FAQ

The fees for applying for a visa vary considerably depending on the category and may regularly increase or decrease, also as a result of exchange rate fluctuations. Therefore, every applicant should inform himself about the current fees before applying.

The application for a U.S. visa must be made through the official U.S. authorities, e.g. the U.S. consulates and U.S. embassies. The actual visa application is placed online, but almost every applicant must go to the consulate in person for a visa interview. With some work visas, it is sometimes necessary to send extensive files by mail to the U.S. authorities in the USA prior to the consular application procedure.
We advise and support companies and private individuals in all matters relating to visa applications. Read more about the requirements, duration and costs of a visa application. 

Some universities or colleges in the U.S. require their students to present their Social Security Number. However, normally the number is not issued to persons who are temporarily in the United States on an F-1, J-1 or M-1 visa. In this case, the universities should be able to assign a different identification number to the foreign students concerned.

If you want to take up employment that is permitted under the respective student visa, you can apply for a Social Security Number.

SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. This is an online database of the U.S. government which enables the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to access data of all exchange students who are in the United States. The educational institution's SEVIS registration is required in order to issue the I-20 form which is mandatory for the visa application. To pay the SEVIS fee, a SEVIS number is required, which can be found on the I-20 document.

The I-20 form is issued by the respective educational institution provided that the U.S. educational institution is SEVIS registered. You can find out whether this is the case by using the school search tool of the U.S. authorities.
Please note: The I-20 is not an application form that you can download from the Internet.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

We work together with the visa sponsors InterExchange and TravelWorks and act as an interface between the main applicant (graduate), the employer in the home country, the host company in the United States, the U.S. authorities and the respective exchange organisation. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Further visa sponsors can be researched on the official website of the U.S. authorities.

An extension is only possible if the total duration does not exceed 12 months for internships or 18 months for trainings. If the applicant is still enrolled at a university or is still in training, an application for a J-1 visa can be made as often as desired.
Exception: Trainees must wait two years before they can apply again. This also applies to all applicants who had already applied for the category "Internal" and now wish to apply for "Trainee".

The J visa entitles its holder to take part in an internship, training or exchange program. These activities may be remunerated, but ordinary employment or unpaid work is strictly prohibited.

Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 will be issued a derived J-2 visa for the same period as the principal applicant and may travel to the United States on that visa.

As a rule, applicants find out on the day of their interview whether the visa will be granted or not.
In certain cases, the visa applicant receives a letter of refusal from the consulate after a certain processing time. Incidentally, no reasons need to be given for a refusal. The reasons for this can be manifold and range - depending on the visa category - from the assumption of an immigration intention, to the presumption of illegal employment, to insufficient application documentation.
Once this has happened, a new visa can usually only be (successfully) applied for after several months or even years. Theoretically, there is no waiting period for the applicant until the next submission. However, experience shows that without a blatant improvement in the requirements of the respective visa category (e.g. proof of the intention to return to the home country, financial means, proof of specialized professional knowledge, etc.), a new application does not appear to make much sense.

There are a variety of J-1 exchange programs:

• Au Pair
• Camp Counselor
• College and University Student
• Government Visitor
• Internal
• International Visitor
• Physician
• Professor
• Research Scholar
• Secondary School Student
• Short-Term Scholar
• Specialist
• Summer Work Travel
• Teacher
• Trainee

Each category, of course, has its own entry requirements and program regulations.

Application documents for a J-1 visa include a variety of documents related to the applicant as well as the U.S. institutions (e.g., educational institution or U.S. company). Processing is a very complex and time-consuming process. Generally, a generous window of time should be allowed for the issuance of a J-1 visa. For example, for the issuance of a J-1 visa in the "Intern" or "Trainee" category, a minimum of ten to twelve weeks Therefore, the application should be initiated as early as possible.

The background to this long process is that the J-1 visa must not be applied for exclusively at the U.S. consulate, but additionally with the help of an exchange organization (J-1 Visa Sponsor). These organizations have been authorized by the U.S. Department of State to verify that the programs are carried out in accordance with U.S. guidelines. After a review of the applicant as well as the U.S. institution, if applicable, the form will finally be DS-2019 ("Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status"), which in turn is mandatory to apply for a J-1 visa.

Exchange organizations usually charge a minimum age of 18 years (except for the category "Secondary School Student", where a minimum age of 15 years is sufficient).

Except for the "Au Pair" category, which is subject to a maximum age limit of 26, there are no age limits set by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). However, it is at the discretion of the respective visa sponsors to set such a limit for participants in a particular category. Therefore, this should always be discussed with the J-1 visa sponsor who ultimately submits the form.DS-2019The U.S. Department of State provides specific and very strict guidelines regarding the J-1 visa. Although the U.S. Department of State provides specific and very strict guidelines regarding the J-1 visa, the admission requirements of the exchange organizations sometimes vary significantly.

If necessary, the planned stay in the USA can also be part of a company-internal training with an B-1 Visa (Business Visitor) possible. However, the individual case must always be considered and thus individually checked whether the B-1 visa actually represents an alternative to the J-1 visa.

Whether a high school diploma is a requirement for obtaining a J-1 visa depends on the category.

For example, to qualify in the "Internal" category, the applicant must be an enrolled full-time student at an institution of higher education (outside the U.S.) or have successfully completed studies at such an institution within the last twelve months.

One of the following qualifications is required for the Trainee category:

• a degree from an institution of higher education (outside the U.S.) plus one year of full-time training-related work experience (outside the U.S.).

or

• Five years of training-related work experience (outside the U.S.).

At the Form DS-2019 is a numbered and limited form that cannot be filled out and downloaded from the Internet, but is issued only after a detailed evaluation of the participant and the U.S. institution. The issuance of the DS-2019 form is done with the help of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This web-based database allows both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to directly view the data of all J-1 visa holders who are in the United States. SEVIS includes information on the participant's location, U.S. host entity, and legal status, among other information. Once the data has been entered into SEVIS, the exchange organization is responsible for keeping this data current throughout the duration of the stay and adjusting it if necessary, e.g. in the event of an extension of stay or a change of U.S. host company.

Depending on which J-1 category is being applied for, additional documentation may be required (e.g., degree certificates, evidence of job-related work experience, etc.).

In principle, it is possible to assign an intern in the "Intern" or "Trainee" category to several U.S. locations, provided that each of the individual U.S. locations meets the specific requirements of the exchange organization. Among other things, the number of interns and trainees must be in proportion to regular employees in order to ensure professional supervision by sufficient staff.

It is important that this so-called "Company Transfer" is noted in advance in the Training/Internship Placement Plan (DS-7002) with the corresponding US offices and addresses. Please also note that this intra-company transfer is only possible within the company group; a longer-term transfer to a customer's location is not permitted under any circumstances. Interns and trainees may of course participate in business meetings at the customer's site or customer visits outside the specified US location if accompanied by the supervisor of the US host company.

The J-1 visa can be used for multiple entries only if on the form. DS-2019a travel validation has been noted by the exchange organization. The Travel Validation is necessary because the visa is valid only in connection with the DS-2019 form (on which the specific period of the exchange program is noted).

For this reason, it is particularly important that the relevant exchange organization is contacted in good time in the case of an upcoming travel project. First, the original DS-2019 form must be sent to the organization by mail. Subsequently, an authorized signatory signs the DS-2019 again and thus confirms that the holder of the J visa is "in good standing". This signature is valid for six months and allows the U.S. immigration officer at the border to see directly that all program guidelines have been met and the visa holder may re-enter without difficulty.

When the exchange program has officially ended, there is the possibility to stay in the USA for an additional 30 days ("Grace Period"), for example to travel around the USA. Please note that under no circumstances should the United States be left during this time in order to re-enter afterwards. The DS-2019 form and the J-1 visa will have already expired, i.e. re-entry into the U.S. would theoretically have to be visa-free with the electronic travel authorization (ESTA) can be made. However, the risk of rejection on the part of the U.S. border agent would be too high.

A US work visa is always tied to a specific US company. In turn this means that you must have a specific employer in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

The application process begins with the US company that wants to hire you. The US employer submits the petition either to the USCIS or to the responsible U.S. consulate. Since the application for a temporary work permit is made by the company for a future foreign employee, the U.S. employer is therefore the so-called petitioner, which means the official applicant. The future employee is the entitled person and thus the so-called beneficiary.

Many companies wonder what happens to the company-bound work visa when the visa holder no longer works for the US employer.

In the event that the employment contract is terminated, the US work visa automatically loses its validity. The derived visas of any family members who may have travelled with the employee also lose their validity upon termination of the work relations, as these are linked to the visa of the main visa applicant.

This means that the former visa holder is no longer allowed to enter the country with the work visa after termination of the employment relationship. Even if the work visa is theoretically still valid for a certain period of time, the visa may no longer be used to enter the United States. If the visa holder concerned wishes to travel to the US for tourism or business purposes in the future, he / she must reapply for an ESTA or a corresponding visa, depending on the type of activities carried out on site and the duration of such activities.

