U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt, Germany - FRN


Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany.

Step 1: Register for visa delivery

Registering provides us with the information we need to return your visa packet to you after your interview. Registration is free. Click the “Register” button below to register.

 

Register >>


Step 2: Documents required

You must provide certain documents to the consulate on your interview day even if you previously submitted them to USCIS or NVC. We have created a checklist that will tell you what to bring.

 

Document Checklist >>


Step 3: Get a medical exam in Germany

Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” button below for a list of designated doctors’ offices. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview. 

 

Medical Exam Instructions >>


Step 4: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.

 

Interview Guidelines >>


Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa. Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Consulate can perform this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule and attend a medical exam with one of the doctors located in Europe. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted. Making duplicate appointments with one or more of our designated physicians may result in all appointments being cancelled and in your visa process being delayed. ATTENTION: The medical exam report is valid for six (6) months only. Your visa's validity will be limited to the expiration date of your medical exam.

Approved Physicians:

BERLIN

Dr. Ilka Knur
Dr. Heiko Zürcher
Dr. Ingo Prack
Mrs. Rania Fahim-Jebrini
im Ärztehaus am Europa-Center
Nürnberger Straße 67
10787 Berlin
Tel: 030-212 80480
Email: gesundheit@praevenioberlin.de
Website: www.praevenio-berlin.de

FRANKFURT

Dr. Johannes Abel
Dr. Harald Schulte
Dr. Kerstin Jahn
Dr, Bernd Scheffler
Ulmenstraße 43
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Please book your appointment by using Doctolib and fill out all required forms in advance: https://www.internisten-im-westend.de/medical-visa/
Tel:  069/722222
Email: Anmeldung@Abel-Schulte.de
Website: internisten-im-westend.de

MUNICH

Dr. Karin Redlich
Hansastrasse 136
81373 München
Phone: +49-89-760 14 00
Website: https://praxis-dr-redlich.de/

HAMBURG

Internisten am Kolsterstern
Dr. med. Felix Thuneke
Dr. med. Simone Henne
Oderfelder Strasse 6
20149 Hamburg
Tel: +49-40-476086
Fax: +49-40-4605092
Email: praxis@klosterstern.info
Web: www.internisten-am-klosterstern.de

Items to bring to your medical examination

The doctor will need the following items to complete the medical exam forms:

  • Your visa interview letter,
  • Your passport,
  • Four (4) recently taken passport-sized color photographs,
  • A copy of your immunization records,
  • Your medical history (disabilities, serious illnesses),
  • If you are pregnant, a doctor's statement (Mutterpass) noting the anticipated delivery date, and
  • DS-260 confirmation page.

Any medical exam fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, must be paid directly to the examining physician.

During the medical exam

The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, chest X-ray and blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older). The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants two years of age and older, and Gonorrhea testing.  Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available here.

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant vaccination requirements are available here. You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements online.

After the medical exam

When your examination is completed, the doctor will send the results to the consulate.

When your examination is completed, the doctor will either provide you with exam results in a sealed envelope or send them directly to the U.S. Consulate. IF GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO CARRY TO YOUR INTERVIEW, DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE. Instead, bring it to your visa interview. Any x-rays taken will be given to you. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis. However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time. The medical report must be less than six (6) months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.

 

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COVID-19 Vaccination

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all IV applicants and K applicants who are referred for a medical exam to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as a part of the medical examination. Unlike other required vaccinations, applicants must complete the entire vaccine series for the medical examination to be considered complete. The new requirements go into effect on October 1, 2021. Should you have any further question on this issue, please visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov) for more information.

Document Checklist

Please follow these instructions to prepare for your interview. Failure to follow the instructions and/or provide required documents could result in significant processing delays.

INSTRUCTIONS: Obtain the documents listed below that are applicable to your case (even if they were previously submitted to USCIS or NVC). Once you have assembled all required documents, please bring them to your visa appointment. All documents not in English or German must be accompanied by an English translation. Translations must be certified by a competent and registered translator. Do not separate the original and the copy. Your original documents will be returned to you at the time of the visa interview with the consular officer.

