Germany Consulate General in New York – Ultimate Visa Guide

Introduction

Germany is operating as eight diplomatic missions in the United States owing to huge numbers of visa applications and one of them is Germany Consulate General New York. So, if you are currently residing in Germany but the process of acquiring a valid alien US registration card is still underway, then you will apply for either a short-stay visa or long-stay visa (depending upon the duration of your stay in Germany) at Germany Consulate General New York.

Likewise, if you enjoy the luxury of alien US Registration Card, then there is no need to apply for the visa if the aim is to stay for up to 90 days. However, if your aim is to stay in Germany for a duration exceeding 90 days, then you will apply for Germany Residency Permit.

Germany at a glance

Arguably, Germany is a perfect epitome of technology and art. On one hand, the country is a global leader in the industrial revolution and on the other hand, its capital Berlin is considered as ‘cultural heart of Europe’.

For the aforesaid and a myriad number of other reasons, Germany witnessed congregations of millions of foreigners every year who travel to the Western European country for business, study, tourism and other reasons.

The numbers of visitors to Germany continue to augment each year as in the previous year approximately 36 mln people secured German visa.

The economic, cultural and diplomatic influence of Germany has made its passport third most powerful in the world.

What is the Schengen Agreement?

Schengen Area was a brainchild of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and the Netherlands. These countries signed an accord in Luxembourg aimed at gradually abolishing their national borders in favor of a uniform border to facilitate visa-free movement to the citizens of the signatory states insider their territories.

At present, the number of countries that have joined the Schengen Agreement has soared to 26 whereas several others are leaving no stone unturned to join the bandwagon. The Schengen Agreement has proved to be a great diplomatic, economic and cultural success. Till date, it remains the largest visa-free zone in the world.

Who can apply for a Germany Visa from within the US?

Well, the possession of US alien registration card saves you from the pain of the visa application process. You can head visa-free to the metropolitan’s areas like Berlin, Frankfurt or Munich or can explore medieval towns, Christmas markets, and festivals and fairs for a duration of three months.

But if you intend to study in one of Germany’s top educational institutions or you want to live there for a considerable time for earning a livelihood, then you’ve to apply for German Residence Permit at German Consulate General New York.

And if you currently live in the USA but are making strides for somehow securing the alien registration card, then you’ve to apply for either short-stay visa or long-stay visa (depending upon the nature of your visit to Germany).

Jurisdiction of Germany Consulate General New York

The jurisdiction of Germany Consulate General New York is in the following territories:

New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; Fairfield County in Connecticut; Bermuda.

Process of Securing Germany Visa from Germany Consulate General New York

Well, the process of acquiring a visa from Germany Consulate New York is overtly simple. All you need to do is to follow these simple steps.

Step One: Visit Germany Consulate General New York Website

You will start by visiting the official website of the Germany Consulate General New York in the bid to grasp the relevant information and instructions.

Step Two: Complete Online Application Form

Once you’ve read the instructions, fill the visa application form available on the Germany Consulate General New York’s website. The only compulsion of filling the form is that you have to fill it in one sitting without giving a gap of ten minutes or above. (The server will annul all entries if you leave your system idle for ten minutes or more).

Step Three: Secure an Appointment Online

For securing an appointment, you will drop an electronic mail for visa officers.

The applicant will hit the left button his/her cursor on Schedule an appointment and will move on the next step to advance further.

The applicant will now pick the category that he/she fits in.

An automatic code will be generated by the server that the applicant will fill in the box.

Now, when you will hit the “continue” button after filling the empty box, the server will redirect you to the appointment dates available. We recommend you to pick the date of most convenience.

After successfully completing this task, now you will move to a somewhat hectic assignment.

Step Four: Prepare Documents

Now that you’ve received an appointment date with officers of the Germany Consulate General New York, quickly begin the procedure of arranging all the supporting documents for your visa application.

Valid Passport: Please note the following important regulations concerning travel documents/passports:

• Its validity has to extend the duration on the visa you are applying for by at least 3 months
• It has to contain at least two blank pages
• It must have been issued within the previous 10 years. If it has been issued before that, your passport cannot be accepted. That even applies in cases where the validity has been extended by the authorities of your home country.

If your passport does not meet all of these requirements, you will need to get a new passport before applying for a visa. It is also pertinent here to mention that the applicant’s passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and it must have a minimum of 2 blank visa pages in order to affix the visa.