Tip: In order to avoid discrepancies or problems with later entries, it is advisable to inform the U.S. consulate about the new work situation. For this purpose, it is sufficient if the responsible company representative (e.g. HR manager, supervisor, board of directors) sends an e-mail to the responsible consulate with the request to invalidate the visa of the former employee. If possible, a copy of the visa should also be attached. The consulate will then put a note in the system so that the CBP officers at the US border are also informed.
In some cases, the visa holder will even be contacted directly by the U.S. consulate in order to send its passport with the work visa for the purpose of invalidation. In other cases, the visa will simply be invalidated by the CBP officer at the boder the next time he or she enters the United States.

Our recommendation: By sending a short message to the responsible U.S. consulate, companies can protect themselves and above all be sure that entry with the previously valid work visa is no longer possible. Do not take any risks and prevent possible abuse with company-bound visas.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

Employees or business owners must also meet a certain requirement profile to obtain an E-1 visa:

1. The applicant must be a citizen of the respective contracting country. This means that a company that is majority German-owned can only file E-1/E-2 applications for German citizens.
2. Only employees in executive or managerial positions, managers, or individuals with specialized knowledge qualify for the E-1/E-2 category.
3. Employees must be able to present either a German or American employment contract or secondment agreement with the company. This means that proof of regular employment within the group of companies must be provided.

NOTICE: There is no minimum period of employment for employees within the group of companies, as is the case with the L visa. Consequently, new personnel can also be sent or deployed in the USA via E-1/E-2 status. However, it is also necessary to prove that new employees who are not managers or directors have the necessary specialized knowledge.

In contrast to many other work visas, not only the respective applicants (employees and/or company owners) receive an E-1/E-2 visa and thus a work permit for the US in the initial application process - rather, the US company is simultaneously "registered" with the US authorities for (usually) five years as a whole at the US consulate (= E-registration).

What are the advantages of this registration process?
Within the next five years, additional employees (including new hires, if applicable) can be sent to or deployed at the US company in a greatly simplified process.
This eliminates the need to submit an elaborate application in advance for additional E-1/E-2 visa processes within the approved registration period. Employees can present their documents directly at a personal interview appointment at the relevant U.S. consulate. The simplified procedure means considerable cost and time savings for the company. Especially in comparison to the expensive L-visa procedure, the E-status is therefore always an alternative worth considering!

Nationality link of e-registration
The only shortcoming of E-registration: the nationality requirement for personnel. This means that German companies can only issue E-1/E-2 visas to German nationals. The same applies to companies that have a different nationality. For example, a French company would only be allowed to issue E-1/E-2 visas to French employees.

Extension of e-registration
After expiration of the E-1/E-2 registration, an application for renewal can be filed at the US Consulate. If the US company already has more than 25 US employees at that time, a simplified renewal procedure can be used.
To the extent that 25 or fewer US citizens are employed, a complete new application (as in the initial registration process) must be submitted to the appropriate US consulate.
In fact, as long as the US company exists and the E-1 visa requirements are still met, the E-registration can be renewed indefinitely.

A US work visa is always tied to a specific US company. In turn this means that you must have a specific employer in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

The application process begins with the US company that wants to hire you. The US employer submits the petition either to the USCIS or to the responsible U.S. consulate. Since the application for a temporary work permit is made by the company for a future foreign employee, the U.S. employer is therefore the so-called petitioner, which means the official applicant. The future employee is the entitled person and thus the so-called beneficiary.

Many companies wonder what happens to the company-bound work visa when the visa holder no longer works for the US employer.

In the event that the employment contract is terminated, the US work visa automatically loses its validity. The derived visas of any family members who may have travelled with the employee also lose their validity upon termination of the work relations, as these are linked to the visa of the main visa applicant.

This means that the former visa holder is no longer allowed to enter the country with the work visa after termination of the employment relationship. Even if the work visa is theoretically still valid for a certain period of time, the visa may no longer be used to enter the United States. If the visa holder concerned wishes to travel to the US for tourism or business purposes in the future, he / she must reapply for an ESTA or a corresponding visa, depending on the type of activities carried out on site and the duration of such activities.

Tip: In order to avoid discrepancies or problems with later entries, it is advisable to inform the U.S. consulate about the new work situation. For this purpose, it is sufficient if the responsible company representative (e.g. HR manager, supervisor, board of directors) sends an e-mail to the responsible consulate with the request to invalidate the visa of the former employee. If possible, a copy of the visa should also be attached. The consulate will then put a note in the system so that the CBP officers at the US border are also informed.
In some cases, the visa holder will even be contacted directly by the U.S. consulate in order to send its passport with the work visa for the purpose of invalidation. In other cases, the visa will simply be invalidated by the CBP officer at the boder the next time he or she enters the United States.

Our recommendation: By sending a short message to the responsible U.S. consulate, companies can protect themselves and above all be sure that entry with the previously valid work visa is no longer possible. Do not take any risks and prevent possible abuse with company-bound visas.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

Yes. Because the H-1B visa can only be applied for with the involvement of the US company, a US job offer is mandatory. For the rest US work visas generally cannot be applied for without a specific job offer. In addition, the application may normally only be filed by the US employer ("Petitioner") and not by the foreign worker ("Beneficiary").

The foreign employee's future H-1B position in the U.S. must be "H-1B capable" - meaning it must correspond to a "Specialty Occupations" activity.

U.S. immigration law recognizes a position as a "specialty occupation" if it meets one of the following four criteria:

1. Access to the position typically requires a bachelor's degree or higher (or the equivalent).
2. Requiring a bachelor's degree or higher is common in similar jobs and companies, or the position is so complex or unique that a person with a degree alone can perform the work.
3. The employer typically requires an employee with a degree or the equivalent to fill the position.
4. The duties associated with the position offered in the U.S. are so complex and specialized that the knowledge required to perform the job is usually acquired through an academic degree (bachelor's degree or higher, or the equivalent).

Consequently, the minimum requirement for an "H-1B eligible" job offer in the U.S. is that the position usually requires a U.S. Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the relevant field of work. This applies to the following professions, for example: Architects, Engineers, Medical Professionals, Lawyers, etc. But as the above four criteria make clear, occupations that are not traditional "Specialty Occupation" occupations can also be "H-1B capable."

The H-1B category is limited in number and subject to a certain quota system ("H-1B Cap"), which applies for one U.S. fiscal year (FY) at a time. The U.S. fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the following year.

Petitions for extensions or modifications of H-1B visas already issued in prior years may generally be filed at any time and are not subject to numerical quotas.

Regular Cap

There are currently 65,000 H-1B visas available per U.S. tax year ("Regular Cap") with 6,800 H-1B visas already reserved for Singaporean and Chilean nationals due to free trade agreements. If more than 65,000 petitions are filed (which is the case almost every fiscal year) a lottery is held to select 65,000 from the total petitions filed.

Master's Cap

For individuals who have earned a U.S. Master's Degree from a U.S. university, 20,000 additional visas are available ("Master's Cap"). Comparable degrees earned abroad do not apply. If more than 20,000 Master's Degree H-1B Petition are filed, a lottery will be held to select 20,000 from the total petition submitted. The Master's Cap Petition that are not selected in the Master's Cap Lottery will then be treated as a "Regular Cap" Petition and thus may be selected in any Regular Cap Lottery.

Application only in April

H-1B initial applications may be filed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 1 for the earliest possible work start date of October 1. If the quota is exhausted or the H-1B initial application is not selected in the lottery, an H-1B initial application cannot be made again until the following tax year.

An increase to the 195,000 visas once awarded in the age of the IT industry boom has been discussed time and again (especially due to pressure from large corporations such as Microsoft and Google), but unfortunately has not yet been implemented.

If the quota for the current U.S. tax year is exhausted, it will be necessary to switch to other categories (such as. E-1/E-2, or L-Visa), naturally subject to verification of the respective access requirements.

Individuals who are already in the U.S. may be able to make what is known as a change of status to the H-1B category, provided, however, that the individual has been not entered the country without a visa, has a valid residence status, and has not violated U.S. immigration laws. In addition, persons with certain statuses may not apply for a change of status at all or may only do so as an exception. Therefore, it is especially important to seek professional advice before applying for a change of status.

ImportantOne must clearly distinguish between a change of status and obtaining a visa. A successful change of status only means that one has a valid domestic residence status. But a change of status is not a visa!If you leave the United States and re-enter without a valid visa, you will be denied entry.

Background: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) only approves the change of status to H-1B and does not issue a U.S. visa. Only the U.S. consulates abroad are responsible for issuing U.S. visas.If you want to leave and re-enter the country after a change of status, you need a valid H-1B visa. As a rule, you have to apply for this visa at the US consulate in your home country. However, it is also possible to apply for a US visa in Mexico or Canada at the US consulates there.

