Requirements & Checklist for US Tourist Visa for German Citizens

Requirements for US Tourist Visa for German Citizens

Whether to travel for tour or business purposes, numerous Germans go to the United States of America every year to get that exciting experience. If you are a German who wants to visit the US, one question might come to your mind: is a US tourist visa required for German citizens? Luckily, the government of the United States permits German residents to visit the nation without a visa. However, they still need travel authorization to go to the United States of America.

The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is an online application that decides the eligibility of visa applicants to visit the United States. When the ESTA is approved, tourists get the ESTA confirmation by e-mail. Germans must have a valid ESTA. If the ESTA does not match the passport info of the tourist or expires, they cannot get on a flight.

US Tourist Visa Options for German Citizens

The USA has various traveling policies for several nations. Lately, they have begun the VWP (Visa Waiver Program), allowing people from different nations to visit the United States without a visa. Luckily, German is mentioned on that list.

This means that the majority of passport holders in Germany can get the benefit of this visa exemption. However, they still need an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

Electronic Business and Tourist Visa

For Germans who are thinking of visiting the US, the best way for them is to receive an ESTA, an electronic visa. The US provides this e-visa for business, medical, short study, and tourism purposes. One of the best things about an electronic visa is that travelers can apply for it independently. They do not have to go to the US embassy or consulate and not even schedule an interview.

An ESTA is a document that allows for many entries with a validity time period of wo years. It permits a German resident to live in the nation for 90 days. However, people can communicate with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to increase their visits.

Requirements to Apply for an ETSA

It is very easy and simple to apply for an ESTA. Germans do not have to waste their time going to the US embassy or doing complex processes. Instead, they only require some important documents to apply for an electronic visa, like:

An email address
A valid passport
A credit or debit card

Visitors can fill out an application form for ETSA and submit this form online to receive their e-visa within seventy-two hours.

Business and Tourist Visa

If someone is not eligible for an electronic visa due to some reason, he can then go for a traditional visa. The government of the United States provides various types of US visas for several purposes.

Remember that both B-2 B- and B-1 visas permit a German resident to live in the US for around 180 days. Both of these visas arrive with a validity of ten years.

For business and tourism, citizens can apply for:

Business Visa (B-1)

A B-1 is a non-immigrant visa allotted for commercial as well as professional purposes. Tourists can apply for B-1 to join a training program, meet business contacts, or attend a meeting in the United States.

Tourist Visa (B-2)

Germans who desire to visit the US for tourism can apply for a tourist visa (B-1). A German resident can receive a tourist visa to visit a relative or friend, spend holidays, or for medical treatment.

Required Documents to Apply for a Visa

There are different documents and visa requirements that Germans must submit to apply for a US visa, such as:

A visa application form
A valid passport
A latest passport-image

The Process to Get an ESTA for German Citizens

The process to get an ESTA is very convenient and simple. Let’s have a look at the process below:

Visa candidates need to complete the online application form for ESTA. This application form comprises your contact, personal, and tour details.

Personal information:

Full name
Gender
Country of citizenship
Date of birth
City of birth

Contact Details:

Contact mobile number
Home Address

Passport Details:

Passport issue/expiry date
Passport number
Issuing country of passport
Remember that if a candidate has any history of crime, he/she will not be able to receive an ESTA.
Furthermore, they will likewise need to answer different questions related to security and health. The Department of Homeland Security will properly assess the answers given by applicants.
Tourists should also submit passport details, like the passport expiry date and number. When filling out the application form, they must pay the visa charges using a safe online payment method, like a credit or debit card.
After that, they can receive their ESTA within seventy-two hours. However, because of high demand and subordinate checks, visa applicants may have to wait for some time to get their ESTA.

Do Germans need an ETSA for children?

Yes, despite the age of kids, accompanied and unaccompanied kids must have an ESTA before their tour to the United States. However, kids mentioned on the passports of their parents don’t need an ESTA.

Kids should have their passport (unexpired) if they want to qualify for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

Fortunately, a visa is not needed for German citizens going to the US for a short period, around ninety days. Many German tourists without fresh paper visas will have to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) to be permitted for a US flight. Also, an ESTA is not an actual visa. However, it works like a real one by allowing Germans to go to the US for a limited time period. After filling out an ESTA application, a tourist is informed of his eligibility to visit the US under the Visa Waiver Program.