Flight Itinerary for visa application: If your intention is to return to the USA within the duration of 90 days, purchase a roundtrip flight itinerary as it will contain all relevant information including your details, flight numbers, IATA and PNR coders, dates of your arrival in and departure from Germany.

If you are applying for German Residency Permit, purchase one-way flight itinerary.

Please remember that Flight Itinerary is also called Flight Reservation or Dummy Air Ticket.

Travel Health Insurance: Whether you are a permanent citizen or not, the USA will not cover your medical expenses abroad (provided that you’re not a government official or public office holder). And without a valid travel health insurance, no Schengen country including Germany will permit you to enter their territory. So, you are bound to acquire a travel health insurance offering minimum coverage of $50,000 or 30,000 EUR. Attach it with your visa application. The insurance document includes:

• A hotel/hostel booking; and
• A rental agreement; and
• A letter of invitation from a host at whose house you will be staying.

Hotel Booking or Proof of Accommodation: This is a mandatory supporting document that you are required to attach with your visa application.

Bank statement/Proof of financially means: If you have a valid bank account, attach a bank statement of previous six months stating to visa officers that you own enough financial

resources that are enough to sponsor your trip.

Cover Letter: A key document that summarizes your intention of traveling to Germany. Be very careful and write it in a professional manner.

Usually, the following things are covered in Cover Letter:

• The purpose of visiting the Schengen Area.
• Proof of civil status (marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, ration card if applicable).
• Explaining relation with a sponsor (if any) and the reasons for sponsorship. An overview of the applicant’s flight itinerary.
• In case the applicant fails to produce a document, then he tells the reasons and explains the alternative documents (that he/she might have submitted).

Affidavit of Support: In absence of a bank account, the applicant will request permanent resident of Germany to write an “affidavit of support’ for him in which latter vows to bear all expenses of the former.

Means of subsistence: Almost all of the Schengen states have set a minimum financial amount that the applicant should possess during the stay in the host nation.

As per rules set by the European Commission, the candidate is required to attest to the German Embassy or Consulate that s/he possesses daily liquid money equivalent to 45 EUR.

If employed:

Employment contract; and

Current bank statement of the latest 6 months; and

Leave permission from the employer; and

Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.

If self-employed:

A copy of your business license; and

Company bank statement of the latest 6 months; and

Income Tax Return (ITR).

For foreign students on F1 visas:

Valid I-20

Reference letter from the educational institution (school/college/university) stating that you are in good standing, your major and the expected date of graduation.

No-objection certificate from school or university.

If retired:

Pension statement of the latest 6 months.

If applicable:

Regular income generated by property proof of the latest 6 months.

Apart from the general documentation required, accompanying should be other additional documents depending on the nature of your visa application.

Recent nationwide criminal history check.

US work permit

Confirmation of participation in any type of event or activity

Self-addressed, pre-paid US express mail envelope (if applicable)

Documents proving the legal status in the US – original Alien Registration Card (Green Card), a Green card Stamp in your passport, an Advance Parole, or a valid US Visa must be provided along with a valid I-94 departure record. Students should also submit the original validated I-20, DS-2019 or IAP-66.

The US residence permit or visa should be valid at least 3 months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen member state territory.

Letter of continued employment including income statement. If you are self-employed a business license and tax return forms are required.

Step Five: Submit File

File submission isn’t rocket science. Simply ensure that you’ve attached all the mandatory documents in your Germany visa application.

Step Six: Appear for Interview

The visa officer of the Germany Consulate General New York will notify the date to you for appearing for the interview (if required).

Reach embassy at the given time and answer all questions honestly.

Step Seven: Receive Your Visa

Once you are done with above mentioned six steps, receive your visa. Germany Consulate General New York will take a maximum of up to 15 days to process the visa application (the time limit may prolong in exceptional cases).

The applicant has the option to collect his passport and visa (in case the application is approved) via UPS or USPS in the envelope that the applicant has provided.

Possible Reasons for Visa Rejections

There are some reasons upon which a visa officer may reject your application.

These reasons include (but are not limited to):

• Unauthentic signature
• Invalid passport
• A mandatory document is missing
• Germany Consulate General New York fails in establishing a clear reason for your travel

Address

Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA.

Phone: +1 212 610 97 00

Fax: +1 212 940 04 02