A US work visa is always tied to a specific US company. In turn this means that you must have a specific employer in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

The application process begins with the US company that wants to hire you. The US employer submits the petition either to the USCIS or to the responsible U.S. consulate. Since the application for a temporary work permit is made by the company for a future foreign employee, the U.S. employer is therefore the so-called petitioner, which means the official applicant. The future employee is the entitled person and thus the so-called beneficiary.

Many companies wonder what happens to the company-bound work visa when the visa holder no longer works for the US employer.

In the event that the employment contract is terminated, the US work visa automatically loses its validity. The derived visas of any family members who may have travelled with the employee also lose their validity upon termination of the work relations, as these are linked to the visa of the main visa applicant.

This means that the former visa holder is no longer allowed to enter the country with the work visa after termination of the employment relationship. Even if the work visa is theoretically still valid for a certain period of time, the visa may no longer be used to enter the United States. If the visa holder concerned wishes to travel to the US for tourism or business purposes in the future, he / she must reapply for an ESTA or a corresponding visa, depending on the type of activities carried out on site and the duration of such activities.

Tip: In order to avoid discrepancies or problems with later entries, it is advisable to inform the U.S. consulate about the new work situation. For this purpose, it is sufficient if the responsible company representative (e.g. HR manager, supervisor, board of directors) sends an e-mail to the responsible consulate with the request to invalidate the visa of the former employee. If possible, a copy of the visa should also be attached. The consulate will then put a note in the system so that the CBP officers at the US border are also informed.
In some cases, the visa holder will even be contacted directly by the U.S. consulate in order to send its passport with the work visa for the purpose of invalidation. In other cases, the visa will simply be invalidated by the CBP officer at the boder the next time he or she enters the United States.

Our recommendation: By sending a short message to the responsible U.S. consulate, companies can protect themselves and above all be sure that entry with the previously valid work visa is no longer possible. Do not take any risks and prevent possible abuse with company-bound visas.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

Not only the applicants themselves, but also the foreign employer must meet certain requirements to qualify for the C-1/D category. For example, crewmember visas are issued only to employees of commercial, international shipping companies and airlines. Employees on private yachts or jets that are not part of a shipping company or airline registered with US authorities require a B-1 Visa.
The use of visa-free entry (Visa Waiver Program) is not possible in this case.

Strictly speaking, the C-1/D category does not constitute a US work visa. In fact, it only allows you to work for a shipping company or airline located outside the United States - and thus to work on its behalf on US territory.
C-1/D visa holders are therefore not permitted to work for a US employer. If this is planned, a work visa (H, L or E visa) must be applied for in advance.

US law does not provide for an extension of status and/or change of status for C-1/D visa holders within the United States. Crew members staying in the US therefore cannot, for example, apply to U.S. Immigration for a work visa or even a green card, or extend your stay locally.

A US work visa is always tied to a specific US company. In turn this means that you must have a specific employer in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

The application process begins with the US company that wants to hire you. The US employer submits the petition either to the USCIS or to the responsible U.S. consulate. Since the application for a temporary work permit is made by the company for a future foreign employee, the U.S. employer is therefore the so-called petitioner, which means the official applicant. The future employee is the entitled person and thus the so-called beneficiary.

Many companies wonder what happens to the company-bound work visa when the visa holder no longer works for the US employer.

In the event that the employment contract is terminated, the US work visa automatically loses its validity. The derived visas of any family members who may have travelled with the employee also lose their validity upon termination of the work relations, as these are linked to the visa of the main visa applicant.

This means that the former visa holder is no longer allowed to enter the country with the work visa after termination of the employment relationship. Even if the work visa is theoretically still valid for a certain period of time, the visa may no longer be used to enter the United States. If the visa holder concerned wishes to travel to the US for tourism or business purposes in the future, he / she must reapply for an ESTA or a corresponding visa, depending on the type of activities carried out on site and the duration of such activities.

Tip: In order to avoid discrepancies or problems with later entries, it is advisable to inform the U.S. consulate about the new work situation. For this purpose, it is sufficient if the responsible company representative (e.g. HR manager, supervisor, board of directors) sends an e-mail to the responsible consulate with the request to invalidate the visa of the former employee. If possible, a copy of the visa should also be attached. The consulate will then put a note in the system so that the CBP officers at the US border are also informed.
In some cases, the visa holder will even be contacted directly by the U.S. consulate in order to send its passport with the work visa for the purpose of invalidation. In other cases, the visa will simply be invalidated by the CBP officer at the boder the next time he or she enters the United States.

Our recommendation: By sending a short message to the responsible U.S. consulate, companies can protect themselves and above all be sure that entry with the previously valid work visa is no longer possible. Do not take any risks and prevent possible abuse with company-bound visas.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

As a rule, work visas for the United States cannot be applied for without a concrete US job offer. The official petitioner ("Petitioner") is the US company of the group of companies for the future employee ("Beneficiary"). An independent petition by the foreign employee is not possible. The L-1 visa application process involves at least two entities of the corporate group - the foreign employer, as well as the US location.

The legislation distinguishes between L-1A visa petitions for managers/executives and L-1B visa petitions for specialists.

The category is based on the employee's future job at the US location (not current job).

The boundaries between the individual categories may well be fluid. It must be decided on a case-by-case basis under which category the L-1 transfer should take place. L-1B applications are generally subject to a stricter review.

The maximum stay under L-1A status is up to 7 years, L-1B visa holders can stay in the US up to a maximum of 5 years.

The category also allows the transfer of personnel to a "newly opened" US location (not yet operating in the US market for 1 year). In this case, the US authorities require additional information beyond the usual L requirements. For example, proof of the purchase or lease of office space, the special skills of the applicant in the start-up process, the economic situation of the parent company, and suitable business plans for the US venture. In particular, future U.S. personnel policies are of interest to U.S. officials.

L-1 "New Office" applications are approved for a maximum of 1 year in the initial application, but may then be extended up to a maximum of five (L-1B) or seven (L-1A) years.

For internationally active companies with a high rate of assignments to the USA, the complex L-Visa application process represents a not inconsiderable time and cost factor.

However, US regulations provide for the possibility of a significant simplification of the entire process for large corporations - the so-called L-Blanket Petition.

If a regular L-Visa application must always be submitted in advance via the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (USCIS), this step is omitted in the L-Blanket process. This means that the L-Blanket application can be submitted by the employee directly at an interview appointment at the domestic US consulate.

This has two decisive advantages:

On the one hand, the high application fees of the USCIS, as well as translation costs and the time-consuming compilation of company documents are eliminated. On the other hand, the simplification procedure allows employees to be deployed at shorter notice.

However, the L-Blanket is only available to companies that can meet the following requirements:

• The group of companies must have at least three international locations (at least one of which must be in the USA). It does not matter where the headquarters are located.
• The company must be engaged in commercial trade or otherwise provide commercial services.
• The U.S. company must have been in existence or doing business for at least one year.

In addition, the U.S. company must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• US workforce of at least 1,000 employees
• Approval of more than 10 (regular) L-Visa applications within the last 12 months
• Annual sales of at least $25 million (of all U.S. locations)

To the extent that the Group can meet these items, an approval process for use on L-Blanket will occur with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Based on an L-Blanket registration of the group of companies (issued by the USCIS), all locations worldwide listed in the Blanket can use the simplified application process for employees.

The fees for applying for a visa vary considerably depending on the category and may regularly increase or decrease, also as a result of exchange rate fluctuations. Therefore, every applicant should inform himself about the current fees before applying.

The application for a U.S. visa must be made through the official U.S. authorities, e.g. the U.S. consulates and U.S. embassies. The actual visa application is placed online, but almost every applicant must go to the consulate in person for a visa interview. With some work visas, it is sometimes necessary to send extensive files by mail to the U.S. authorities in the USA prior to the consular application procedure.
We advise and support companies and private individuals in all matters relating to visa applications. Read more about the requirements, duration and costs of a visa application. 

Some universities or colleges in the U.S. require their students to present their Social Security Number. However, normally the number is not issued to persons who are temporarily in the United States on an F-1, J-1 or M-1 visa. In this case, the universities should be able to assign a different identification number to the foreign students concerned.

If you want to take up employment that is permitted under the respective student visa, you can apply for a Social Security Number.

F-1 visas only allow you to attend an academic / scientific educational institution in the United States. It is not allowed to get a job in the U.S. as an international student.

Yes, it is possible to extend a F-1 visa under certain conditions.
If there is a delay in the duration of study, for example due to illness or if the main subject has been changed, the international student can apply for an extension at the respective educational institution.

SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. This is an online database of the U.S. government which enables the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to access data of all exchange students who are in the United States. The educational institution's SEVIS registration is required in order to issue the I-20 form which is mandatory for the visa application. To pay the SEVIS fee, a SEVIS number is required, which can be found on the I-20 document.

