How to get a visa

[Chaos]

I´ve just talked with the US Embassy´s call center about travelling to the US.

It turns out I actually do need a visa. Well, at least I found out early enough to get it in time.

However, in order to be granted a visa, I have to demonstrate that I "have ties to Germany that require me to return" before the 90-day-limit is over and that I am able to "pay for my stay in the US with my own money".

What they did not tell me was how I was supposed to to accomplish that. The call center lady told me that this was left to me.

Fine.

Does anyone here have experience with obtaining a visa for the USA? Or better yet, is anybody who works in that line posting here?



As for the "require to return" part, I thought I´d show my return ticket, my student ID, and my registration for exams in mid-February.
As for the "pay with my own money" I hope the flight tickets and a confirmation that I´ve paid registration fees for TAM3 will be enough.

 

[Stimpson J. Cat]

Didn't you have to do the same thing last year?

 

[Chaos]

Didn't you have to do the same thing last year?

No. The rules changes on 10/26/2004, but I didn´t realize that until now.

I could get myself a machine-readable passport, and then I wouldn´t need the visa, but knowing German bureaucracy, that would never be ready in time for TAM3...

 

[Hutch]

As for the "require to return" part, I thought I´d show my return ticket, my student ID, and my registration for exams in mid-February.

I think that would do. Also if you have anything showing you've paid rent for your living location in Germany past January (or have a lease for later) it wouldn't hurt. Their main interest is knowing that you're coming back and not taking a job away from some deserving American....

As for the "pay with my own money" I hope the flight tickets and a confirmation that I´ve paid registration fees for TAM3 will be enough.

Hotel reservations? Or show a bank account with a sum in it that would cover your expenses for a week. Whipping out a big wad of banknotes and slapping them on the table is also effective, but is considered bad manners.

I would hope you'll have no trouble, but let us know how it goes.

 

[Hutch]

Ignore, $#%!%^$ Double Post

 

[exarch]

Originally posted by Chaos
No. The rules changes on 10/26/2004, but I didn´t realize that until now.

I could get myself a machine-readable passport, and then I wouldn´t need the visa, but knowing German bureaucracy, that would never be ready in time for TAM3...

Gawd damn !! You had me worried for a moment

For what it's worth, I already had a machine-readable passport last year (but since I had to rush it I couldn't get one that was valid for 5 years). Anyway, the new one is definitely OK, so I'm cool. Sheesh

*sigh of relief since I am leaving in less than a week ... *

 

[Darat]

Gawd damn !! You had me worried for a moment

For what it's worth, I already had a machine-readable passport last year (but since I had to rush it I couldn't get one that was valid for 5 years). Anyway, the new one is definitely OK, so I'm cool. Sheesh

*sigh of relief since I am leaving in less than a week ... *

I had a moment of panic when I first read his post - I thought I'd royally screwed up... I reckon he just wanted the rest of us to suffer like he has.

 

[exarch]

Originally posted by Darat
I had a moment of panic when I first read his post - I thought I'd royally screwed up... I reckon he just wanted the rest of us to suffer like he has.

LOL, You mean TAM3 is not next week

 

[Chaos]

I had a moment of panic when I first read his post - I thought I'd royally screwed up... I reckon he just wanted the rest of us to suffer like he has.

Hey, why worry?

For all you know, I might need the visa because I am a terrorist, or a convicted murderer, or something, and don´t fall under the Visa Waiver Program.