  • For Immigrant Visa Applicants: Complete the DS-260 “Immigrant Visa Electronic Application Form” for each applicant (spouse, children, etc.). The DS-260 is available at: https://ceac.state.gov/iv/default.aspx and print the confirmation page with barcode. ***If you do not have an invoice number, you should provide your case number (normally beginning with FRN) and your date of birth (in the format YYYMMDD) in place of the invoice number.

  • For Fiancé(e) and (K) Visa Applicants: Complete the DS-160 “Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form” online for each applicant at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv and print the confirmation page. IMPORTANT, please select “Frankfurt” as the processing post.

  • DOCUMENT DELIVERY ADDRESS: Prior to your interview, you must provide information on where you want your visa package to be delivered after issuance. You can choose between home delivery and pick-up at a designated location in Offenbach. The passport and all documents will be returned to you with the chosen delivery option with our Visa Service Provider within three to four working days after visa issuance. Applicants receive a notification via e-mail and SMS as soon as the passport is ready to be delivered/to be collected from the selected location. For any questions regarding the return of your passport or change of selected delivery option, please contact our Visa Service Provider at support-germany@ustraveldocs.com. Further information on document delivery is available at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/de/de-iv-documentdelivery.asp.

    • Collection from the Mail Boxes Etc. location: You must present a photo ID. If somebody else will come to collect the passport on your behalf, that person will be required to provide a signed authorization letter and a copy of your photo ID.

    • Premium Home Delivery: Delivered to the address indicated in your profile via UPS delivery services. Please ensure that your name, as stated in your profile, is also on the mailbox as otherwise the courier will not be able to deliver it. UPS will make up to three delivery attempts; after that the shipment will be returned to sender. Do not enter a P.O Box, APO, DPO, or a non-German CIVILIAN Address although the registration screen may allow you to do so.  U.S. military applicants must provide a civilian address in Germany.
       
  • For Immigrant Visa Applicants PROOF OF DOCUMENT DELIVERY ADDRESS: Please remember to include a copy of your address registration confirmation page with the other documents that you send to the Consulate before your interview.

  • For Fiancé(e) and (K) Visa Applicants PROOF OF DOCUMENT DELIVERY ADDRESS: Please submit a copy of your appointment confirmation at the time of the visa interview instead of the registration confirmation. Further information on document delivery is available at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/de/de-iv-documentdelivery.asp

  • FEES: Immigrant Visa Applicants must be prepared to pay the visa fee on the appointment date. For detailed information about immigrant visa fees please see our website at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html.
 
K-Visa applicants must pay the application fee in the local currency equivalent.  In order to pay the fee, you must create a profile with our Visa Service Provider: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/de/. Information on fee payment process is available at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/de/de-niv-visafeeinfo.asp. You will not be able to schedule your appointment without payment of the online fee.
 
  • PASSPORT (photocopy of biographic page ONLY): The passport must be valid for travel to the United States and have at least 6 months validity beyond the issuance date of the visa. Children must have their own individual passports. Do not mail in your original passport unless specifically requested to do so!

  • BIRTH CERTIFICATE (original & one copy): An original or certified extract of a birth registration entry for each applicant.

Birth records must be presented for all unmarried non-U.S. citizen children under age 21, even if they do not wish to immigrate at this time. The date and place of birth and parent(s) name(s) must be shown on the birth certificate. If you or any of your children were adopted, you must also submit a certified copy of the final adoption decree.

  • MARRIAGE, DIVORCE & DEATH CERTIFICATE (original & one copy): Married persons are required to present a marriage certificate. Proof of the termination of any previous marriage must also be provided (e.g. death certificate of spouse, final divorce decree or annulment).

  • POLICE CERTIFICATE (original & one copy): Each applicant aged 16 years or older must present a police certificate, if obtainable, from his/her country of current residence and country of nationality (if the applicant resided there for more than six months). Police certificates are required from countries of previous residence, if residence there was for more than one year. Police certificates do not require an Apostille. The certificate from your current country of residence must be of recent date (not older than 24 months) when presented to the consular officer. Further information about obtaining police certificates from specific countries can be found on the U.S. State Department website under the “Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder”: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html

    NOTE: Police certificates not in German or English must be translated by a certified translator. Please note that all police certificate with an entry must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Present and former residents of the U.S. should not obtain a police certificate covering their residence in the United States.