The I-20 form is issued by the respective educational institution provided that the U.S. educational institution is SEVIS registered. You can find out whether this is the case by using the school search tool of the U.S. authorities.
Please note: The I-20 is not an application form that you can download from the Internet.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

We work together with the visa sponsors InterExchange and TravelWorks and act as an interface between the main applicant (graduate), the employer in the home country, the host company in the United States, the U.S. authorities and the respective exchange organisation. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Further visa sponsors can be researched on the official website of the U.S. authorities.

Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 will be issued a derived J-2 visa for the same period as the principal applicant and may travel to the United States on that visa.

The F-1 visa allows for attendance at a ("SEVIS-registered") academic/scientific educational institution in the U.S. (e.g. university, college, etc.). Language school stays also fall under this visa category.
A non-academic short-term language course often does not require an F-1 visa and can be taken under the Visa Waiver Program if the requirements are met. However, you should always clarify this with the respective language school in advance.

The validity period of an F-1 visa depends on the nationality of the applicant. Depending on the nationality, is determined on the basis of the so-called Reciprocity Schedule decided how long the visa will be valid. For example, German citizens receive a five-year F-1 visa. But the visa is to be distinguished from the residence status.
The residency status is valid for the entire duration of the study program and is noted on the I-20 form. If there is a delay in the duration of study, for example, because the major has been changed or an illness occurs, the student may request an extension from the respective educational institution. The F-1 visa holder is also permitted to enter the United States as early as 30 days prior to the start of studies and to remain in the United States for up to a maximum of 60 days after graduation.
Under certain circumstances, F-1 visa holders may be allowed to complete an internship subsequent to their U.S. studies.

It is crucial that the educational institution has a SEVIS registration. SEVIS stands for "Student and Exchange Visitor Information System" and is a U.S. government web-based database that allows the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to view the data of all exchange students who are in the United States. SEVIS includes information on the student's location, educational institution, and legal status, among other information. Only if the educational institution is SEVIS-registered, it can issue the so-called I-20 form, which is mandatory for applying for the F-1 visa at the U.S. consulate.
Not all schools are authorized to issue this form. Please find out in advance whether the educational institution you are targeting also has a SEVIS registration. You can read about this a thttp://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/school-search.

There are three options of student employment with the F-1 visa:

1. On campus (On-Campus Employment)
   During the lecture period, there is the possibility to accept a part-time position on campus of up to 20 hours per week. During semester breaks, students may also work on a full-time basis. On-campus employment includes, for example, jobs in the bookstore or cafeteria if they are located on the premises of the educational institution, or off-campus facilities if they are affiliated with the university.
2. Off-Campus Employment (Off-Campus Employment).
   Holders of the F-1 visa may work off campus if an unexpected financial emergency situation has arisen over which the student had no control. The requirement is that the student has already completed one full academic year, has good academic records, and demonstrates that the work will not interfere with the student's studies. If approved, 20 hours per week are allowed during the semester as well as full-time work during semester breaks.
3. Internship
   A distinction must be made between Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). The CPT can be completed during the semester. There is no restriction on the maximum hours of work allowed per week. However, it is important to note that pursuing CPT on a full-time basis for a year or more will result in the student no longer qualifying for OPT. OPT may be pursued after graduation for a period not to exceed 12 months. Students with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) may be eligible for longer OPT (17 months, or 24 months from May 102016) graduate. To qualify for OPT, the student must apply for work authorization directly to U.S. Immigration using Form I-765. For both OPT and CPT, the student must first obtain permission from the educational institution and a clear connection to the student's major must be demonstrated.

Accompanying spouses and unmarried children up to age 21 will be granted derivative status upon application, and thus an F-2 visa. Children who turn 21 or marry while in the U.S. must change their nonimmigrant status or leave the country.

Work not allowed
However, with this visa, the spouses and children are allowed to not permitted to work, i.e. the acquisition of a General Work Permit (Employment Authorization Document, EAD) in the USA is excluded (unlike other categories such as L-1 or E-1/E-2).

Study only possible to a limited extent
Children may attend an "elementary" or "secondary" school (kindergarten to high school). If a higher educational institution (e.g. university) is to be attended, a separate F-1 visa must be applied for.

Spouses may only:

• Study occasionally and for fun, or
• Attend an SEVP-approved educational institution as a part-time student.

If the spouse wishes to study full-time, he or she must apply for an F-1 visa.

A US work visa is always tied to a specific US company. In turn this means that you must have a specific employer in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

The application process begins with the US company that wants to hire you. The US employer submits the petition either to the USCIS or to the responsible U.S. consulate. Since the application for a temporary work permit is made by the company for a future foreign employee, the U.S. employer is therefore the so-called petitioner, which means the official applicant. The future employee is the entitled person and thus the so-called beneficiary.

Many companies wonder what happens to the company-bound work visa when the visa holder no longer works for the US employer.

In the event that the employment contract is terminated, the US work visa automatically loses its validity. The derived visas of any family members who may have travelled with the employee also lose their validity upon termination of the work relations, as these are linked to the visa of the main visa applicant.

This means that the former visa holder is no longer allowed to enter the country with the work visa after termination of the employment relationship. Even if the work visa is theoretically still valid for a certain period of time, the visa may no longer be used to enter the United States. If the visa holder concerned wishes to travel to the US for tourism or business purposes in the future, he / she must reapply for an ESTA or a corresponding visa, depending on the type of activities carried out on site and the duration of such activities.

Tip: In order to avoid discrepancies or problems with later entries, it is advisable to inform the U.S. consulate about the new work situation. For this purpose, it is sufficient if the responsible company representative (e.g. HR manager, supervisor, board of directors) sends an e-mail to the responsible consulate with the request to invalidate the visa of the former employee. If possible, a copy of the visa should also be attached. The consulate will then put a note in the system so that the CBP officers at the US border are also informed.
In some cases, the visa holder will even be contacted directly by the U.S. consulate in order to send its passport with the work visa for the purpose of invalidation. In other cases, the visa will simply be invalidated by the CBP officer at the boder the next time he or she enters the United States.

Our recommendation: By sending a short message to the responsible U.S. consulate, companies can protect themselves and above all be sure that entry with the previously valid work visa is no longer possible. Do not take any risks and prevent possible abuse with company-bound visas.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

Individuals working on the production and dissemination of films/reports/articles, etc., only meet the entry requirements for an I visa if the activity serves to disseminate information or news and the main source of funding and the main subsequent "place of dissemination" are outside the U.S.. The published material must therefore be of a documentary nature!

Exclusively commercial projects or, for example, advertising photos do not qualify for an I visa. In these cases, a work visa (e.g.OorH visa) needed.

IMPORTANT: Journalists or media representatives do not need an I visa for every U.S. trip just because of their status as journalists. For example, if an editor is traveling to the U.S. solely for a brief meeting, an I visa does not automatically need to be applied for (depending on citizenship). This only becomes necessary if the journalistic activity in the U.S. takes place, for example, in the context of specific reporting on behalf of a foreign media company. It is not the mere job title as a journalist, but the specific purpose of stay that determines whether media representatives require a visa and, if so, which one.

As a rule, work visas for the United States cannot be applied for without a concrete US job offer. The official petitioner ("Petitioner") is the US company of the group of companies for the future employee ("Beneficiary"). An independent petition by the foreign employee is not possible. The L-1 visa application process involves at least two entities of the corporate group - the foreign employer, as well as the US location.

A US work visa is always tied to a specific US company. In turn this means that you must have a specific employer in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

The application process begins with the US company that wants to hire you. The US employer submits the petition either to the USCIS or to the responsible U.S. consulate. Since the application for a temporary work permit is made by the company for a future foreign employee, the U.S. employer is therefore the so-called petitioner, which means the official applicant. The future employee is the entitled person and thus the so-called beneficiary.

Many companies wonder what happens to the company-bound work visa when the visa holder no longer works for the US employer.

In the event that the employment contract is terminated, the US work visa automatically loses its validity. The derived visas of any family members who may have travelled with the employee also lose their validity upon termination of the work relations, as these are linked to the visa of the main visa applicant.

This means that the former visa holder is no longer allowed to enter the country with the work visa after termination of the employment relationship. Even if the work visa is theoretically still valid for a certain period of time, the visa may no longer be used to enter the United States. If the visa holder concerned wishes to travel to the US for tourism or business purposes in the future, he / she must reapply for an ESTA or a corresponding visa, depending on the type of activities carried out on site and the duration of such activities.

Tip: In order to avoid discrepancies or problems with later entries, it is advisable to inform the U.S. consulate about the new work situation. For this purpose, it is sufficient if the responsible company representative (e.g. HR manager, supervisor, board of directors) sends an e-mail to the responsible consulate with the request to invalidate the visa of the former employee. If possible, a copy of the visa should also be attached. The consulate will then put a note in the system so that the CBP officers at the US border are also informed.
In some cases, the visa holder will even be contacted directly by the U.S. consulate in order to send its passport with the work visa for the purpose of invalidation. In other cases, the visa will simply be invalidated by the CBP officer at the boder the next time he or she enters the United States.

