Updated on 30.05.2025

New online profile for scheduling visa interviews and paying fees

There are important changes to interview appointment scheduling, fee payment and passport delivery via the official visa service providers.

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Bild vom neuen Visa-Profil für US-Visumbeantragung

Introduction of the new booking system and the new visa profiles

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has made important changes to the US visa application process. Since 2024, the visa application processes are being optimized in cooperation with the various service providers. The official visa service providers are responsible for coordinating interview appointments, fee payments and passport delivery for the respective US consulates worldwide via various websites and platforms.

Fall 2024: New booking platforms in European countries

In some countries, such as the Netherlands and France, a new system was introduced on September 30, 2024 with the visa service provider AVITS. Since then, new online profiles for making appointments and paying the visa fee must be created via the new system and existing (old) visa profiles must be transferred.

For other European countries, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, a new booking system and new online profiles for US nonimmigrant visas and US immigrant visas was introduced on October 26, 2024.

The previous provider USTravelDocs (CGI Federal Inc.) will remain responsible after the switch on October 26, 2024 - but there will be changes to the profile.

May 2025: New booking platform also in other European countries

On May 30, 2025, the switch to the new platform USTravelDocs (CGI Federal Inc.) also took place in North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, and Poland. The changes are aimed at increasing security, transparency, and efficiency in the visa process.

Overview of major changes at USTravelDocs

New system

Since October 26, 2024, and May 30, 2025, respectively, US nonimmigrant and immigrant visas are being processed via the new portal in numerous European countries.

Applicants with existing (old) profiles must officially re-register in the new system using the e-mail address previously used and create a user name. Applicants who do not have an old profile or are applying for a US visa for the first time will create their new profile on the new portal for initial registration.

Furthermore, the amount of the fees for the passport delivery and for the postal submission procedure has changed since October 26, 2024 and has been changed to one amount per visa application (e.g. per person).

In Germany, the premium service for returning passports now costs 27.50 € per person. The fee for using the Interview Waiver Program is 19.20 € per person.

Persons with an ongoing visa application

Existing online profiles are automatically transferred, including the interview appointments already booked and payments made. Please note, however, that the appointment confirmation you need for the visa interview has been changed. Please log in to the new profile before the consulate appointment with the e-mail address used so far to receive the new appointment confirmation.

Persons with an ongoing visa application for the USA who have not yet paid the visa fee and / or have not yet scheduled an appointment for the visa interview can now log in to the new system with their existing visa profile with the e-mail address used so far and arrange payment of the visa fee and schedule their appointment for the visa interview.

System failure prior to the transition phase

From October 22 to 25, 2024, the system was unavailable or only available to a very limited extent. Applicants wer unable to

create visa profiles,
access existing profiles,
make new fee payments as well as
book or reschedule appointments via the online profile.

Note

In the first few days after a system changeover, there may be technical problems or delays in the process, e.g. with visa processing or issuing and passport delivery.

We recommend that visa applicants check their new visa profile carefully after the transfer or activation to ensure that all information has been entered correctly.

Our service during the migration period

We from The American Dream - US Visa Service support our customers during the entire implementation phase. Our US visa consultants take care of the necessary system transfers as well as new registrations and ensure that all data is entered correctly in the new visa profile.

Despite the changes, we are well prepared to continue processing your visa applications and to resolve any problems quickly in direct contact with the relevant US authorities or service providers.

Further details on the changes regarding US visa services can be found on the country-specific websites of the official visa service provider at www.ustraveldocs.com.

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Date:

Updated on 30.05.2025