We hope that your interview appointment went well and that your US visa has been approved. Your passport (including your US visa) will either be sent to you by mail within the next few days or made available for pickup, depending on the option you selected. The same applies, if applicable, to the passports of your family members. To ensure that your entry into the USA runs smoothly, we would like to provide you with some helpful information. Finally, please note the following important information:

 

After receiving your passport, please check the individual data and the photo on your visa for accuracy. Occasionally, errors may occur when issuing visas.
The following diagram explains the individual details on your visa:

Please check the following points in particular:

• Name
• Passport number
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Visa category (Visa type, class)
• If applicable: Information in the annotation line

If you use your visa to enter the USA, you do not need ESTA approval. This is only required for travel under the Visa Waiver Program (i.e. without a visa). If you already have an ESTA authorization or have already arranged for one, this is not detrimental to your entry.

If you are the holder of a work visa (e.g. E, L, H visa) or a B-1 (business visitor) visa and are travelling to the USA for purely tourist purposes, we recommend that you apply for ESTA approval in advance of your trip as a precaution, even if you have a valid visa. Your private reason for entry is not necessarily covered by the work visa or B-1 visa.
B-1/B-2 visa holders are not affected by this, as this visa covers a tourist stay (B-2) in addition to a business trip (B-1). You can apply for an ESTA authorization at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta!

How long your passport must be valid for entry into the USA depends on your nationality. In principle, every passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure from the US.
However, the majority of certain nationalities fall under an exemption ("Six-Month Club") - this also includes visa holders from Germany, Austria or Switzerland. They only need a passport that must be valid for the duration of the planned stay. You can find a list of all countries that fall under this regulation here: https://www.cbp.gov/document/bulletins/six-month-club-update

If your passport expires and your visa is still valid, you do not need to apply for a new visa. You can then continue to travel to the USA by presenting both passports (new passport and old passport including valid US visa).

But, if the following changes occur, you must apply for a new US visa and a new passport:

• Damage to the US visa or passport
• Nationality
• Change of name, e.g. due to marriage/divorce
• Gender change

Please note that the Automated Passport Control Program (APC), which has been set up at some US airports for expedited clearance, is only available to visa waiver travelers (VWP - ESTA) and B-1/B-2 or C-1/D holders. All other travelers with US visas cannot use this service.

Simplified entry with Global Entry is possible for members with all current visa categories (except C, H, K, M, N, Q, S, T or U visas). Global Entry program participants are obliged to keep their personal information up to date via their Global Entry account (e.g. when receiving a new passport).
If a Global Entry member receives a (new) visa and/or e.g. a new petition (I-129S or I-797 Approval Notice), they must personally inform U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and have this data (re)entered into the Global Entry System. Typically, this process is completed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon first entry into the United States using the newly issued visa documents, or in person at a designated Enrollment Center.

If the visa information has not been fully or accurately updated, the entry status (including the authorized period of stay and visa classification) may be incorrectly recorded at the Global Entry kiosk, potentially leading to subsequent issues. Further information can also be found here: https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/.

We are happy to assist you with your Global Entry Program application, provided you qualify for the program. Please feel free to contact us.

US authorities distinguish between a visa and what is referred to as immigration status.

The validity period on your visa only specifies the period during which you may use this travel document to seek entry to the US. However, a visa does not guarantee admission. Whether you are allowed to enter with your visa and for how long is determined by CBP officers at the port of entry. 

Prior to 2013, travelers were required to complete the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record form at the border. The authorized period of stay was then documented by means of a stamp in the passport. In recent years, this process has been fully digitized.

At the port of entry, you are required to present your passport (including your US visa and any additional documentation required for your specific visa category). Your personal data will be recorded electronically through a scan of your passport.

All entry information is then kept electronically in the U.S. government’s system.

Entry stamps are now issued only in rare cases. Therefore, after each entry, you should carefully review your electronic I-94 record online to ensure its accuracy and verify the date by which you must depart the United States.

Only the electronic I-94 for your current stay can be accessed online ("get most recent I-94"). Therefore, be sure to check your current electronic I-94 online for accuracy after each entry. It is also possible to view a “travel history” of past stays. 

Check I-94 status online

In the example above, entry was granted on April 9, 2024, with a B-2 visa. A maximum stay was approved until October 8, 2024. The person would therefore have to leave the US by this date at the latest.

Your resident status does not necessarily correspond to the validity period of your visa. This means that your authorized status may be valid for a longer or shorter period than your visa.

The decisive factor in determining how long you are permitted to remain in the United States is the date indicated in your entry record; either in the entry stamp (if issued) or, more importantly, in your electronic I-94 record (not the validity date of your visa). The I-94 contains all relevant information regarding your immigration status, including your I-94 number, name, date of birth, passport details, visa classification, date of entry, and the date by which you must depart the United States.

