The J1-Visa

The most difficult thing after the host family application is to apply for the J1-Visa. It takes a lot of time. I´m really glad that AIFS helped us again. They did the first step and applied for the form DS-2019. They send it to me with an guidance how to complete the online application for the visa.

My first step was to create an account at the website of the US-embassy and answering all the questions in the online form. There are questions (more than one side) which are only for male applicants.

At the end of this  I needed to print a confirmation of the questionnaire. Before you can arrange an appointment in the embassy you need to pay 136€ for the processing.

Also you can´t go to the appointment at the embassy until you pay 180$ SEVIS-Dues.

Attention!!!! The SEVIS-Dues can only be payed with a credit card or with Western Union.

After I filled out and payed everything I went to my appointment at the US-Embassy in Frankfurt am Main. Your parents are allowed to come inside with you as long as you´re not 16. But it´s not necessary that they come with you. My mum went inside with me and she couldn´t do anything except of sitting down and waiting for me.

A lot of students are scared of the appointment, but you don´t need to. The employees in the embassy are very friendly and they explain every step. I went to three different counters. At the first they scanned my fingerprints and checked them at the second counter. At the third and last counter I get a few questions and the man behind the counter told me that my application is approved and that I´ll get my passport with the visa in the next week.

Three days later my passport with the visa came.