Visa & More: Frequently Asked Questions

Below, you will, as usual, 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 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.

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

YOUR QUESTION: In 1999 I forgot to hand in my I-94 (the green part) at the border upon leaving the US. I had been in the US as a tourist for three weeks. I have afterwards, as you recommended, submitted proof of my absence (payroll, bank accounts etc) to US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Since I have to go back to the US soon I would like to know whether I will need a visitor visa (B2) even though I wasn't in the country for more than 90 days?

OUR ANSWER: You don't need a visa. You will just have to bring all the documentation you mentioned fro admission in case the officer at the border asks you about this.

YOUR QUESTION: I am holding a US visa for the US which is valid longer than my current passport. I've heard that I may have the visa transferred to my new passport. Please tell me what documentation I need for this transfer.

OUR ANSWER: The US consulates will not transfer this visa. This would be too complicated. You may still use the visa in connection with your new passport, just carry both your old and your new passport with you at the border.

YOUR QUESTION: My son is currently in the US as an au pair. His visa expires in August and he would like to stay for one more year. To leave and re-enter the country he would need a new visa. Does he have to go for another interview with the US consulate?

OUR ANSWER: The problem is of a different nature - au pair visas cannot be extended. Even with an extension application or an application for a new visa, he will not be issued a new visa.

YOUR QUESTION: I have a place for a 6-months internship in the US. I know that I will need the J-1 (Trainee) visa for this. However, I do not want to do this with an exchange organization, but rather organize everything myself. How may I obtain the J-1 visa for the US?

OUR ANSWER: Unfortunately, it is only possible in very rare cases to obtain the J-1 without the help of an exchange organization.
The reason:
For the visa application, you need the form DS-2019 that can only be issued by an employer who is registered with US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Only very few are actually registered there, because the registration process is very expensive and time-consuming. So you would have to make sure that your employer is authorized to issue this form.

If this isn't the case, which is what we suspect, you would have to contact an exchange organization that would act as intermediary and issue you the DS-2019. That's the only way of obtaining the J-1 from the US consulate.