Our recommendation: By sending a short message to the responsible U.S. consulate, companies can protect themselves and above all be sure that entry with the previously valid work visa is no longer possible. Do not take any risks and prevent possible abuse with company-bound visas.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

The US authorities distinguish between O-1A and O-1B visas.

Individuals who possess exceptional ability in the fields of science, education, business, or sports qualify for O-1A visas.

Individuals who possess exceptional ability in the field of the arts or who have made exceptional contributions to the film and television industry qualify for O-1B visas.

O-1A visas can be obtained by individuals who have exceptional ability in the fields of science, education, business, or sports. This leading position is evidenced, for example, by international awards (Nobel Prize, Olympic victory, etc.).

Since such special awards are of course rarely given, proof can also be provided by means of a criteria catalog.

For the O-1A visa (science, education, business, sports), at least three of the following criteria must be met:

• Receipt of a recognized (national/international) award for special achievements in the field of work
• Membership in national associations with appropriate reputations that promote excellence
• Publications about the person in question in (trade) journals and customary publications
• Contributions of extraordinary importance for the respective field of work
• Authorship of important articles in trade journals or trade publications
• An above-average salary or other compensation based on these benefits
• Participation as a juror in the evaluation of the work of other professionals in the respective field of work.
• Contributions to the work of organizations that themselves enjoy an excellent reputation

If one or more of the above criteria do not apply directly to the applicant, he/she may submit other comparable documentation to demonstrate exceptional ability and skill in the particular field of work.

Work visas for the United States must normally be linked to a specific job offer. In addition, the application is usually filed by the U.S. employer ("petitioner") and not by the foreign worker ("beneficiary").

However, there is a special feature when applying for an O-Visa:

Not only U.S. companies can act as applicants, but also U.S. agents. This has the advantage for the foreign employee to be able to work for different clients via the US agency (e.g. artists). If the application is made through a U.S. company, the O visa holder is bound to that company.

O-1B visas may be obtained by individuals who have exceptional ability in the field of the arts or in the film and television industry. This leading position is evidenced, for example, by international awards or nominations (Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, etc.).

Since such special awards are of course rarely given, proof can also be provided by means of a criteria catalog.

For the O-1B visa, at least three of the following criteria must be met:

• Past or future engagements as lead actor(s) or in supporting roles in outstanding productions or other significant artistic "highlights".
• National or international recognition for achievements in the respective field of work
• Engagements in a principal or supporting role that received positive reviews from major community organizations or institutions
• Evidence of significant commercial "box office hits" or critically acclaimed successes in the respective field of work.
• Recognition of achievements in the corresponding field of work by recognized experts
• Previous or current above-average income or other forms of remuneration

If one or more of the above criteria do not apply directly to the applicant, he/she may submit other comparable documentation to demonstrate exceptional ability and skill in the particular field of work.

Artists or athletes who are of outstanding ability or have achieved outstanding performance may be allowed, if applicable.in their engagements/activities in the USAbe accompanied or supported by essential employees.However, the O-2 visa is reserved exclusively for assistants of artists, sports athletes, and film and television professionals!

An Advisory Opinion (also called a "No-Objection Letter") is usually required to obtain the O visa. This advisory opinion is usually issued by the appropriate U.S. professional association or U.S. union/professional organization. The advisory opinion certifies the individual's exceptional ability or accomplishments, or confirms that there are no objections to employment.

Two Advisory Opinions are required for individuals of exceptional merit who will work in the U.S. film or television industry:

• A union agreement signed by a competent union and
• A management report issued by a competentOrganization".

When is an advisory opinion not required?

• If no suitable U.S. professional association or union is available, an opinion from appropriate experts ("recognized authorities") may also be submitted.
• If a person with "extraordinary ability in the field of arts" wishes to extend his or her residency status to pursue the original project or activity, he or she may also resubmit the original Advisory Opinion as long as it is less than two years old.

Accompanying spouses and unmarried children up to the age of 21 are granted derivative status upon application, and thus an O-3 visa. However, with this visa, spouses are not permitted tonotallowed to work,i.e. the acquisition of a General Work Permit (Employment Authorization Document, EAD) in the USAis excluded(in contrast to other categories such asL-1orE-1/E-2).

However, children and spouses of O-1 holders are allowed to study full or part-time and attend all educational institutions (schools/universities).

Some universities or colleges in the U.S. require their students to present their Social Security Number. However, normally the number is not issued to persons who are temporarily in the United States on an F-1, J-1 or M-1 visa. In this case, the universities should be able to assign a different identification number to the foreign students concerned.

If you want to take up employment that is permitted under the respective student visa, you can apply for a Social Security Number.

No. M-1 visas only entitle the holder to attend a non-academic educational institution. Study programs such as in-service training or evening classes are considered non-academic programs.

Yes an extension or new application for the M-1 visa is possible. If the training takes longer than expected, an extension of up to 12 months can be applied for at the respective educational institution.

The U.S. period of stay is based on the duration of further education or training noted in the I-20, but generally may not exceed one year.However, M-1 visa holders are allowed to enter the U.S. as early as 30 days prior to the start of the program.

Subsequent practical training

Some M-1 programs include a practical training program. The time spent in the practical training program does not count toward the one-year residency requirement. One month of practical training per completedfour-monthContinuation or training unit is allowed, up to a maximum of six months.

Extensions of further education or training possible if necessary

The holder of an M-1 visa may extend the duration of his/her further education or training up to a total period of three years. However, extensions are only possible if:

• The M-1 holder is in lawful U.S. resident status,
• Compelling medical or scholastic reasons (other than warnings or suspensions for poor academic performance) require suspension from the program; and
• The M-1 holder can and does maintain lawful U.S. residency status.

Aside from the Form I-20, M-1 visa applicants must also provide evidence of the following:

• A permanent residence outside the U.S.
• Binding obligations that cause one to leave the U.S. again upon completion of the program.
• Fulfillment of the program's language requirements (generally, a very good command of English is required).
• Sufficient financial resources to cover all costs of the stay, including school fees.
• The payment of the so-called SEVIS fee (proof of which must be brought to the appointment at the consulate).

M-1 visa holders are not allowed to engage in any professional activities. The exception to this rule is temporary work as part of an internship. Accompanying family members who receive an M-2 visa are also not allowed to work. However, M-2 spouses and children may be allowed to study (see "What visa do accompanying family members receive on the M-1 visa?")

Accompanying spouses and unmarried children up to age 21 will be granted derivative status upon application, and thus an M-2 visa. Children who turn 21 or marry while in the U.S. must change their nonimmigrant status or leave the country.

Work not allowed

However, with this visa, the spouses and children are allowed tonotpermitted to work, i.e. the acquisition of a General Work Permit (Employment Authorization Document, EAD) in the USA is excluded (unlike other categories such asL-1orE-1/E-2).

Study only possible to a limited extent

Children may attend an "elementary" or "secondary" school(Kindergarten to High School). If a higher educational institution (e.g. university) is to be attended, a separate F-1 visa must be applied for.

Spouses may only:

• Study occasionally and for fun, or
• Attend an SEVP-approved postsecondary educational institution as a part-time student.

If the spouse wishes to study full-time, he or she must apply for an F-1 visa.

The M-1 visa permits attendance at a vocational or non-academic educational institution in the U.S. (e.g., a flight school). An M-1 visa does not permit attendance at a language school. And the educational institution must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) must be registered.

Yes, the I-20 form is also mandatory to apply for the M visa. The I-20 form must be issued by the respective educational institution in the U.S. It should be noted that not all schools are authorized to issue the I-20 form. Therefore, it must be clarified in advance whether the targeted educational institution has this authorization. You can read about this at: http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/school-search

Theoretically, a visa only entitles you to board a plane to the USA and formally ask for entry into the country. The duration of your stay is determined by the U.S. border official at the border (= residence status). There is no legal entitlement to entry, nor to a maximum period of stay, e.g. up to 180 days per entry for a B visa. The U.S. official has every possibility to limit your stay (especially if you have already entered the country frequently).

You need a work visa whenever you want to work in the United States on a temporary basis. As described, there are different work visas for the USA. These so-called U.S. nonimmigrant visas differ, for example, in the type of work the applicant does, the length of stay and the type of visa application process. Please note that most U.S. work visas are complex and time-consuming procedures. Of course, we will be happy to advise you on the selection of the appropriate visa category and take care of the complete application process for you or your employees. Contact us today.

First of all, the application for a Social Security Number is initially reserved exclusively for certain visa holders. The E-2 category as a work visa allows the application for a Social Security Number or Social Security Card, but with the E-2 visa this is only possible after entry to the United States in an office of the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

However, it is true that the Social Security Administration has an office at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt / Main. But the services of the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) are mainly reserved for American citizens. This unit is not responsible for processing Social Security Number applications from nonimmigrant visa holders. As mentioned, this can only be arranged in the United States. However, the application for a Social Security Card in the United States is very easy and quick to realize.