  • COURT AND PRISON RECORD (original & two copies): Persons who have been convicted of a crime must submit each court record and any prison record, regardless of whether they benefited from an amnesty, pardon, or other act of clemency. English translations must be provided for all court and prison records.

  • MILITARY RECORD (original & one copy): A military service record, if applicable and obtainable, is required.

  • PHOTOGRAPH: One color photograph for each applicant, regardless of age, is required (less than 6 months old, without glasses). Please write the applicant’s name on the back of the photograph. Further guidance is available on our website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html

  • AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT (original completed form with original signature): Intending immigrants must be able to prove that they will not become a public charge in accordance with guidelines. Please see poverty guidelines sheet which is available on the USCIS website: https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p.

    • Who requires an I-864?
      • Individuals qualifying for immigration in the immediate relative category as a spouse, child (including orphans), or parent of a U.S. citizen (IR1, CR1, CR2, IR5).

      • Individuals qualifying for immigration in the family based preference categories as the unmarried son/daughter, married son/daughter, brother/sister of a U.S. citizen and the spouse and unmarried child of a Lawful Permanent Resident (F1, F2, F3, F4).

      • If you are applying for a K, DV or SB1 (Returning Resident) you may complete form I-134, not I-864, or submit evidence that you will not become a public charge.

      • Tips for filling in the I-864 and I-864A can be found at: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/tips-filing-form-i-864-affidavit-support-under-section-213a-ina and https://www.uscis.gov/forms/tips-filing-form-i-864a-contract-between-sponsor-and-household-member

      • Complete instructions and forms may be downloaded from http://www.uscis.gov.

      • Proof of U.S. federal income tax returns: The most recent IRS-generated transcript of the most recent U.S. Federal Income Tax Return (1040) and W2s are required from all U.S. citizen sponsors/ joint sponsors. A person may obtain a free IRS-generated transcript by filing IRS Form 4506-T (Form IRS-4506-T) with IRS, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. K-visa applicants may present their own assets as proof; a tax return is not required.
         
  • OLD/EXPIRED “GREEN CARD”: If you are in possession of an old/ expired green card (I-551), you should submit this form to USCIS. More information and the I-407 form can be found at: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/germany-frankfurt-field-office. Please submit a copy of your approved/ processed form I-407 to our office prior to your interview appointment. ATTENTION: Applicants petitioning for returning resident status (SB1) should not submit form I-407 to USCIS; please keep your green card and bring it with you to the SB1 interview.

Additional Information

SCHEDULING APPOINTMENT FOR VISA INTERVIEW: For applicants whose petition was filed with USCIS Frankfurt and fiancé(e) visa applicants: once all your documentation has been received and reviewed you will be notified by this office to go ahead and schedule your own appointment online. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE THEIR APPOINTMENT LETTER DIRECTLY FROM NVC or KCC!
 

  • MEDICAL EXAMINATION: Applicants are responsible for scheduling their own appointment for a medical examination with one of our approved panel physicians. The medical examination should be scheduled approximately two weeks prior to your interview date. The medical examination is valid for six months! If these tests expire on or before your interview, you must undergo a modified examination to update your results. Applicants for SIV visa should NOT schedule an appointment before the interview date as many special immigrant visa cases require additional administrative processing after the interview.

    In addition to your travel document and appointment confirmation you must now also bring a print out of your CEAC (DS-260/DS-160) confirmation page with you to the medical examination.

For additional information and frequently asked questions about the immigrant visa process, please refer to our Visa Service Provider: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/de. If you have specific questions relating to the status of your actual case, you may send an email, stating your full name and case number to: https://tinyurl.com/FrankfurtVisas

You do not need to contact this office unless you have to report a CHANGE OF ADDRESS or a change in your situation, such as marriage, death of petitioner, or birth of children, etc., or if we have requested additional information from you.

On the appointment day please bring the following items:

  • Visa fee (for immigrant visa applicants ONLY)
  • Your current valid passport

(Your original documents will be returned to you after the interview)

  Applicants are advised NOT to make any non-refundable travel plans. Issuance of a visa is not guaranteed.

