Breaking News: Travel season / summer time

US consulates: long waiting times for interviews

Because of the large number of visa applications during the summer months, you have to be prepared for longer waiting times for visa interviews at the US consulates, even in Berlin. At present, you have to wait approximately 4 weeks for a visa interview and approximately 2 weeks until you get your passport with the visa back.

US consulates II: security advice for the interview

In order to make sure that there are no delays with your interview because of the security checks, please do not bring any electronic devices including cell phones to the consulate. In addition, no backpacks, suitcases, briefcases and strollers may be brought to the consulate. The security personnel will not store anything for you and will confiscate any weapons or weapon-like devices (e.g. scissors, files etc.) without exception.

So we strongly recommend to leave these things at home or in a locked car or give them to a friend who waits for you outside the consulate. Otherwise you have to be prepared to be turned away at the doors. There is no storage room inside the consulate.

ATTENTION: you may only bring documents necessary for your visa application to your appointment. You should present the documents in an open, transparent folder (e.g. a sheet protector), otherwise they will not be accepted.

Entry into the US: deadline for the introduction of biometric passports extended

The US government has extended the deadline for the introduction of biometric passports. Germans and citizens of 26 other countries may still travel to the US without a visa. Congress had initially set the deadline for October 26, 2004.

Originally, all those holding new passports that didn't include biometric data would have been supposed to apply for a visa. This way, the US consulates would have been flooded with applications. However, as of September, more than 10 million visitors from 27 countries will have to be fingerprinted upon admission into the US, according to a regulation that has become effective at the beginning of this year. For this, a digital reader will be used to won't get ink on your fingers.

Anyway, child IDs and preliminary passports will no longer be accepted, but only machine-readable passports. This also applies to babies who usually have child IDs or are listed in the mother's passport.

US travel: flight data submitted to government

The European Parliament wants to take action against an agreement between the US end the EU allowing the forwarding of passenger data to the security agencies. In a special meeting, the judicial committee of the parliament in Brussels decided to file a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice. The majority sees the agreement with Washington as a violation of privacy laws. The aim of the lawsuit is to revoke the decisions on the agreement by the EU Council and the Commission in Brussels.

Since May of 2004, airlines may forward all data of passengers flying to or from the US to the American security agencies. The US government had demanded this after the attacks of 9/11. The reasons for this were the fight against terrorism, plane hijacking and organized crime. 43 pieces of information - such as address, phone number and credit card number - may be submitted and saved for up to three and a half years. In suspicious cases, the data may even be stored for up to ten years or for an unlimited period of time.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services: application fees raised

US Citizenship and Immigration Services has, unfortunately, again raised the fees for visa applications of all kinds. The higher fees were already introduced at the end of April this year. Applications with the old fee will not be processed and sent back to the applicant.

New fees (selection):

-Petition for A Non-immigrant Worker (H-1 B, H-2 B, L-1 or E-Status)
Application I-129: US-Dollar 185

-(Green card) Petition for Alien relative, K-1 Status (engaged)
Application I-129-F: US-Dollar 165

-(Green card) Petition for Alien relative (already married)
Application I-130: US-Dollar 185

-Application for Travel Document (Re-entry permit)
Application I-131: US-Dollar 165

By the way, form I-131 (required for green card holders who cannot/don't want to come back to the US for up to two years) has been completely revised. It is now a lot more clearly arranged and contains the correct mailing address - the wrong information on the old form has been a cause of great annoyance to many applicants.

Find more information about the raised fees on uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/index.htm

US Visa: Questions and consulting

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.