German Consulate Miami – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Germany Schengen Visa

Germany has a lot to offer prospective visitors and if you’re planning on going to this Schengen country, you’ll have a plethora of exciting things awaiting you. Modern cities like Berlin for its nightlife, shopping, and buzzing nightlife; Cologne for beautiful buildings and archaeological sites, and Dusseldorf for fashion. Stunning valleys and wine country, forest, lakes, snowy mountains, and a coastline with sandy beaches and picturesque islands. What are you waiting for? In this article learn more about how to apply for Germany visa at the German consulate in Miami, Florida, Germany visa appointment booking, Processing time at the German visa application center, flight itinerary for Germany visa, hotel bookings for Germany visa, Schengen travel insurance for Germany visa application, and Germany Visa Application Process at the Miami consulate.

Applying for Germany Schengen Visa from the United States

If you are a US citizen and/or you hold a US refugee travel document you don’t need to a visa to travel to Germany, as long as it is for tourist, transit, or business reasons. However, if you are a non-US citizen or you are in possession of a re-entry permit to the US, you do need a visa for Germany.

Please note, if you have a B1/B2 visa, you cannot apply for a Schengen visa from the US. You can ONLY apply for an Airport Transit visa and you must to do this in your own country.

You have to make sure you apply at the right German embassy and consulate. If you live in the following areas, you can submit your visa application to the German consulate in Miami:

1. Florida
2. Puerto Rico
3. American Virgin Islands
4. Bahamas

If you live in any other area, you must apply at any other of the 9 consulates or embassy that has jurisdiction over your location. Check the website of the German consulate in Miami for more information:

Germany Schengen Visa

There were over 2 million German Schengen visa applications throughout 2017 and 7.63% of them were rejected. The Consulate General of Germany in Miami dealt with 772 applications and accepted 764.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the German Consulate General in Miami

Depending on the duration of your trip to Germany, you can apply for 1 of 2 types of visas available at the German consulate in Miami.

1. Schengen visa – for stays up to 90 days
2. Residence visa – for stays over 90 days

Your reason for traveling also has a part to play in the type of visa you need to apply for:

1. Schengen visas are for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting family and/or friends, and airport transit
2. Residence visas are available for employment, family reunion, study etc.

You should take a look at the consulate’s website for more information about visas before you apply. If you apply for the wrong one, it could mean that your application gets rejected, and this is not the outcome you are aiming for!

Visas are usually offered as: 

1. Single entry – 1 entry during 90 days
2. Double entry – 2 entries during the 90 days
3. Multiple entry – No limit to entries during the 90 days

Schengen Visa Application Process at the German Consulate General in Miami 

The consulate in Miami aims to process visa applications within 15 days, but certain applications may take longer – even several months. You can apply any time between 15 days and 90 days before your trip, so it’s advisable to apply well in advance, so you can be sure there is plenty of time for your application to be processed. Applications received that are more than 90 days will not be accepted, so bear that in mind when applying.

To help you apply for your visa, here are 5 steps for you to follow one-by-one. This will make the process even easier for you!

Step 1: Complete your visa application form

First, go to the consulate’s website, and click on: “Consular services” then “Visa Information”:

Scroll down and click on the type of visa you wish to apply for:

Next, scroll down and choose the category of visa you want to apply for. I.e. tourism, business etc.

On this page, there is information on how to apply and what the requirements are when applying for a German Schengen visa:

After you have read this, scroll down to: “What do I need to fill out and bring” and click on: “Schengen visa application form (with instructions)”:

On the next page, read the information regarding the booking system:

Scroll down and click on the link,

The application form is completed using the German consulate’s VIDEX system, but you can only use this system if you are applying for a Schengen visa for up to 90 days. If you are applying for a residence visa for over 90 days, you need to complete a separate application form which can be downloaded from the consulate’s website.

Before you begin to complete your application on the VIDEX software, make sure you have your travel document or ID card and other information about your trip nearby. It’s a good idea to complete the application all in one go, so make time to do this. If you stop working on it for more than 10 minutes, your data will be deleted and you’ll have to start again. There is an online assistant to help you complete the application should you need it.

Once you get to the end, print off the application form, the Residence Act form, and the VIDEX barcodes.

Step 2: Book an Appointment

The next step is to book an appointment in order to submit your application to the consulate. You cannot do this by telephone or email. Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make appointments using the consulate’s website yourselves.  You will receive an email confirming the appointment with your own reference number once done. You need to take this with you when you visit the consulate for your appointment.

