step by step guide for visa application · forms required for the appointment at the embassy...

(Last Updated: August 2019)

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STEP BY STEP GUIDE FOR VISA APPLICATION

A VISA GUIDE ................................................................................................................. 2

B STEPS FOR VISA APPLICATION .......................................................................................... 2

C FILLING IN THE APPLICATION FORM FOR THE DS 160 ............................................................ 2

I PERSONAL INFORMATION 1 ................................................................................................................................................. 5

II PERSONAL INFORMATION 2 ................................................................................................................................................. 6

III ADDRESS AND PHONE INFORMATION .................................................................................................................................... 9

IV PASSPORT INFORMATION .................................................................................................................................................. 10

V TRAVEL INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 10

VI TRAVEL COMPANIONS INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................. 14

VII PREVIOUS U.S. TRAVEL INFORMATION .............................................................................................................................. 15

VIII US CONTACT .................................................................................................................................................................. 17

IX FAMILY ........................................................................................................................................................................... 18

X PRESENT WORK/EDUCATION/TRAINING INFORMATION ....................................................................................................... 19

XI SECRURITY AND BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................................... 21

XI ADDITIONAL POINT OF CONTACT INFORMATION ................................................................................................................. 24

XII SEVIS INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................................................... 24

D DELIVERY OPTIONS FOR PASSPORT & VISA AFTER SUCCESSFUL APPOINTMENT AT THE US EMBASSY 28

E PAYMENT OF VISA APPLICATION FEE AND SHIPPING FEE ....................................................... 28

F SEVIS I-901 RECEIPT .................................................................................................... 41

G FINAL VISA CHECK ...................................................................................................... 43

H CONTACT INFO LOCAL EMBASSY/CONSULATE .................................................................... 44


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A VISA GUIDE

In order to complete an au pair program in the USA, you must apply for a visa at the US Embassy.

The following pages should help you to follow the correct steps and to fill in and print out the two

forms required for the appointment at the embassy online:

the DS 160 - Application for a non-immigrant visa for the USA, and

the Sevis I-901 receipt – Confirmation of payment for sevis fee

B STEPS TO APPLY FOR THE VISA

• Step 1: Have your photo taken

Each US visa applicant only needs one digital photo for the DS-160 form; please note the photo

regulations. https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/ds160-visa-photo-requirements

• Step 2: Fill in the DS 160

Different forms are required from each applicant.

https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

• Step 3: Pay the application fee

To pay the visa application fee, go to the homepage of the service provider of the consular

section. On this page you have to create a profile and write down the receipt number, as this is

necessary to arrange an interview.

• Step 4: Make a visa appointment

Appointments are all made online. Please follow the instructions for making an appointment.

https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-information-services/nonimmigrant-visa-appointments/

Visa processing without an appointment is not possible.

• Step 5: Compile all documents

https://www.aupaircare.eu/visa-docs.html

• Step 6: Go to your personal appointment

• Step 7: You will receive your passport including your pasted visa and your (stapled) DS

2019 form back by registered mail/parcel. As soon as your passport is ready for dispatch,

you will receive an e-mail and/or SMS and can track the dispatch status on the Internet.

It usually takes 7-10 working days for you to receive your passport. However, it is often

quicker, but may take longer with some applications.

https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/ds160-visa-photo-requirements

https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-information-services/nonimmigrant-visa-appointments/

https://www.aupaircare.eu/visa-docs.html


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C FILLING IN THE APPLICATION FORM FOR THE DS 160

On the following pages you will find information about the DS 160 form and the necessary technical

requirements. Please read everything carefully so that you don't have any problems filling out the

form. Please follow the following link: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/default.aspx

First, you must state the country where you are applying:

Attention:

Since end of May 2019, when filling out the DS 160

form, you must also list the usernames of all social

media profiles you own or have owned in the last 5

years. Only the social media "Identifiers", i.e. the

usernames, are requested, not passwords!

You can find more information about this on the

FAQ-Page on Social Media Identifiers of the U.S.

Department of State.

https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/default.aspx

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Enhanced%20Vetting/CA%20-%20FAQs%20on%20Social%20Media%20Collection%20-%206-4-2019%20(v.2).pdf


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Now choose the embassy:

You get an application ID. Make sure you write it down! You need it if you don't complete the

application immediately so you can log back in later.

