From Ruth Thor Nelson, dated Mon 11/18/2002 4:41 PM
Members of our collaborating community who are planning to travel over this holiday season, or in the future, and who will need to request a visa for re-entry, will want to consult the web site of the US diplomatic post in their home country where they plan to obtain a new or extending visa. The Bureau of Consular Affairs includes these sites at http://travel.state.gov/index.html.
Although the information below re the US posts in Germany, and other similar statements from various posts, would seem to indicate routine processing by mail, or while abroad, SLAC, and other US institutions, are aware that applicants ARE being called in for interviews which has significantly delayed returns to the US or caused petitions submitted from the US to require recall or cancellation because of the lead times in obtaining the needed interview.
If you are planning to obtain a new visa through travel, you will want to share your intention and travel plans with your supervisor because of the real possiblity and impact of a delayed return.
-- Ruth Thor Nelson
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From the web site of the U.S. Embassy in Germany at http://www.usembassy.de/travel/interview.htm. Currently the Embassy in Berlin and the Consulate in Frankfurt issue nonimmigrant visas. The consular sections in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich do not issue visas.
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Important Notice to Applicants for Non-Immigrant Visas
In a continuing effort to improve the security of the visa process, U.S. Mission Germany will now require most nonimmigrant visa applicants to apply in person. As of November 15th, mail and drop box cases will only be accepted for categories listed below. For information on current application procedures and scheduling a visa interview, please call Mission Germany's Live Operator Service at 0190 - 85 00 55, 7am to 8pm, Monday - Friday (EUR 1,86/min; defacto).
The following applicants may continue to use mail or drop-box:
* Applicants who are under 14 or older than 59-years of age from EU and Visa Waiver Program member countries
* Applicants who are renewing an existing nonimmigrant visa, if the nonimmigrant visa was issued in Germany and expired within the past six months
After the interview, applicants can expect to receive their visas by return mail within five working days.
Notice: Waiting times for an appointment are expected to be lengthy during the December and Summer holiday seasons. We therefore strongly urge all applicants to schedule an appointment as early as possible.
Last modified: November 2002