All applicants applying for immigration, including children, are required to attend the visa interview. The petitioner or U.S. citizen children may accompany the applicant(s), but do not need to be present. We are unable to accommodate friends or family members who are not applying for visas. Please cancel your appointment if you are unable to attend.
Please bring the following with you to the interview:
• Appointment letter/confirmation
• Passport
• Visa fee or payment receipt
• Additional documents, IF requested do so by the Immigrant Visa Unit of the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior, but no earlier, to your scheduled appointment. Please see our list of prohibited items that cannot be taken into the building or left with the security guards. Please plan to spend a total of roughly 2-3 hours at the U.S. Consulate General.
The Immigrant Visa
The Visa: Immigrant visas are normally valid for travel to the United States for six months from the date of your medical exam. Visa issued for less than six months will be annotated with “Visa shortened due to medical validity”. The visa validity can also be shortened due to passport validity, or age of applicant.
Administrative Processing
Some immigrant visa applicants (including K-Visa and DV-Visa applicants) may require additional administrative processing. While most administrative procedures occur prior to the immigrant visa interview, in some instances additional processing may be required after the interview. Though rare, these procedures may last several months, or longer; therefore, applicants should not make final travel plans until they have the approved immigrant visa in hand.
Visa Ineligibilities
If you have been advised by a Consular Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt that you are inadmissible to the United States, and you are eligible to apply for a waiver of grounds of inadmissibility, please follow the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services waiver application instructions (PDF).