Please do not use umlauts, but write ae, ue, oe and ss instead.

Save the request in between so that no information is lost.

You can now either start a new application ("start a new application"), or return to a saved application

("upload a previous application" or "retrieve application").


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Now select a question to be able to call up the application again later:

i Personal Information 1

First you have to enter your surname and first name. "Full name in native alphabet" is only required if

your name in the passport is NOT written in Latin letters, but in Arabic, Chinese or other characters,

otherwise please click "does not apply". With the “Telecode” you can simply click on "No", if such a

thing does not exist in your home country.


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ii Personal Information 2

Please indicate your citizenship and click "does not apply" for all others. If you have dual citizenship,

please indicate the German, Austrian or Swiss citizenship. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland there is

neither a "National Identification Number, nor a U.S. Social Security Number (unless you have already

lived and applied for one in the USA), nor a U.S. Taxpayer ID Number. So please click "Does not Apply"

everywhere.


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iii Address and Phone Information

Please enter your home address here. At "state/province" you can click "does not apply".


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iv Passport Information

Please enter the information of your passport here. You have a regular passport, so select "regular"

above. At "Passport book number" you can click on "does not apply", if these do not exist in your home

country.

v Travel Information

You are applying for a J-1 visa, so please select "Visa Class J" and then as subgroup J-1. Indicate the

date of your scheduled departure and that you plan to stay 12 months in the USA. The 13th month of

travel is a gift from the US Department of State for the successfully completed program. However, the

visa will no longer be valid and therefore this month does not need to be stated.

The host family will pay for your trip. Please select "other person" for "Person/Entity Paying for Your

Trip".


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Next, please give the address of your host family as they will pay for your trip. It doesn't matter if you

give both names of the host parents or only one of them. The same applies to the e-mail address.

Please select ‚No‘ at the following question: Is the address of the party paying for your trip the same as your Home or mailing address?


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vi Travel Companions Information

Please enter "no" here, even if other au pairs will be sitting with you on the plane. What is meant is

whether you will still bring family members with you, which of course is not the case.


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vii Previous U.S. Travel Information

Please indicate here the last five visits to the USA. If you don't remember the exact dates, try to

estimate them. Read all the questions carefully and answer them truthfully.


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viii US Contact

Your "US point of contact" is your host family. You can register AuPairCare as organization. The

relationship to you is "other".


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ix Family

Please enter the required data of your parents and whether they currently live in the USA. If you don't

know the data, please click on "do not know".


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x Present Work/Education/Training Information

If you have just finished you’re a-levels or are going to university, you can enter "Student" here and

then enter the address of the school or university. As 'job description' you can simply write that you are

taking part in the lessons there and/or indicate your main subjects or advanced courses. If you are

already working or have only a part-time job on your income tax card, please also state this.


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xi Secrurity and Background

Now there are a number of questions that seem strange to us. But the American authorities are very

serious about it. So please read carefully and answer truthfully.


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xi Additional Point of Contact Information

Please enter here 2 known persons (friends, neighbours, acquaintances) who can confirm the

information you have given in your application. Please do not mention the host family or us. Of course,

you should also inform the persons about this.

xii SEVIS Information

The Sevis ID is the number at the top of your DS-2019 or MyAuPairCare portal.

It starts with N000 or N001. The program number is located on the DS-2019 under point two and is: P-4-

06027.

When asked "Do you intend to study in the US?" please click "no" as you will not be studying full time.


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Photo: If the photo you upload does not meet the requirements, you will be given the option to

continue without a photo. https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/ds160-visa-photo-requirements

https://www.slideshare.net/USAinUK/ds160-visa-photo-requirements


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D DELIVERY OPTIONS FOR PASSPORT & VISA AFTER SUCCESSFUL APPOINTMENT AT THE US EMBASSY

Please investigate the options offered during your appointment at the embassy.

E PAYMENT OF THE VISA APPLICATION FEE AND SHIPPING FEE

Step 1: Login (top left)


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Step 2: Register as 'New User


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Step 3: Arrange new application/appointment (top left)

Step 4: Click on “Non-Immigrant Visa”


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Step 5: Select the embassy where you would like to make your personal appointment.

