Getting a US Visa in Germany

Or: The Road to Berlin

“What is the purpose of your visit to the United States?”

“We wanna hike the Pacific Crest Trail.”

October 2022, Berlin, Germany

We are standing in front of a glass window in a completely American room, even though it is on the outskirts of Berlin, the Capital of Germany. Wooden paneling on the walls, US-Flags standing on a plushy carpet. People from at least 10 different countries are standing in line with us. Everyone hopes to have provided the correct information in the application.

As we stand in line, I look through the folder in my hands.

It contains proof of the information I gave five months ago in May. It was a long way for us to get here. A year ago, we got our Sabbatical Contracts. Then we had to apply for a B2 Tourist Visa. Back then, Covid was still a thing in Europe, and people started telling us that the waiting lists were long in the embassies.

Originally, we wanted to apply in April 2022, but first, we had to organize a new passport for Annika, as her old one was going to run out shortly. Luckily the Citizens’ Registration Office was quite fast. Then we had to register on a website of a US service provider and provide every possible information. It was basically a CV. We even had to provide where we went to school.

Follow our journey on Instagram!

What if I made a wrong click? It takes up to 80 minutes to provide the information, you have to stop all the time and look for different dates from your past (when exactly did my Army service end back in 2007 ? For how long did we stay in New York again?) or to think about the vacations to different countries during the last five years. And trust me, when you are from Europe, that list can get veeery long.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it is the US’s right to check who wants to visit them, but on the other hand, it also made me nervous.

Now in Berlin, in front of this counter, I am still nervous.

Very nervous. My palms are sweaty, minutes before,  I had to breathe slowly and count backward from ten to zero.

But the Lady behind the window seems to be very relaxed and kind.

“Have you already entered the lottery for the PCT permits?”

“No, but we registered, the lottery will be next month”

Several Small-Talk-Sentences later, she finally says the holy words:

“Your visa has been approved.”

Deep inside, we always knew that there should be no problems with our CV or personal background, but somehow we’ve been nervous anyways. But hearing these words is such a relief. We leave our Passports in the embassy, they will be sent back to us after the Papers are ready (It took only two days to send them back to us).

Now that the most important things are done, we drive back to Central Berlin, totally relieved, and treat ourselves to breakfast with sparkling wine and all the culinary specials this city has to offer.