USA Student Visa

Student visa for the USA
Do you need a visa for your studies?

When you are up to 90 days in the U.S., you need a visa as a German citizen. If you are studying in the ., however, you are usually longer than 90 days in the USA. Then the condition that you have a valid (student) visas.
F-1 visas

If you want to study on your own, not through a public exchange program in the U.S., you need an F-1 visa. You can apply but only if you are admitted at an American university, so the application process went through successfully. With the approval documents of the college, you receive a completed form (I-20). This you need to send along with several documents to the American consulate.

Which consulate is responsible for you, decides according to the state in which you reside. For the federal states of Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Bremen, the consulate in Berlin, is responsible.

For the states of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, contact the Consulate in Frankfurt am Main.

Please note that the processing of your application takes some time!

The following documents must be submitted with the Form I-20 at the consulate:

* Your German passport, at least for the duration of your stay valid. Do you have a German passport, please ask at the American Consulate for how long your passport must be valid. For some countries it is essential that the pass at least six months after leaving the United States is valid.
* A color or black and white photograph, which must comply with the new biometric requirements. It must not be older than six months must be 5 x 5 cm in size, the head must be 2.5 to 3.5 cm in size (measured from top to bottom), both ears must be visible in the front view of the applicant be shown (and not the profile), the photo needs to continue to have a white background. You also need to look directly at the camera. Hats are permitted only for religious reasons - but it must also be seen the whole face.
* Proof of your intention to leave the U.S. after completing the program again. The proof can be provided in the form of a certificate of registration or a copy of your return air tickets.
* Form DS-156: This form must be filled out and signed by you. You also have the opportunity to fill out the form directly online. There you will have to enter your personal information, address, date of entry, the name of the university in the USA, your address in the United States, the period of intended stay, purpose of travel, finance and many other items.
* Form DS-157: The applicant must complete male aged between 16 and 45. There you have questions about your personal information, the names of their parents, a contact person in the
., a listing of the countries you have visited in the last ten years, to answer your last two employers, military service, etc.. The form can be downloaded on the Internet at www.usbotschaft.de.
* Form DS-158: This is the form "Details of contact person and the professional background of applicants for a nonimmigrant visa".
* Online payment confirmation form of payment of the visa processing fee. For more information on the exact procedure, see the website at www.us-botschaft.de. The visa fee is currently € 85.
* A self-addressed and stamped envelope (DIN A5 or A4).
* Proof of financial support: In this you have to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to finance her studies in the U.S..
* SEVIS fee: Since 1.9.2004 all applicants must pay an F-or J-visa with I-20 or DS-2019 forms the so-called student and exchange visitor fee system. This was decided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The fee is $ 100. With the application you have to prove that you paid the fee. Furthermore, it is necessary to complete your Form I-901, which is available online at www.ice.gov.

Furthermore, it is necessary that you submit your application in person in Frankfurt and in Berlin and lead a visa interview. This conversation is mandatory since 2003. Make sure to make an appointment by phone from - otherwise you are likely to go in vain to Berlin or Frankfurt.

What questions do you have to expect in the short conversation? First, you are probably the reason for your stay in demand in the U.S.. The responsible officials want to make sure that you are not planning any criminal operations in the United States. Furthermore, it is checked whether the financing of your stay is secured and you have the intention to return permanently after their studies to return to Germany. Further questions are asked about your personal background, especially for friends and relatives. It is advisable to carry the following documents in order to reaffirm the intent and the return of guaranteed financing:

* Registration certificate,
* Proof of enrollment,
* Statements,
* Return air ticket (if any)
* A lease on your apartment in Germany.

Typically, this conversation is over quickly because it is a routine interview. You get about two weeks after the interview for your visa by post.
J-1 visas

If you wish to study through a public exchange program in the U.S., you need a J-1 visa. This exchange organization provides you with the form DS-2019 from which you with the following documents (for details please see the comments above) must submit to the American Consulate:

* Passport,
* Form DS-156,
* Form DS 157 (only for men between 16 and 45),
* Form DS-158,
* A recent photograph,
* Evidence of your intention to leave the . after completing the program again,
* Online payment confirmation form of payment of the visa processing fee,
* A self-addressed and stamped envelope (DIN A5 or A4),
* SEVIS fee
* Continue it is necessary that you submit your application in person in Frankfurt and in Berlin and lead a visa interview.

B1/B2-Visa

If you want to travel under your clerkship (medical school) or your legal clerkship in the United States, you do not need a J/F-1-Visum. Then a B1/B2-Visum is sufficient.

For this purpose the following documents must be submitted to the American Consulate:

* Form DS-156,
* May form DS-157,
* A recent photograph,
* A valid passport,
* Evidence that you have finished your clerkship / your choice of days on legal training, the intention to leave the U.S. again
* Confirmation of payment via the Visa Application Fee
* Addressed and stamped envelope
* Proof of financial arrangements.

Green Card

You have the opportunity to participate in the draw of the State Department a green card. A green card entitles you to a visa to reside in the U.S. as long as you wish, and to study and work. If you wish to participate in the lottery, would you care as early as possible. For more information, visit the website of the U.S. diplomatic mission or at www.us-botschaft.de www.dvlottery.state.gov.

Please note that the procedure is only done electronically and only one application per applicant may be submitted. If you submit multiple applications, you will be excluded from participation. In addition, the following requirements must be met:

* Birth Country: The program can participate for example, no citizen of Great Britain, Poland and Russia. The excluded countries may however change from year to year. However, German citizens may participate in the lottery.
* Education: A candidate must have completed at least high school or similar institution, or he must hold at least two years professional experience in an occupation for at least two years training is required.
* Photo: The photo must be scanned (JPEG format, max size 62 500 bytes) - the application in the electronic process.
* Application Form: This form can you get on the internet and fill in www.dvlottery.state.gov. The following information must be given include: name, date and place of birth, sex, address and marital status.

Participants will be drawn at random and notified the winners of a green card then.