The fees for applying for a visa vary considerably depending on the category and may regularly increase or decrease, also as a result of exchange rate fluctuations. Therefore, every applicant should inform himself about the current fees before applying.

The application for a U.S. visa must be made through the official U.S. authorities, e.g. the U.S. consulates and U.S. embassies. The actual visa application is placed online, but almost every applicant must go to the consulate in person for a visa interview. With some work visas, it is sometimes necessary to send extensive files by mail to the U.S. authorities in the USA prior to the consular application procedure.
We advise and support companies and private individuals in all matters relating to visa applications. Read more about the requirements, duration and costs of a visa application. 

If you or your employee have created an online profile during the visa application process, but unfortunately clicked on the wrong visa category by mistake and paid the wrong fee, you do not need to create a new visa profile.
Please log in via your online profile and click on "NEW REQUEST / ARRANGE APPOINTMENT" in the left navigation field. Afterwards you can easily select a new visa category.

If this is not possible, please click on "CONTACT" and contact the visa service provider, who can easily help you out to proceed the change of the visa category. The change will usually be made within one day.

As far as the fee is concerned: As consular visa application fees vary depending on the category, please note the following: If you have paid too high a fee, you will usually not have to pay the fee again. However, you or the staff member should always contact the visa service provider via the feedback form in the online profile. Please explain the error or misunderstanding briefly and attach a file with proof of payment (e.g. bank statement). They will usually get back to you within a day and activate the appointment calendar for making appointments in the visa profile.
Please note that the overpayment cannot be refunded.

As soon as the interview date has been arranged, we recommend that you check all the details on the appointment confirmation.

A US work visa is always tied to a specific US company. In turn this means that you must have a specific employer in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

The application process begins with the US company that wants to hire you. The US employer submits the petition either to the USCIS or to the responsible U.S. consulate. Since the application for a temporary work permit is made by the company for a future foreign employee, the U.S. employer is therefore the so-called petitioner, which means the official applicant. The future employee is the entitled person and thus the so-called beneficiary.

Depending on the visa type, the application is made through the U.S. consulates in the home country or additionally through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In Germany, for example, you can apply at the U.S. Consulate in Berlin, Frankfurt/Main or Munich.

IMPORTANT: Since 2001, all applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 have been required to appear in person without exception. This means that all visa applicants of this age must submit their application at a personal interview at the U.S. consulate. No documents are submitted in advance by mail (exception: age groups under 14 and over 79, here the application is submitted by mail). Another exception at present is the Visa Reissuance Program.

All applicants of a nonimmigrant visa must be in addition to the online application DS-160 create a visa profile on the website of the Visa Information Service for the purpose of making an appointment and paying the visa processing fee.

In the first step you make the payment of the visa fee (please note that the application fee is not refundable if your visa is rejected). The fee can be paid by online bank transfer, SOFORT transfer (electronic funds transfer), debit card or cash at a bank. Usually you will receive an email notification that the payment has been received and your account has been activated so that the appointment can be made.

The interview appointment must be made either online via the visa profile or by calling the U.S. consulate call center at +49 (0)322 2109 3243. If you make the appointment online via your Visa Profile, you will have the opportunity to view the available appointments at the U.S. consulates in Berlin, Frankfurt/Main and Munich in a calendar. You will then receive an "Appointment Confirmation", i.e. an appointment confirmation including proof of payment of the visa application fee. Appointment postponements or cancellations are possible. However, if you postpone your appointment more than twice, you will have to go through the whole process from the beginning and pay the visa fee again. On our website you can find the current visa fees.

Depending on the type of visa, a certain application fee is charged per applicant, which is not refundable even if the visa is rejected.

Please make every effort to schedule an appointment in a timely manner. U.S. officials cannot and will not make allowances for individual travel plans.

Basically, in addition to the common DS-160 application form, applicants must have and the "Appointment Confirmation" you have to submit further documents. What these are also depends on the visa applied for.

Please note that your passport will be retained at the U.S. Consulate on the day of the interview and will be delivered by registered mail to a German address after a processing time of approximately one to two weeks. A personal pickup of the visa or an issuance on the same day are not possible!

The cost of visa processing through the US Visa Service is as follows:

1. consulting and handling fee

Depending on the visa category, i.e. depending on the processing effort, we charge a fixed consultation and processing fee. On request, we offer consultation and processing on an hourly basis. For particularly urgent visa cases, we can provide express processing upon request for an additional fee.
Please note that our consultation and settlement fee does not include U.S. government agency fees, translation costs, or other applicable costs.

2. consular visa processing fee

To apply for a US-visa, the U.S. consulate charges a visa processing fee. This fee must be paid by each applicant without exception. The amount of the visa fee depends on the respective visa category. On our website we present the current visa fees available.

Our US Visa Service includes the intensive support and processing of your US visa application. As a specialized service provider for the USA we offer in addition to a Intensive initial consultation on possible visa options the complete visa processing and also prepare you in detail for your interview at the American consulate and for the border situation upon entry.
Each applicant receives individualized information material for compiling the required application documentation. We provide all information materials in German or, upon request, in English. Our customers have the option to conveniently fill out the PDF forms we create and save them temporarily at any time.
In addition to the creation of the online application form DS-160we will of course assist you in compiling the necessary documents for your visa application. In this context you will receive from usDetailed guidance and assistance in compiling complete application documentation.This includes, but is not limited to, a biometric passport photo, proof of deposit of the consular visa processing fee, individual documents and, if necessary, other application forms depending on the relevant visa category.
Each customer has a personal contact person to advise and support them throughout the application process.

Our services

Applying for a visa takes time that you are missing elsewhere. Take advantage of our competent service in obtaining a visa: We get a clear picture of your individual situation and use it to develop strategies for the optimal and secure processing of your US visa application. In a trustful cooperation we accompany you during the entire application process andcoordinate the entire visa application process. Since our competent visa consultants process visa applications on a daily basis, we are very familiar with the current processes and visa and entry regulations for the USA and are always up to date. Thus, we can guarantee you a fast and especially secure processing.

The application duration for a U.S. visa varies greatly and always depends on the respective visa category, since different documents and individual application documents have to be compiled. Furthermore, depending on the visa, the application is submitted through the U.S. consulates in the home country or additionally through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which also influences the duration of the application process.
The application period of, for example, a B visas is usually two to four weeks, whereas the application for a L-Visa can take up to two to three months. In any case, we guarantee a prompt processing of your US visa application and ensure a timely visa processing.
Upon request, we also offer express processing of your application for an additional fee. Just contact us!

Contact

Our goal is to make the visa application process for the USA as simple and secure as possible for you. Taking into account the current entry requirements and visa regulations, we support you in the individual and timely processing of the visa process and take over the following application steps, among others:

• Preparation of the application forms
• Advice on compiling the required corporate documentation
• Review and correction of documents
• Compilation of the visa file (including letters of support for the application)
• Submission of the application to the US authorities (including handling of all correspondence)
• Coordination of visa interview appointments
• Disbursement of the visa application fee
• Preparation for visa interview appointments and border controls

Our US Visa Service mainly processes so-called US nonimmigrant visas off. This includes for example Visitor visa and work visas. If you are interested in an internship or Study in the United States, we can also reliably help you.
To emigrate to the USA, you need a US Immigrant Visa. If you have questions about U.S. immigrant visas, we can provide you with comprehensive advice. If a work-based or family-based immigration opportunity is identified, we are also happy to assist you with the entire immigration process. And our sister company The American Dream - US GreenCard Service GmbH offers comprehensive services related to the Green Card lottery.

Our private clients are usually people who want to travel to the USA for different reasons, e.g. as tourists during a vacation trip or as students to complete a semester abroad in the USA.
Our corporate clients, on the other hand, are small and medium-sized companies as well as large corporations that, for example, want to start a business in the U.S. or send their employees to the U.S. and for whom we assist in obtaining a suitable residence permit for the United States.

We have therefore tailored our services entirely to the different needs.

SERVICE FOR PRIVATE CUSTOMERS

SERVICE FOR CORPORATE CUSTOMERS

The American Dream - US Visa Service GmbH has many years of experience in US visa consulting and processing of US visa applications. Our visa agency mainly supports medium-sized German companies as well as corporations with production facilities in the U.S. in obtaining U.S. visas for their employees. Last year, our visa consultants advised and assisted more than 500 companies and successfully processed more than 1,800 visa applications.

A selection of our customers can be found in our Homepage take out.

No. The B-1 visa is a visitor visa, with which you are not allowed to work in the U.S. under any circumstances. For this you need a work visa or immigrant visa.

There is no simplified process for extending a B-1 visa. When the visa expires, it must be applied for in a completely new application process. The exact expiration date is noted on your visa.

Family members of B-1 visa holders who wish to travel to the United States require their own visa. If your family members are not participating in the planned business activities, they may be eligible for a B-2 tourist visa.

