Who must apply for a visa?

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Who must apply for a visa?
Attention: Holders of German temporary or emergency passports who intend to travel to or through the United States must either obtain a valid, machine-readable regular German passport for Visa Waiver Program travel or apply for a U.S. visa to travel to the United States. more

You may not have to apply for a United States Visa if you are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program.

You must apply for a visa if you:• hold a temporary German passport (as of May 1 2006), more information
• intend to accept paid or unpaid employment in the USA (also applies to journalists, au-pairs and interns);
• wish to travel to the United States for more than 90 days;
• wish to attend a secondary school or university (as part of an exchange program or a self-organized stay);
• have been denied entry on a previous occasion or have been expelled from the USA during the last five years;
• have a criminal record or suffer from a serious transmittable disease or mental disorder.;
• were refused an ESTA clearance.
• hold a children's passport (Kinderreisepass) issued or extended after October 25, 2006. more
• hold a children's "Kinderausweis" more

Planning Your Trip when a Visa is required:
You are advised to not finalize any travel plans or reservations (e.g. purchasing plane tickets, booking hotel, etc.) until your passport has been returned to you with a valid non-immigrant visa.

Where should I apply for my visa?
Applicants are advised that they will have the best chance of qualifying for a visa if they apply in the country where they normally reside. Applicants who reside in Germany have to apply at the Consular Section in Berlin, Frankfurt or Munich.

How do I apply for a visa and which visa category might be right for me?
There are nonimmigrant visas and immigrant visas. For nonimmigrant visa application procedures, please see the information on "How to Apply for a Visa".

The following is a list of the most commonly requested types of visa:

• Temporary visitor for business or pleasure
• Treaty trader or investor
• Student (academic or language program)
• Individuals in specialty occupations (e.g. nurses)
• Exchange visitor
• Fiancé(e) of U.S. Citizen
• Student in vocational or recognized non-academic program
• Individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, athletics
• Participant in an international cultural exchange program

Visa Information Service
If none of the above categories apply to you or if you need more detailed information about one of these visas, please call:
• Live Service: 0900 1-850055 (EUR 1.86/Min from a German landline - additional charges may apply from mobile phones). 7am to 8pm, Monday - Friday.
• Credit Card Service for applicants from outside of Germany and callers who cannot access 0900 numbers:  +49 (0)9131-772-2270 . EUR 15 per call, MasterCard and Visa accepted. This service is only available in English. 7am to 8pm, Monday - Friday.


Last updated: April 22, 2009