If you have had a previous 1 year Schengen visa or 2 previous Schengen visas within the last 2 years, you can talk to the consulate in Miami as to whether you could be eligible to send your application by mail.

Step 3: Prepare the required documents

Step 3 – prepare the required documents. It is vital that you provide ALL the documents required for your German Schengen visa application. If you don’t, your application may be rejected by the consulate, so it’s important to spend time looking at the consulate’s website to familiarize yourself with what is needed. There is a handy checklist for you to refer to:

You must provide originals as well as photocopies of everything. If you are applying for a residence visa, you may need to provide 2 copies of your documents.

Documents to prepare include:

1. Visa application form completed and signed – using the VIDEX system (Schengen visas) or downloaded (Residence visas)
2. Declaration of accuracy form and signed residence law form
3. 2 recent passport-sized photos 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm with white background. See the guidelines for acceptable photos
4. Passport with at least 2/3 blank pages, valid for 3 months beyond the end of your trip, and issued in the last 10 years
5. Schengen Travel insurance for a minimum of €30,000 cover
6. US residence permit or visa valid for at least 3 months beyond return to the US
7. Proof of address such as utility bill or driver’s license
8. Return flight reservation including dates
9. Proof of employment/student/retirement status
10. Proof of financial sufficiency – salary and/or 3 x bank statements
11. Proof of payment for real estate properties
12. Affidavit of financial support/birth certificate/parent’s passports
13. Invitation letter from family or friends, companies etc.
14. Details of any kind of event and/or proof of entrance for trade show etc.
15. Proof of business meetings
16. Bookings for tourist attractions/details of an address in Germany
17. Proof of accommodation

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2. Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Submit your file to the consulate

On the day of your appointment, get to the consulate in Miami early! If you are late, you may have to reschedule your appointment or it will be canceled. Dress smartly and DON’T forget to take ALL the required documents. The consulate cannot be expected to make a decision on your application if you present them with an incomplete application.

The visa staff will start to examine your documents. They may ask you further interview questions like:

1. What is your job?
2. How much do you earn?
3. Can you afford this trip?
4. What do you know about Germany and the Schengen zone?
5. Do you know anyone there?

If they ask you for more information, don’t worry about it. They are only trying to gain full information to be able to come to a decision. Simply answer any questions confidently and, more importantly, honestly.

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

You may have to provide biometric data – 10 fingerprints and a digital photograph. That is unless you have provided this information on a previous (approved) Schengen visa. If your data can be retrieved from the Visa Information System (VIS) it can be reused within a 5 year period.

When you are at the consulate, you will also pay the fee for your visa.  The fee can be paid by cash and money order only.

German visa fee

Step 5: Receive your visa

Once the German consulate has reached the end of the decision process, you will receive notification and you can either collect your passport and visa from the consulate or you can have it returned to you. If you choose to have it mailed there is an additional fee of $25.

If your visa application has been approved, you will find it inside your passport. If it isn’t there, it means that it would have been rejected for any reason. Typical visa rejection reasons include:

1. Missing documents
2. No signatures
3. Lack of funds
4. Invitation letter not completed in full
5. Passport is damaged

Your passport cannot be damaged in any way. If there are loose or missing pages etc., you must get a new one before applying for your visa. Missing documents, documents not completed in full and/or signed will NOT be accepted by the consulate, so it’s worth checking everything more than once before handing everything over to the consulate. You must be able to afford your trip and the paperwork you provide should reflect this.

Contact details for the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Miami

Address: 100 N. Biscayne Blvd, Suite 2200, Miami, Florida, FL 33132

Email: info@miami.diplo.de

Phone: +1 305 358 0290

Fax: +1 305 358 0307

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 10.00 am (Visa questions)

You can also contact the German consulate in Miami by using their contact form

Conclusion

Overall, the only thing you have to do to apply for your German Schengen visa is:

1. Complete your visa application form
2. Book an appointment
3. Prepare the required documents
4. Submit your file to the consulate
5. Receive your visa

Not much really when you consider what an amazing time when you get to Germany!

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

How To Apply for Germany Schengen Visa at German Consulate in Atlanta, Georgia
How To Apply for Germany Schengen Visa at German Consulate in Boston, Massachusetts
How To Apply for Germany Schengen Visa at German Consulate in Chicago, Illinois
How To Apply for Germany Schengen Visa at German Consulate in Houston, Texas
How To Apply for Germany Schengen Visa at German Consulate in Los Angeles, California
How To Apply for Germany Schengen Visa at German Consulate in NYC, New York
How To Apply for Germany Schengen Visa at German Consulate in San Francisco, California

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