There are many reasons why a visa application can be refused. Sometimes even minor errors in the application can lead to a rejection. Avoid this risk and contact us before you apply for your U.S. visa.

When a B visa is issued, a combined B-1 / B-2 visa is usually issued, which means that you can also travel to the United States as a tourist. We have compiled further information on this topic on our overview page for U.S. visitor visas.

The fees for applying for a visa vary considerably depending on the category and may regularly increase or decrease, also as a result of exchange rate fluctuations. Therefore, every applicant should inform himself about the current fees before applying.

An application for a B-1 / B-2 visa always consists of two steps:

1. Filling out the online application (DS-160) and
2. the subsequent payment of the visa fee including making an appointment at the U.S. consulate.

The B visa application can be submitted online at any time using the DS-160 form. However, a visa application is only processed at the U.S. consulate after the personal visa interview. You can view the respective appointment availability of the individual consulates online after paying the visa fee. Due to the current situation, capacities are probably still very limited.

You can find more detailed information on visa application on the website of the visa service provider or on the websites of the U.S. consulates worldwide.

Tip: Check whether visa-free entry with ESTA is an alternative, as the application for ESTA approval is possible without restrictions.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 will be issued a derived J-2 visa for the same period as the principal applicant and may travel to the United States on that visa.

B status distinguishes between business travel (B-1) and tourist stay (B-2). Business travel is for the purpose of furthering trade or professional interests abroad, but excludes employment or payment in the United States. It is important to emphasize that the B-1 visa is not a work visa. Typical reasons for entry under B-1 status include meetings, conferences, trade show visits, after-sales service in the form of assembly work, installations, etc., or company formation, contract negotiations, customer support, etc.
In individual cases, it may be difficult for travelers to determine whether entry is still within the scope of the Visa Waiver Program can take place or whether a B-1 visa or even a work visa must already be applied for. Please note that such an assessment must be discussed individually based on entry frequency, nationality, age, company affiliation, purpose of entry, etc. Of course, we will be happy to advise you on which visa is appropriate and, if desired, take over the complete processing!

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Persons who wish to make a short trip to the USA for tourist or private purposes can apply for a B-2 visa. This applies primarily to the classic tourist vacation, visits to relatives or medical stays. Under B-2 status you are not allowed to work, do an internship or study. Each visa category allows only a certain catalog of activities.
Incidentally, when issuing the B visa, often no subdivision into B-1 and B-2 visa is made. Therefore, many visas contain the remark "B-1/B-2", which allows tourist and business entry at the same time.

Applications for a B-1 or B-2 visa are usually filed at a U.S. consulate in the country where you currently reside. In some cases, however, it may be necessary to apply in the country where one has the "strongest ties", be it the country of birth or other.
If your center of residence is in Germany, you can apply at the U.S. Consulate in Berlin, Frankfurt/Main, or Munich, regardless of the state in which you live. In Austria, the Consulate General in Vienna is responsible for B-1/B-2 applications, in Switzerland the US Consulate in Bern. You can find more information about the application process here.

The review of the application by the U.S. consulate
Please prepare your application carefully, as applications are quite strictly reviewed. As a matter of principle, at the interview appointment applicants mustDS-160The applicant must carry the confirmation page and the "Appointment Confirmation" with him/her and provide evidence of his/her firm professional and private ties to the home country as well as his/her intention to return to the home country. In addition, evidence of the specific purpose of the stay (e.g. tourist travel plans, business trip, etc.) should be enclosed.
If the consular officer has reason to believe that, for example, you have an immigration intention or you would like to take up (illegal) work in the USA, your application will certainly not be granted. Especially in the case of foreign citizens who have not lived in German-speaking countries for a long time or very young applicants, an application is examined very critically. Incidentally, a rejection does not have to be justified in detail. Once this has happened, a new visa can usually only be successfully applied for after several months or even years. In addition, a rejection of an application for a non-immigrant visa can Visa-free entry to the USA (ESTA)complicate or make it impossible.

After the visa interview
Please note that your passport will be retained at the U.S. Consulate on the day of the interview and will be delivered by registered mail to a German address after a processing time of approximately one to two weeks. A personal pickup of the visa or an issuance on the same day are not possible!

Extensions of residency status are required upon entry with a B-1 or B-2 visa by another maximum 180 days possible (i.e. to a maximum of 365 days). The application is filed locally in the U.S. at the responsible service center of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (USCIS). The application must be submitted in good time before the expiry of the current B status, recommended by the US authorities at the latest 45 days before the expiry of the status.
In addition to Form I-539 and a processing fee, you must include a letter of justification with the application and other supporting documents related to your extension. Unfortunately, extension requests under B-1/B-2 status are very often denied and only granted in urgent cases (e.g., for medical reasons).
Some travelers to the USA try to extend their stay by leaving and re-entering the country. If the maximum period of stay of 180 days has already been exhausted, the exit and re-entry can become a problematic undertaking. This is because the U.S. border officials also decide whether and for how long a re-entry is approved. Under certain circumstances, this can result in the B visa holder being denied re-entry. Consequently, the frequency and duration of entry should not be overstressed.
We will be happy to advise you on any questions you may have and, of course, take care of the entire application process for you or your company. Let us know how we can help you.

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Currently, the registration fee is 100 U.S. dollars per person. In Germany, the preliminary examination at the Federal Police is free of charge. Please check specific requirements in your home country.

Participation in the Global Entry Program is primarily worthwhile for persons who wish to enter the United States several times in the next five years for professional or private reasons.

Those who only want to enter the U.S. once for a holiday or business trip do not need a Global Entry membership.

A Global Entry kiosk is a vending machine that can carry out entry checks automatically. They are often confused with the passport control machines, which can be used by anyone. The functions of the Global Entry kiosk are much more extensive and only accessible to participants of the Global Entry Program.

Thanks to biometric facial recognition, the latest Global Entry kiosk models operate without contact. This enables even faster and more secure processing and is also advantageous from a hygiene point of view. However, these new kiosks have yet to be introduced across the country.

Here is a list of all U.S. airports equipped with Global Entry kiosks.

The entitlement to participate in the Global Entry Program remains valid even if the passport expires and a new passport must be issued. However, the new passport must be officially registered for the Global Entry Program so that the new passport number and validity dates can be noted.

If the participant's master data changes, such as last name after marriage, the participant must appear in person at a Global Entry Enrollment Center and present the new passport there.

Only U.S. citizens, U.S. immigrants (green card holders) and Mexican citizens receive a Global Entry Card.

This card is not required for accelerated entry into the United States through Global Entry Kiosks.

No, the membership is not transferable. Only registered Global Entry members can take advantage of the fast entry to the United States.

Global Entry is usable with most US visas, even with ESTA. Except if you are a holder of one of the following visas, then you are excluded from Global Entry:

The Global Entry procedure serves exclusively to accelerate the entry procedure and does not replace an entry and residence permit.

Thus, participants of the Global Entry Program still need a valid U.S. visa or a valid ESTA authorization (if they are traveling visa-free) to enter the U.S. in any case.Global Entry registration is possible with the most common US visas (e.g. B-1 Business Visa or E-Work Visa).

Attention: The use of Global Entry is not possible with all visa categories.

Family members of B-1 visa holders who wish to travel to the United States require their own visa. If your family members are not participating in the planned business activities, they may be eligible for a B-2 tourist visa.

You need a work visa whenever you want to work in the United States on a temporary basis. As described, there are different work visas for the USA. These so-called U.S. nonimmigrant visas differ, for example, in the type of work the applicant does, the length of stay and the type of visa application process. Please note that most U.S. work visas are complex and time-consuming procedures. Of course, we will be happy to advise you on the selection of the appropriate visa category and take care of the complete application process for you or your employees. Contact us today.

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age are also granted a derived E-2 visa for the same period as the main applicant. Spouses may also apply for their own Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which is not tied to a specific job or the principal applicant's company. This is usually valid for two years, but can be extended for another two years.

Family members under E-2 status can also attend public or private educational institutions. As soon as the children reach the age of majority in the United States, they must either change their nonimmigrant status or leave the country.

Accompanying spouses and unmarried children up to the age of 21 years are granted a derived status on application and thus also an E-1 visa. Spouses with an E-1 visa may apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the USCIS after entering the United States, which is not tied to a specific job or the main applicant's company, and thus may work in the U.S. independently of their spouse.

This work permit is issued for two years, with the possibility of an extension for a further two years up to the maximum duration of stay of the E-1 visa holder.

Children of E-1 visa holders may attend educational institutions (schools / universities), but may not engage in paid employment. If the children reach the age of majority in force in the U.S., they must change their nonimmigrant status or leave the country.

The fees for applying for a visa vary considerably depending on the category and may regularly increase or decrease, also as a result of exchange rate fluctuations. Therefore, every applicant should inform himself about the current fees before applying.