For certain visa categories (F-1, J-1, and I), no specific departure date is recorded. Instead, the notation “D/S” (Duration of Status) appears. In these cases, the length of your authorized stay is determined by the validity of your Form I-20 (for F-1 students), Form DS-2019 (for J-1 exchange visitors), or, in the case of I visas, the duration of the respective journalistic assignment.

It is also possible to print out a copy of the electronic I-94 form. Therefore, after each entry into the United States, you should carefully verify the accuracy of your I-94 and confirm the length of stay granted.

If you want to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and/or a US driver's license, you will generally be required to present a printout of your electronic I-94 as proof of your valid immigration status.

Please note that only your I-94 in combination with your US visa documents your legal status in the United States.

Please review the following information on your I-94 record online:

• Is the date of entry correctly noted?
• Are your personal details (passport number, name, etc.) entered correctly?
• Is the correct visa category or status indicated (e.g. E-2, L-1, or B-1)?
• What is the authorized period of stay (date of departure)?

If you notice any errors in your I-94, you should seek correction as soon as possible, ideally directly at the airport or port of entry.

X = mandatory for every entry

* = mandatory in original or copy for each entry

= mandatory in original for each entry

*** = on first entry: Presentation of 2 x I-129S. One copy will be retained. Please note that not all U.S. consulates issue two versions after the appointment. If you have only received one version, please present it accordingly. One I-129S will always remain with you for all future entries.

To ensure a smooth entry process, we recommend keeping the following documents easily accessible:

• Return flight ticket or onward travel ticket (if applicable)
• Addresses of accommodation in the USA (hotel, Airbnb, etc.) 
• Necessary documents for any customs declarations (e.g. medication prescriptions, proof of cash amounts)

In rare cases, you may be referred to a more detailed review known as "secondary inspection".

This means that you will be directed from the regular processing area to a separate office, where customs or immigration officers may ask additional questions, review your documents more closely, inspect your carry-on luggage, or, in certain instances, request to examine electronic devices such as your laptop.

There is no need for concern, this is a standard procedure. Secondary inspection may occur for various reasons, including the need to clarify information, resolve discrepancies in documentation, or conduct random checks.

For certain visa categories, officers may examine whether the traveler intends to respect the conditions of stay, including departure at the end of the authorized period, and whether there are signs of unauthorized work or other activities not permitted under the visa.Remain calm and answer all questions truthfully and clearly.

Please note that strict customs and import regulations apply when entering the United States. These regulations cover, among other things, the transportation of medications, alcohol, tobacco, food products, cash, and other goods. Certain items are subject to quantity restrictions or special declaration requirements. This applies in particular to the carrying of cash above specified amounts.

To avoid delays, fines, or other complications upon entry, we strongly recommend that you review the current regulations well in advance of your travel on the official website of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP):

We strongly recommend that you make a digital copy of your US visa, which you will have access to during your trip.
In the event that your passport (including your visa) is lost, having copies will significantly facilitate the reissuance process and the documentation of your lawful immigration status. You should also make copies of other important documents relevant to your visa category, such as your I-797 Approval Notice, I-129S, I-20, or DS-2019.

As a foreign national in the United States, you are required to be able to demonstrate your lawful immigration status to U.S. authorities at any time (for example, during a police check). If you do not wish to carry your passport with you at all times, you should at least carry a copy of your visa and a printout of your electronic I-94 record. This may help prevent potential complications.

The United States does not have a general registration system. However, individuals staying in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa who change their residential address within the country are required to notify U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of their new U.S. address within 10 days. This requirement is intended to ensure that foreign nationals remain reachable by U.S. authorities.

Individuals admitted under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) and those staying in the United States for fewer than 30 days are generally exempt from this requirement. For further information on how to report a change of address, please visit: https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange.

Please take this notification requirement very seriously. Failure to comply may result in penalties or, in the worst case, removal proceedings.

You must leave the US no later than the date of departure noted on the entry stamp or electronic I-94.
Your timely departure is generally recorded automatically through the passenger data transmitted by airlines or shipping companies. After you leave the United States, your travel information is transmitted electronically to the US authorities. No further action is required on your part.

Only individuals who have been issued a paper Form I-94 — for example, in connection with a change or extension of status — must ensure that the relevant portion of the I-94 (if applicable) is surrendered upon departure, if instructed to do so. If you fail to submit a paper I-94 when required, please inform us promptly so that we can provide guidance on how to document your timely departure retroactively.

If you entered the United States by air or sea and plan to depart by land via Mexico or Canada, we recommend obtaining an entry stamp from the Mexican or Canadian authorities as evidence of your departure from the United States.

If you have any questions, please contact our team on +49 (30) 398 20 40 00.

We wish you all the best and every success for your stay in the USA!

Your US Visa Service Team