tourist visa for Russian wife of a German citizen

11-01-2003, 07:06 PM

Hi,

as a German citizen I benefited many times from the Visa Waiver Program
by being able to visit the United States without a visa in the last
couple of years. During that time I became a big fan of the U.S. and I
would like to go on holiday in the future as well.

Next year I am going to marry my Russian girlfriend, and she will move
to Germany and get a permanent right to stay in Germany.

We would like to go on holiday in the US in the future after we are
married. What rules apply for her in this case? She will still be a
Russian cititzen for at least 5 years, so I assume the rules for all
Russian citizens apply for her. On the other hand she is a legaly
married to a German citizen and is living in Germany under German law.
Is there any chance the Visa Waiver Program for Geman citzens could
apply for her as well as they do for me?

If she has to apply for a regular tourist visa, how can she do this from
within Germany? Does she have to apply for this at the US embassy in
Moscow or her home town St. Petersburg? Or will she be able to apply for
the visa at the US embassy in Germany?

TIA,

Joern

11-03-2003, 08:07 AM

On Sat, 01 Nov 2003 20:06:04 +0000, Joern Bredereck wrote:

    > Hi,
    >
    > as a German citizen I benefited many times from the Visa Waiver Program
    > by being able to visit the United States without a visa in the last
    > couple of years. During that time I became a big fan of the U.S. and I
    > would like to go on holiday in the future as well.
    >
    > Next year I am going to marry my Russian girlfriend, and she will move
    > to Germany and get a permanent right to stay in Germany.
    >
    > We would like to go on holiday in the US in the future after we are
    > married. What rules apply for her in this case? She will still be a
    > Russian cititzen for at least 5 years, so I assume the rules for all
    > Russian citizens apply for her. On the other hand she is a legaly
    > married to a German citizen and is living in Germany under German law.
    > Is there any chance the Visa Waiver Program for Geman citzens could
    > apply for her as well as they do for me?

Unfortunately, she will still need a visa. Her legal residency in Germany
may make it easier to get, as well as the fact that she is married.

    > If she has to apply for a regular tourist visa, how can she do this from
    > within Germany? Does she have to apply for this at the US embassy in
    > Moscow or her home town St. Petersburg? Or will she be able to apply for
    > the visa at the US embassy in Germany?

She should apply at the US consulate in Frankfurt or Berlin (don't try to
apply at the US embassy; the Embassy wouldn't know what to do with it -
embassies never issue visas. The consulate in Berlin is actually in a
different part of town). Whether to use Frankfurt or Berlin depends on
where she (and you, of course) lives.

__________________
Remember, I am strictly a layperson without any legal training. I encourage
everybody to seek competent legal counsel rather than relying on usenet
newsgroups.

Please support H.R. 539, H.R. 832 and S. 1510. More information at
http://www.kkeane.com/lobbyspousal-faq.shtml

Please visit my new FAQ at http://www.kkeane.com (always under construction)

My email address in usenet posts is now invalid for spam protection. See
my Web site for information on how to contact me.

Please feel free to enjoy some of my photographs at my Web site
http://www.ingopakleppa.com ! Comments are welcome.

11-03-2003, 06:07 PM

Ingo Pakleppa - see web site for email <> wrote:

    >> married to a German citizen and is living in Germany under German law.
    >> Is there any chance the Visa Waiver Program for Geman citzens could
    >> apply for her as well as they do for me?
    >
    > Unfortunately, she will still need a visa. Her legal residency in Germany
    > may make it easier to get, as well as the fact that she is married.

I was afraid of that. Ok, we can't change that.

    > She should apply at the US consulate in Frankfurt or Berlin (don't try to
    > apply at the US embassy; the Embassy wouldn't know what to do with it -
    > embassies never issue visas. The consulate in Berlin is actually in a
    > different part of town).

ok, sorry for mixing that up.

    > Whether to use Frankfurt or Berlin depends on
    > where she (and you, of course) lives.

That would be Frankfurt... not very far from my hometown Baden-Baden.

Thanks a lot for your help!!

__________________
Gruss,
Jörn Bredereck

PGP-Key available: http://www.bw-networx.net/pgp/jb/public-key.asc