The application for a U.S. visa must be made through the official U.S. authorities, e.g. the U.S. consulates and U.S. embassies. The actual visa application is placed online, but almost every applicant must go to the consulate in person for a visa interview. With some work visas, it is sometimes necessary to send extensive files by mail to the U.S. authorities in the USA prior to the consular application procedure.
We advise and support companies and private individuals in all matters relating to visa applications. Read more about the requirements, duration and costs of a visa application. 

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age shall be issued a derived O-3 visa upon application for the same period as the main applicant. However, if the children reach the age of majority valid in the U.S., they must change their nonimmigrant status or leave the country.

Spouses cannot obtain their own Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with the O-3 Visa. Therefore, taking up employment is generally not permitted, also not for children. Spouses and children can attend private and public educational institutions with the O-3 visa.

An Employment Authorization Document EAD is usually issued for at least one year. Of course, it can happen within this period that you find a new job and want to change your current employer in the United States.
If you are in possession of a valid EAD, this is not a problem at all, since the General Work Permit – unlike a U.S. work visa for the – is not tied to a specific U.S. company.
However, you must make sure to apply for a new EAD in time before your current General Work Permit expires.

A Labor Certification is the first step in applying for the Green Card. The application is made by the U.S. employer to the U.S. Department of Labor. This process determines whether or not there is a qualified U.S. employee in the U.S. labor market for the position to be filled. The goal of a Labor Certification is therefore to protect U.S. workers and the U.S. labor market by ensuring that foreign workers cannot replace equally qualified U.S. workers.

Unlike a Labor Certification, which only applies to a specific U.S. employer or job offer, the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is a general work permit that authorizes the foreign employee to work for any U.S. employer in the United States.

Another difference is that the U.S. employer applies for the Labor Certification at the beginning of the foreign employee's Green Card application. The EAD, on the other hand, is only applied for after the foreign employee or his or her spouse has been granted a residence permit for the U.S. (for instance, in the course of an adjustment of Status, i.e. form I-485).

Finally, Labor Certification and EAD are also distinguished because U.S. law prohibits the foreign employee from paying for the costs of a Labor Certification. On the contrary, the person applying for an EAD is allowed to bear some or all of the costs of the EAD.

Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 shall be issued a derived I visa for the same period as the main applicant. If the children reach the American age of majority, they must change their non-immigrant status or leave the country.

Family members are not allowed to work. Consequently, it is not possible to apply for a general work permit (Employment Authorization Document, EAD) under I status. However, I visa holders may attend a public or private educational institution.

Accompanying family members of I visa holders can travel to the USA visa-free for up to 90 days if their nationality permits visa-free entry.

Depending on the visa type, the application is made through the U.S. consulates in the home country or additionally through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In Germany, for example, you can apply at the U.S. Consulate in Berlin, Frankfurt/Main or Munich.

IMPORTANT: Since 2001, all applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 have been required to appear in person without exception. This means that all visa applicants of this age must submit their application at a personal interview at the U.S. consulate. No documents are submitted in advance by mail (exception: age groups under 14 and over 79, here the application is submitted by mail). Another exception at present is the Visa Reissuance Program.

All applicants of a nonimmigrant visa must be in addition to the online application DS-160 create a visa profile on the website of the Visa Information Service for the purpose of making an appointment and paying the visa processing fee.

In the first step you make the payment of the visa fee (please note that the application fee is not refundable if your visa is rejected). The fee can be paid by online bank transfer, SOFORT transfer (electronic funds transfer), debit card or cash at a bank. Usually you will receive an email notification that the payment has been received and your account has been activated so that the appointment can be made.

The interview appointment must be made either online via the visa profile or by calling the U.S. consulate call center at +49 (0)322 2109 3243. If you make the appointment online via your Visa Profile, you will have the opportunity to view the available appointments at the U.S. consulates in Berlin, Frankfurt/Main and Munich in a calendar. You will then receive an "Appointment Confirmation", i.e. an appointment confirmation including proof of payment of the visa application fee. Appointment postponements or cancellations are possible. However, if you postpone your appointment more than twice, you will have to go through the whole process from the beginning and pay the visa fee again. On our website you can find the current visa fees.

Depending on the type of visa, a certain application fee is charged per applicant, which is not refundable even if the visa is rejected.

Please make every effort to schedule an appointment in a timely manner. U.S. officials cannot and will not make allowances for individual travel plans.

Basically, in addition to the common DS-160 application form, applicants must have and the "Appointment Confirmation" you have to submit further documents. What these are also depends on the visa applied for.

Please note that your passport will be retained at the U.S. Consulate on the day of the interview and will be delivered by registered mail to a German address after a processing time of approximately one to two weeks. A personal pickup of the visa or an issuance on the same day are not possible!

Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 will be issued a derived J-2 visa for the same period as the principal applicant and may travel to the United States on that visa.

First of all, the application for a Social Security Number is initially reserved exclusively for certain visa holders. The E-2 category as a work visa allows the application for a Social Security Number or Social Security Card, but with the E-2 visa this is only possible after entry to the United States in an office of the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

However, it is true that the Social Security Administration has an office at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt / Main. But the services of the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) are mainly reserved for American citizens. This unit is not responsible for processing Social Security Number applications from nonimmigrant visa holders. As mentioned, this can only be arranged in the United States. However, the application for a Social Security Card in the United States is very easy and quick to realize.

The initial issuance of a Social Security Card, as well as the re-issuance after a loss, for instance, is free of charge.

Some universities or colleges in the U.S. require their students to present their Social Security Number. However, normally the number is not issued to persons who are temporarily in the United States on an F-1, J-1 or M-1 visa. In this case, the universities should be able to assign a different identification number to the foreign students concerned.

If you want to take up employment that is permitted under the respective student visa, you can apply for a Social Security Number.

It is true that U.S. citizens and holders of certain visa categories can file a tax return by providing their Social Security Number. However, this is not identical to the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). This applies primarily to people who have to pay U.S. taxes even though they do not live in the United States permanently, for instance because they invest in U.S. real estate.

No, the Social Security Card is only requested for presentation in very rare cases. Therefore, it does not always have to be carried, but is best kept safely at home.

Previously, the old procedure provided that applicants for a Social Security Card would receive proof in the form of a printout as long as the original Social Security Card was not available. On average, it takes up to two weeks to issue the card.

Applicants can create a social security certificate directly online, provided they are registered for a personal "My Social Security" account. Alternatively, applicants can request a postal social security certificate by calling +1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778); it takes approximately 5-7 business days to deliver the letter.

Employers, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and other institutions that require a social security certificate can obtain it immediately or overnight via the Social Security Administration's Business Services Online or via E-Verify.

In some cases there is not enough space for applicants on the form "Application for a Social Security Card". The total number of characters is 16. Although a (too) long name does not necessarily lead to an exclusion, it can certainly prolong the application process. If you have a particularly long name and apply for an Social Security Number, you should be prepared for considerably longer waiting times. The actual issuance of the Social Secrutiy Card can take up to eight weeks, compared to an average of one to two weeks.

The reason for this is that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has to short-circuit with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to match the record. The solution to the problem is simply to sit back and wait.

A US work visa is always tied to a specific US company. In turn this means that you must have a specific employer in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

The application process begins with the US company that wants to hire you. The US employer submits the petition either to the USCIS or to the responsible U.S. consulate. Since the application for a temporary work permit is made by the company for a future foreign employee, the U.S. employer is therefore the so-called petitioner, which means the official applicant. The future employee is the entitled person and thus the so-called beneficiary.

Many companies wonder what happens to the company-bound work visa when the visa holder no longer works for the US employer.

In the event that the employment contract is terminated, the US work visa automatically loses its validity. The derived visas of any family members who may have travelled with the employee also lose their validity upon termination of the work relations, as these are linked to the visa of the main visa applicant.

This means that the former visa holder is no longer allowed to enter the country with the work visa after termination of the employment relationship. Even if the work visa is theoretically still valid for a certain period of time, the visa may no longer be used to enter the United States. If the visa holder concerned wishes to travel to the US for tourism or business purposes in the future, he / she must reapply for an ESTA or a corresponding visa, depending on the type of activities carried out on site and the duration of such activities.

Tip: In order to avoid discrepancies or problems with later entries, it is advisable to inform the U.S. consulate about the new work situation. For this purpose, it is sufficient if the responsible company representative (e.g. HR manager, supervisor, board of directors) sends an e-mail to the responsible consulate with the request to invalidate the visa of the former employee. If possible, a copy of the visa should also be attached. The consulate will then put a note in the system so that the CBP officers at the US border are also informed.
In some cases, the visa holder will even be contacted directly by the U.S. consulate in order to send its passport with the work visa for the purpose of invalidation. In other cases, the visa will simply be invalidated by the CBP officer at the boder the next time he or she enters the United States.

Our recommendation: By sending a short message to the responsible U.S. consulate, companies can protect themselves and above all be sure that entry with the previously valid work visa is no longer possible. Do not take any risks and prevent possible abuse with company-bound visas.