Step 6: Click on “Student Visas and Visas for Exchange Program Participants”


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Step 7: open further visa categories by clicking on the small red arrow on the left side of the page

Select “J-1 Participants in exchange programs”


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Step 8: ENTER YOUR PERSONAL DATA

The next step is to enter your personal and passport data again.

Step 9: Delivery options for the visa

Here you can indicate whether you would like to have the visa delivered to you for a fee after approval

or whether you would like to pick it up free of charge at the respective post office.

At this point, the program number (P-4-06027) and your Sevis-

number, which you can find in your MyAuPairCare portal. It starts with N000 or N001.


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Step 10: Please confirm again the desired pick-up or delivery option.

Step 11: click „continue“


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Step 11: Click 'Yes' (German citizen or EU country)

Step 12: Click 'Yes' (physically present)


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Step 13: Click 'No'

(for all those who are have not yet been an au pair, intern or high school student in the USA)

Step 14: If you have chosen to have your passport delivered by post, you must now first

pay the corresponding shipping fee. For this you need a Visa or Maestro Card. Only if

you can proceed with the payment of the visa application fee.


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Step 15: Select payment option for payment of embassy fee

Easiest method: Cash Payment or Online Bank Transfer

A second window opens, in which all information - including the CGI Reference Number - is displayed.

and the amount to be paid - to pay the visa application fee.)


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Step 13: Please make the transfer according to your chosen payment option.

Approximately 2 business days after the transfer of the fee to the embassy, you should receive an

email with the following wording:

‚Receipt number XY has been activated and you can now schedule an appointment at

www.ustraveldocs.com’

Please also check in the spam folder whether there is such an e-mail in it. If you can't find this e-mail,

continue with Step 14 48 hours later at the latest.

Step 14: Please now schedule an appointment with the embassy online and let us know the date and

time as soon as possible!

To do this, repeat steps 1 through 12 described above. However, the points are already prefilled. Then

you will be asked to enter your CGI Reference Number. As soon as the money has arrived at the embassy,

you can choose a date. If the money has not arrived yet, you won't make any progress for the time being.

Please try again at a later date.

F SEVIS I-901 RECEIPT

Step 1: Visit the following website of the Department of Homeland Security:

https://www.fmjfee.com/#

Step 2: Click on the “Check Status” button

Step 3: Enter your SEVIS number, surname and date of birth.

The Sevis number begins with "N", usually with "N00". You can find it on the

DS-2019 form or in your MyAuPairCare portal. Wear your last name and your birth date.

date (month/day/year) and click "Check Status" again.

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/

https://www.fmjfee.com/


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Step 4: Click “View Payment Confirmation”

Step 5: Please print the document and take it with you to your appointment at the embassy.


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G VERIFICATION OF THE VISA

You've taken the last important step before you left for the U.S. and you're holding

now your visa in your hands. Please check again if all data is correct!

✓ Last name (umlauts are displayed as ae, oe or ue and ß as ss)

✓ First name (umlauts are represented as ae, oe or ue and ß as ss)

✓ Passport number (as it appears in the passport)

✓ M = Multiple Entries While Valid

✓ J-1 (always!)

✓ Date of birth (in the written evidence: day/month/year)

✓ sex

✓ Expiration date (refers to the validity of the visa - There are always 12 months. The travel month is

not part of the visa. You can still travel within the USA during this period.)

✓ SEVIS Number (must match DS-2019)


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H CONTACT INFO US EMBASSY/CONSULATES

UNITED KINGDOM

U.S. Embassy London 33 Nine Elms Lane London, SW11 7US United Kingdom Phone: [44] (0)20 7499-9000

IRELAND U.S. Embassy Dublin 42 Elgin Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Phone: +353 1 668-8777

ITALY Ambasciata USA Roma Vittorio Veneto 121 00187 Roma Telefono: (+39) 06.46741

FINLAND The U.S. Embassy in Finland Consular Section – Visa Unit Itäinen Puistotie 14 B 00140 Helsinki, Finland Phone Number: +358-9-616-250 Website: https://fi.usembassy.gov

CZECH REPUBLIC U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic Tržište 15, Prague 1, Czech Republic Phone Number: +420-257-022-000 Fax: +420-257-022-809 Website: http://cz.usembassy.gov/

https://fi.usembassy.gov/

http://cz.usembassy.gov/

step by step guide for visa application · forms required for the appointment at the embassy...

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