Visa & More: Frequently Asked Questions

Below, you will find a selection of visa questions we have been asked by our customers over the last few days. Please note that none of the answers below is an actual substitute for individual consulting and can only touch on the real issues. We would like to point out that we do not take responsibility for the correctness of this information.
If you need fast and individual information, our service team is there for you on the phones from Tuesday to Friday between 10am and 5pm. Find the phone number on our homepage and get our experts' advice on everything visa as quickly and as conveniently as possible. Please note that our phone number has changed due to legal requirements!

And as usual, for all questions concerning the green card lottery just call our service team.

YOUR QUESTION: This is just a general question! I cannot seem to find form DS-2019 in the forms you compiled. Could you please tell me where I can find this in the forms-section of your homepage? Could you also please tell me whether I have to submit the general application for a non-immigrant visa before I submit form DS-2019. I am planning an internship or college year abroad in Colorado Springs.

OUR ANSWER: The DS-2019 is not freely available, it is a form issued by a licensed US employer or exchange organization and contains a security certification. So you will only find examples online, but you cannot just print them and use them for the application. We would recommend applying at an exchange organization that will determine whether you may qualify for the J-1 visa. This is necessary because not everyone interested in an internship may qualify for the J-1 visa in case the desired activity does not meet the eligibility criteria.

YOUR QUESTION: I am a Ukrainian citizen but have been permanently living in German since 2000 and I'm holding an unlimited residence permit. I an currently studying law in Germany. I am planning to spend one semester abroad at an American university because I am very much interested in American culture. That's why I would like to spend two weeks in the US as a tourist during semester break, to get to know the country and to brush up my English. I would appreciate it greatly if you could help me evaluate my situation so that I know whether applying for a visa is worth it.

OUR ANSWER: Generally speaking, you could apply for a B-visa. So in your non-immigrant visa application (DS 156), you may use the terms of prospective F-1 or prospective student. The visa would also give you the opportunity to "try out" US university courses for a few weeks. However, you might run into some trouble because of your nationality and the short time you have spent in Germany so far. From a US point of view, five years in Germany isn't a very long time, even if you have a permanent residence permit. With applicants from Eastern Europe, the US are always worried that they don't just want to stay for a limited time, but are really planning to immigrate. So you should be prepared to offer conclusive evidence for your intention to return to Germany.

YOUR QUESTION: My father is a US citizen and lives in Virginia. I am planning to immigrate into the US to live with my father. Unfortunately, I don't know what kind of documents I need, that's why I would like your help. I am 19 and unmarried.

OUR ANSWER: Your father may file an immigration petition for you. For that, he will need from I 130 (petition for alien relative) as well as two G325 A application forms (biographic information). You may download these forms directly from our homepage. The application will probably be approved rather quickly. However, you will have to be prepared fro waiting times of up to five years before you can be issued a visa number. In addition, you should count on ca. six months processing time at the National Visa Center and the US consulate general. Speeded-up processing is generally not available.

YOUR QUESTION: My brother has a green card. Would it make sense for me to already apply for immigration right now, even though my brother is not yet a US citizen? Would this shorten the usual waiting time of 10 to twelve years?

OUR ANSWER: Yes, it would make sense. However, for the family-based green card application, you will have to demonstrate that your brother has already applied for citizenship and the application is already on file. The mere intention to do so is not sufficient. So we recommend that your brother in the US submit a copy of the USCIS certificate for the naturalization application along with the family-based immigration petition. In addition it usually helpful to add a letter to the application that again points out this one fact.

YOUR QUESTION: I would like to do some unpaid volunteer work in a "peace garden" for one year. My tasks would include gardening, janitorial work, receiving visitor groups etc. If there were a way to earn some money every month by babysitting, homework assistance, language tutoring etc. that would really help me.

OUR ANSWER: We doubt that those activities will qualify for a visa. If any, it would have to be the J-1 (Exchange visitor). For that, you need the DS-2019, which is not freely available.
In your case, we recommend contacting an exchange organization that will determine whether you are eligible for the J-1 with this project, since a number of requirements will have to be met.