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Biometric passports - deadline extended for one year
Tourists eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (e.g. Germans, Austrians and the Swiss), may use their old passport for one more year. According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the deadline has been extended to October 26, 2006. This is a reaction to the problems many EU countries have with introducing the passports on time. In Germany, however, the passports will be introduced starting November 1, 2005, of course not yet with all the required specifications. Until then, machine-readable passports (the red one) will be accepted, as long as they have been issued BEFORE October 26, 2005. They have to be valid at the time of travel. The old green, preliminary passports will no longer be accepted starting June 26 for admission into the US. In this case, you will need a visa, exceptions will no longer be made at the border.

Please note: those changes do NOT affect the visa regulations for tourists or business travelers, as has been frequently reported, i.e. a visa is NOT generally required for travelers.

Higher application fees for non-immigration visas
Application fees for non-immigration visas (e.g. visitor, student, internship or work visas), have changed as of June 20, 2005. They have increased by €5, so they now amount to €85 per person. Please not that fees cannot be refunded, not even if the visa is rejected. Online money transfers are still not possible, so please bring the carbon copy of your transfer order or your bank account statement to the interview. This does no longer have to be stamped by your bank institute.

Waiting times for interviews at US consulate
One thing you should know to make your travel plans:

Anyone who needs a visa to go to the US should keep in mind that a personal interview at your local US consulate (Berlin, Frankfurt) is necessary. Please note that during the summer months there might be longer waiting times at the US consulates. For Frankfurt, waiting times are currently four weeks, for Berlin, between two and three weeks. Schedule your interview in good time, in order to make sure you can realize your travel plans.

Do you have any questions concerning application processes at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services or the US consulates? Or do you need individual consultation? Our experts of our visa and consular service offer fast and comfortable advice via our hotline. Or use our free contact form on our website.