How to Get Your Passport with the Visa Back?

How to properly address an envelope

If the consular officer has approved your application (see Non-Immigrant Visa Application Procedures), your passport with the visa will be ready approximately 48 hours later (weekends and holidays not included). Your passport will then be mailed back to you.

In order to provide the best service, we ask all applicants to submit a stamped (minimum postage € 1.45) self-addressed DIN A5 (half the size of DIN A4) return envelope for the return of the passport with the visa and the documents. 

You may prepare your return envelope for registered mail by submitting a stamped (minimum postage € 3,65) self-addressed return envelope and the prepared “Einschreiben/Registered" sticker (available at local post offices). Apply the top part of the sticker and the stamp(s) to your self-addressed envelope. Fill in the bottom part of the sticker and bring it with you together with the return envelope.

It will take approximately three days to receive your passport by mail. The passport cannot be collected in person from the Consulate. The Embassy assumes no liability for the loss of documents sent by mail.

We are unable to return passports by courier service due to workload constraints.

Applicants are advised not to make any travel reservations before the visa is actually granted. Please note that a visa is no guarantee of entry into the United States. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines whether you may enter the country as well as the authorized duration of your stay.