page 3 and 4, yet please provide a completed copy at the time of your visa interview)
Passports
Birth certificates; Adoption certificates
Police certificates
Court & Prison Records Court & Prison
Military records
Photographs
Evidence of Support; Affidavit of Support
Marriage certificates; Termination of Prior Marriages
Translations
Vaccination Requirements (pdf)
Medical Examination (pdf)

What do I have to do once I have obtained all of the documents?

Document Requirements

Please obtain the original documents and one photocopy for yourself and each family member who will accompany you to the United States. All documents that pertain to your petition are required, even if they were previously submitted to the USCIS with your petition.

Passports

A passport must be valid for travel to the U.S. and must have at least 6 months validity. Children may be included on a parent's passport, but if over the age of 16, they must have their photographs attached to the passport.

Birth Certificates

Obtain the original of the birth record of each family member (yourself, your spouse, and all unmarried children under the age of 21, even if they are not immigrating with you).

If any parent listed on a child's birth certificate is not immigrating with the child, then that parent must sign a document indicating that he or she consents to the child leaving Germany.

In rare cases it might be impossible to obtain a birth certificate you should obtain a statement from the civil registrar's office and proceed to obtain secondary evidence of birth; e.g. baptismal certificate, notarized statement.

Adoption Certificate

The certificate must show date and place of adoption, along with the names of the adoptive parents. This certificate must be issued by a public authority and show that a public record exists of the adoption.

Police Certificates

Police certificates are required for each visa applicant aged 16 years or older; if the applicant

is living in their country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months
lived in a different country for more than 12 months
was arrested for any reason, regardless of how long they lived there

How do I obtain a Police Certificate?

Court and Prison Records

Persons who have been convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each court record and any prison record, regardless of the fact that he or she may have subsequently benefited from an amnesty, pardon or other act of clemency.

One original and two photocopies regarding every conviction for any crime(s) in any country are required. Translations of these documents are mandatory.

Military Records

Persons who have served in the military forces of any country must obtain one certified copy of their military record.

Photographs

Three color photographs which meet Department of State Immigrant Visa Photo Requirements (pdf).

Affidavit of Support

Form I-864, a contractual affidavit of support, must be submitted for most family-based applicants and employment-based applicants when a relative is the petitioner or has ownership interest in the petitioner's business.

Note: Other applicants must show evidence that they are not likely to become public charges while in the United States.

Marriage Certificates

Married applicants must obtain an original marriage certificate, or a certified copy, bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority.

Proof of the termination of any previous marriage must also be submitted; e.g. death certificate of spouse; final decree of divorce or annulment.

Translations

All documents not in English or German must be accompanied by certified English translations. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the translation is accurate, and the translator is competent to translate.