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DNA Testing
 

At your visa interview, the Embassy may recommend that you take a DNA test to establish the authenticity of a claimed biological relationship.  If this is the case, you will be provided with the following notice:

Dear US Visa/Passport Applicant(s),
The claimed biological relationship(s) has not been established to the satisfaction of this Embassy.  Absent other credible proof of the claimed relationship, genetic testing could provide a reliable means of determining and verifying your blood relationship with the relevant person(s).

The Department of State requires that any DNA testing for visa and citizenship purposes must be done by a lab that is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).  Names of AABB accredited labs can be found on the Internet at:

DNA laboratory

  • First, you must select a laboratory listed on the above website directly, and make the necessary arrangements (including payment) for conducting the genetic test.  At your request, the laboratory will send a buccal swab kit and explicit instructions to our post. After we receive the testing kit, we will contact you to come to the Embassy for collection of biological samples (buccal samples of the U.S. petitioner, if required, can be collected in the United States by the same U.S. lab or at the U.S. Embassy in Bern);
  • Biological samples will be taken by a panel physician or his/her approved technician at Embassy Bern. Swiss francs 100-150 per person will be charged for this service by the panel physician;
  • The samples will be returned to the designated laboratory for analysis;
  • The lab must send the testing results directly to the Embassy.

Note: When the laboratory sends the buccal swab kit to the Embassy, please advise them to enclose an international air waybill, preferably from Federal Express (postage prepaid), including the account number and the account holder’s full name.

If you want to make an appointment for sample collection, you can contact the Embassy by e-mail at berniv@state.gov

Please have the laboratories send the test kit to the following address:

Fraud Prevention Unit
U.S. Embassy Bern
Sulgeneckstrasse 19
3007 Bern, Switzerland

Sincerely,
Immigrant visa unit