Visa and More

As announced, we will start our "Frequently Asked Questions" section today where our experts will answer typical visa questions we have received via our website. Every individual situation is different and needs special consulting, so these answers are only exemplary in character. They are not a substitute for individual consulting.

If you need fast and individual information, our service team is there for you on the phones from Tuesday to Friday between 11am and 7pm. Find the phone number on our homepage and get our experts' advice on everything visa as quickly and as conveniently as possible.

QUESTION: I am a trainee in a company and will this year start an internship in the US at a branch of my company. For what visa do I need to apply?

ANSWER: The J-1 (Exchange Visitor Visa) would be the right visa for your situation. You should ask your US company whether it has the J-1 Visa registration. In that case, they can issue form DS-2019 that you need to apply for a visa. A letter about the internship you are planning is not sufficient. In case your company is not registered you should, depending on your status (student or employee) contact an exchange organization and find out whether you qualify for one of their programs. Find links to the institutions that issue DS-2019s in the links section on our website.

QUESTION: I want to go to the US in July together with my fiancé (US citizen) and stay there. I will go there with my German passport and get married within the allowed 90 day period. Do I need a visa anyway?

ANSWER: The US authorities assume that you have the appropriate visa when you enter the US. While it is possible to get an adjustment of status to a green card even under the Visa Waiver Program, you might run into trouble at the border if you don't have an appropriate immigrant visa. In a worst case scenario, you might even be deported. So it would be advisable for you to get married in the US, file the petition in the US and then leave the country until you have been issued the necessary residence permit. Be prepared for long processing times.

QUESTION: I have been in the US as an au pair for half a year. I have made a lot of friends during that time so that I would like to go back for a longer time again. Now I would like to apply for a tourist visa for half a year.

ANSWER: Unfortunately, your chances of obtaining a B-Visa are not so good at present. The background - you already had the option of staying in the US for another half year after your au pair job under the J-1. If you apply for a B (Tourist) Visa now, it might be suspected that you are planning to permanently give up all ties to your home country (and have the intention to immigrate.) That is the most frequent reason B-Visas are being denied. It is not easy to prove an intention to return if you apply for several non-immigration visas within a short period of time. In case your visa is denied, you might run into trouble with admission at the border. So we would recommend for you to stay at home for a while and wait a few months before trying to enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program, which will allow you to stay in the US for 90 days.

QUESTION: I have an aunt in Kansas, I have been working as an electrician in Germany for the past years. I would like to live with my aunt who is a US citizen. What are my options of obtaining a permanent residence through her or an employer?

ANSWER: Unfortunately, your aunt cannot sponsor you for an immigration visa. That is only possible for children and parents and siblings. You could try, however, to qualify for an immigrant or non-immigrant visa through a US employer. Since green card processing may take up to several years, we recommend to first of all apply for a temporary work permit that might open you the door to a permanent residence. What kind of visa specifically applies to you depends on your work experience and your training so far.