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: My brother lives in the US, he is a German citizen and has a green card. He is married to a US citizen. He will apply for citizenship in 2005. What are my options for an immigration visa? Can I apply when my brother has applied for naturalization or only after his application has been approved?

OUR ANSWER: Your brother may already submit the petition for you now, even if the naturalization process is still ongoing. However, waiting times for siblings in the F-4 category are quite long, usually up to 12 years. During that time, no immigration visa can be issued for you. So we recommend looking into other green card options such as the green card lottery, or maybe a temporary work permit / residence permit. You may later apply for a change of status from that category to e permanent residence.

YOUR QUESTION: I have a question about the B-2 Visa for my mother: She has a Turkish passport and a German residence permit and she has been living in Germany for approximately 30 years. She is 64 and would like to visit her daughter in the US. Does she have to personally attend an interview at the US consulate?

OUR ANSWER: Unfortunately, even at her age your mother still had to show up for a personal interview at the US consulate general. In general, all people between the age of 16 and 79 have to attend personal interviews. So this applies to your mother as well, even if the old application forms often still state the old age limitation of 59. This limit, however, no longer applies.

YOUR QUESTION: I am currently in the US as an exchange student and I'm very successfully participating in an academic high school program. After my one year I will have a high school diploma. I would like to go to college here for one or two years, or even the entire time, if possible.

OUR ANSWER: You can apply for a change of status in the US from the J-1 you probably have at the moment to the F-1 (student) status. You may submit your application to the national office of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). However, the chances that this will be approved are not very high. The US government wants to prevent that foreign students move their center of life and their education to the US for an extended period of time. In case your change of status is approved, please make sure that, in case you visit your home country, for example, you always have the valid F-1 with you. Otherwise, you could be denied admission.

YOUR QUESTION: I will probably be living with relatives in the US from August 2005 to January 2006 and take care of their two children. It is not an official au pair job. Is this allowed?

OUR ANSWER: You have two visa options: The family submits a petition for the so-called H-2B work visa for you. For this, they will first need a successful labor certification, then there's the application process at USCIS. It is important that the family proves that they have tried finding a nanny, for example by advertising the position. An alternative would be the au pair status (J-1). This however, is only possible if you apply at an authorized exchange organization. Such an organization may also organize the formalities for a private exchange for an appropriate fee. Unfortunately, you cannot organize a stay on the J-1 all by yourself.