Germany has always held a special attraction for vacationers from the USA thanks to its plethora of flavors extending from rich historical architecture and proliferate natural wilderness to breathtaking modernization. This fairytale land is the dream of many a traveler who wants the best of art, culture, history and a peep into what the futuristic world looks like.
Visa Types
Up until March 2020, Schengen Visas were issued for tourism, family visits, official work, medical, education, and airport transit. However, after the Covid-19 entry ban was lifted in July 2020, only a few special categories of travelers from the US can visit Germany. These include:
- German citizens and Union citizens
- Nationals from other countries only if they have right of residence in Germany
- Professionals from healthcare, transportation, and agricultural domains
- Students pursuing higher education
- Urgent family reasons including family reunions
- Refugees or persons requiring protection on humanitarian grounds
- Government diplomats
- Personnel from international organizations including military
- Repatriation
- Airline transit passengers
US citizens belonging to any of the above traveler categories do not need a Schengen Visa if their purpose of visit is Airport Transit or Business and period of stay in 90 days or less. If you wish to stay for more than 90 days, then you will need an Electronic Residence Title, which is issued specifically to US citizens in lieu of a Schengen Visa.
However, if Green Cardholders OR US Citizens whose purpose of visit is different from Airport Transit or Business belonging to any of the above traveler categories will surely need a Schengen Visa. B1/B2 Visa holders can apply for a German Schengen Visa only for Airport Transit, that too from their home country.
Visa Consulate
Considering
the physical size of USA and high traveler density, there are 9 German
consulates to meet the demands of visa processing. Consulates are located in Atlanta,
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and
Washington. Each consulate caters to travelers from adjoining cities as well. New
York in particular accepts applications from Bermuda, Connecticut (Fairfield
County), New Jersey and Pennsylvania in addition to NY itself.
Simple Steps to apply for Visa
German Visa processing is extremely simple and if all your paperwork is intact, you will undoubtedly be granted one. In fact, in the pre-Covid years, Germany witnessed a record of 20+ lakh Schengen Visa applications from around the world with 18+ lakh visas being actually issued (rejection rate 9%).
Let’s look at the steps to procure a German Visa from the German Consulate at New York.
- The most important criterion to keep in mind is the date you submit your application. It should not be more than 3 months or less than 2 weeks from your proposed travel date. Anything more or less might result in your visa not being processed.
- Then, visit the German Consulate website to access the Schengen Visa Application Form. This is available as a PDF file in two combo languages, English/German and English/Spanish. Download, print and fill the PDF application by hand. Alternatively you can also access the web-based application form for online submission.
- When filling out the form, we strongly recommend keeping the following documents for quick reference: passport, flight itinerary / dummy flight tickets; hotel reservation / hotel confirmation or other accommodation particulars; and letter of invitation if applicable; and the travel insurance.
- After filling the application, take a printout of the form, list of instructions as per Section 55 (2) (1) of the Residence Act, and Barcode of the VIDEX encrypted data. Sign all these documents.
- Visit The German Consulate Online System to book an appointment with the German Consulate at New York, USA. Remember: You do not have to pay to fill/submit the form or book an appointment. Click on the New York sub-link located in the body of the page. Scroll down to the Visa section and click “Continue” across all screens to reach the appointment slots. Familiarize yourself with all the rules and regulations related to Covid-19 that you will have to exercise during the actual appointment.
- If you need help in making an appointment, drop an email at help@schengenvisaitinerary.com with the basic information like Name, Email Address and purpose of the Schengen Visa. We will contact you within 24 hours after receiving the request and help you get an appointment immediately.
- On the day of the appointment, proceed to the Consulate with all documents (original and copies) along with the processing fee. Documentation includes:
- Filled and signed Application Form
- passport sized photograph less than 6 months old
- Passport with at least 2 blank pages, not more than 10 years old, and valid till 3 months after proposed date of return from Germany
- US alien registration card or resident visa type
- Proof of residence in New York or applicable areas.
- Proof of purpose of trip such as letter of invitation, host’s residence permit, proof of relationship, host’s residence permit, etc.
- Proof of current employment / business / studies such as letter from employer, business license, college attendance report, pension. If you are unemployed, you can submit your marriage certificate, sponsorship details, or spouse’s passport, bank statement or employment papers.
- Round-trip flight itinerary or dummy flight tickets or Flight confirmation for Schengen visa processing.
- Bank statements of the last 3 months
- Travel insurance of minimum €30,000.
- Proof of accommodation in Germany
On the day of appointment
It is best to arrive at the Consulate before time and in formal clothing. At the appointed time, submit the documents to the visa official, who will also record your biometrics. The official might interview you about the proposed trip to cross-check and confirm the details given in the form. So, be honest and don’t provide vague information whatsoever.
Once you have submitted your application, visa processing will take anywhere between 15 and 60 days, depending upon the reason for travel and volume of visa applications at the NY German Consulate.
If you have followed all steps correctly and submitted the necessary documents, you will receive the passport with the visa stamped. However, any lapse in these areas will nullify all your efforts and the visa will be rejected. The commonest reasons for visa rejection are: insufficient funds, unclear motive of travel, unreliable travel documents, and plain human error in filling the form. You can contest the consulate’s decision or re-apply for the visa and hope for the best next time round!
Visa Fee
– €80 for adults applying for a short-stay visa
– €75 for adults applying for a long-stay visa
– €40 for children under the age of 12
– Free of charge for children under 6
Consulate Information
German Consulate General
Phones:
+1 212 610 97 00,
+1 646 509 3894 (8 AM – 2 PM),
+1 646 942 4822 (2 PM – 4PM),
Postal Address: Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
Street: 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
Website: http://www.new-york.diplo.de/