A Consular Officer will evaluate your case and make a final determination.

 

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Interview Guidelines

If you are coming for your immigrant visa interview from a country or area which the German government considers an international risk area (including the United States), you must comply with German government quarantine requirements before your appointment with the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt. Information in German and English about areas the German government considers “international risk areas” can be found here: International Risk Areas

What to bring to your interview


On your appointment day, please bring the following items to your interview:

  • Your appointment letter/confirmation
  • Your current, valid passport
  • Visa fee (if not previously paid to NVC)
  • All original documents that pertain to you according to the document checklist
  • Any additional documents requested by the Immigrant Visa Unit at the consulate 

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview


If you are unable to attend your appointment, please email us at FrankfurtVisaInquiries@state.gov. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please attempt to attend the date already assigned. For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, a visa number has been assigned for the month you have been scheduled by NVC. DV applicants should be aware that visas are numerically limited and must be issued by September 30 of the program year. There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview. Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you decide to reschedule your interview.

Security screening procedures


All visitors to the U.S. Consulate must follow certain security procedures. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Consulate security personnel will be unable to enter the consulate. To avoid delaying your entry and that of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview. You should arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Please view our website for details.

Accompanying persons


The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

  • U.S. citizen petitioners.
  • Interpreter: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English or German well enough to participate in an interview.
  • Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.
     

Immigrant visa fees


If you have not paid all required fees to the National Visa Center, please be prepared to pay these fees on the day of your interview (except for K visas and SQ visas). All fees may be paid in U.S. dollars or Euro. We accept the following forms of payment:

  • Cash: Either U.S. dollars or Euro.
  • Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. No EC Cards are accepted.
  • International Money Orders: American Express or U.S. Postal Service money orders made payable to “U.S. Department of State”
  • Cashier’s Check / Banks checks:
    • Cashier’s check issued by an American bank in dollars; OR
    • Banks check issued by a German bank in dollars. Effective September 1, 2016, we no longer accept debit/cashier checks from DZ Bank or its affiliates.
    • All checks must be made payable to the appropriate American Consulate General or to the U.S. Embassy Berlin.
    • All checks must be machine-readable (i.e., have a coded line running along the bottom of the check).
    • Checks may be no wider than 10cm due to our machine-reader limitations.

NO personal checks will be accepted. Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded. A complete list of fees can be found here.

Applicants for K visas are required to pay their fees in advance using our online payment website provided by CGI Stanley at ustraveldocs.com/de. It can take several days to receive payment confirmation, so please plan accordingly. You must print out the Visa Deposit Slip from the CGI Stanley website and submit it with your documents to the Consulate. Applicants for K visas cannot schedule an interview until they have paid this fee.   
 

Do not make travel plans outside of Germany


If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the consulate while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. Your visa packet will be mailed to your German address by German registered mail. 

 

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After Your Visa Interview

A consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa. 

If more information is needed


Sometimes a consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents or the case requires further administrative processing. When additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the consulate.

Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. The timing for the administrative processing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after your interview. 

What happens after visa approval?


Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We will also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued Immigrant Visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are:  children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a fiancé(e) (K) and SQ visas. 

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa. Your visa cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. 

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States Once you become a lawful permanent resident you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a lawful permanent resident.

Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custodial papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.

 

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Diversity Visa Applicants - Special Instructions

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your visa interview and gather the required documents.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants. 

Bring to your interview


In addition to the documents listed on the Document Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:

  • Appointment information printed from the “Entrant Status Check” on the E-DV website.
  • Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR have two years of qualifying work experience in the last five years immediately prior to application (for the principal applicant only; more information is available online).
  • Proof of finances (assets, savings, job offer in the U.S. or U.S. citizen sponsor).
  • Payment in cash of the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee.

Review your DV Lottery entry


Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status and your country of birth. If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).

Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country.

Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application. You can review the eligibility requirements online.

 

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Print  (Translation included)

Last Updated: 11/16/2023

Contact Information

U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt

Immigrant Visa Unit
Gießener Str. 30,
60435 Frankfurt am Main

Email
https://tinyurl.com/FrankfurtVisas