US passport renewal in Berlin

[Patrick2381 10]

Hi everyone.

 

I have to get my American passport renewed on Friday at the Berlin consulate. I read some of the posts on here, but they were mostly from 5-8 years ago.

 

I just have a few questions for anyone who has been recently, like the last 12 months.

 

1. Does the Berlin consulate have a photo machine? If so, how much? The photo machines at various U-Bahn stations meet the size requirements, but I have heard that they are not exactly 100% OK for the US passport.

 

If the consulate does not have a photo machine, any advice on where to get my picture taken to meet the American passport requirements without paying an arm and a leg and being left with 20 extra photos I don't need?

 

2. The dreaded visa transfer. I know that now the visa stickers have been replaced with an ID card which is quite expensive. Where do I go for this? Some people have said the Auslander office. Others have said the buerger amt (including a lady at the Auslander office). Anyone want to share their visa transfer/visa ID card experiences?

 

Apologies for the questions and thank you for your help.

 

Cheers.

[medic82 890]

Can't help you on your first question, but concerning the Visa transfer, As long as you keep your old US passport, and do not damage the page with the visa on it, then it should still be valid when used with your new valid US passport.

 

You will get the new ID card the next time you go to renew your visa. If this is no time soon, or you already have a permanent unrestricted visa, then I am sure you will soon get a letter in the mail asking you to come in and get the actual card version instead of the one they stick on your passport.

[Patrick2381 10]

Thank you for the visa transfer help. Much appreciated.

[willowhands 310]

A few years ago, there was a photo machine at the consulate (which made the appropriate-sized photos). I assume it's still there. Bring a bunch of change, I don't remember how much it cost, but it couldn't have been more than 5/6€.

 

As for the visa; it's not difficult, nor did it cost me anything (two years ago). You must do this at the Ausländerbehörde; I think you can even go in without an appointment (as far as I know; maybe that's changed recently).

 

I actually just got a renewed visa today (in sticker form), so it's still possible to opt for the sticker instead of the expensive card.

 

-willow

[techgirl 1,827]

We were in the Berlin office in February. They have a photo booth in the waiting room. Be sure you have correct change / coins.

[Darkknight 2,305]

@medic82

While partly true, the Border guards will want to see either a visa sticker in the new passport and/or the new ID card.

Not having it there can cause problems on reentry. The visa sticker is also tied to the passport number. Thus if/when

you get a new passport, the new visa must have the new Passports number on it or technically, its not valid.

 

Most consulates have photo machines that take the correct size picture. Like mentioned above make sure you bring

around 10 Eur in change to be on the safe side.

[craig520 18]

I was there just this morning, and can confirm they have a working passport photo machine in the waiting room. Also, be sure to get there early. It can take 20 minutes or more just to get through the security out front.

[Patrick2381 10]

Thank you again for all of your help.

 

Does anyone have any idea how much the photo machine charges? I am collecting my euro coins today.

[El Jeffo 42,119]

It was €6 the last time we were there, but that was a couple of years back. However, I can't imagine it being that much more expensive now.

 

Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of lining up with the non-Americans at the bottom of the stairs out front. Just walk up to the security booth (to the right side of the front entrance) and show your passport. Leave as many of your personal electronic devices as you can at home - you won't be able to take them in with you, and locker space in the security area is limited.

[perdido 6,083]

 

@medic82

While partly true, the Border guards will want to see either a visa sticker in the new passport and/or the new ID card.

Not having it there can cause problems on reentry. The visa sticker is also tied to the passport number. Thus if/when

you get a new passport, the new visa must have the new Passports number on it or technically, its not valid.

 

Most consulates have photo machines that take the correct size picture. Like mentioned above make sure you bring

around 10 Eur in change to be on the safe side.

 

They didnt ask me. They asked if I had an appointment. I said yes. They matched my passport to the names on the list and then sent me through to get scan. Didnt ask me for my card nor did they flip over to see my old visa stamped in the passport. Granted this was the consulate in Munich.

 

I brought change for stamps, and a large envelope. I bought my passport photos at a studio for about 15 euros and brought those in. Also try to have the exact amount of money for the passport. They are a grumpy group, most not even americans, but still they are the ones processing your passport. Quick turn around though. I want to say less than a week.

[Nick2Mil 5]

The photo machine cost 6 euro 2 weeks ago. The machine does not make change.

[Darkknight 2,305]

@Perdido

Dude, since when do German Border guards control access to US Consulates.. Reread what I wrote and you quoted.

I was referring to the Border cops at the airports. Nothing to do with Checks at consulates..

[camilleelise 202]

When I renewed my passport a year ago a couple weeks after renewing my visa (the new ID card system had already come in but they said I didn't have to do it if I didn't want to since I was renewing and not getting a new visa, so I stuck with the old system because it's much cheaper), I had to go to the Buergeramt to get the visa sticker "moved" (actually they just printed me a new one for my new passport). It cost 10 euros and took about 10 minutes (with appointment).

[AmandaUCSC 1,152]

I have a sort of related question - admins, if this goes elsewhere could you please move it?

 

I have the new card and am married to an EU citizen, so I have an Aufenthaltskarte. It is good through 2017 according to the front of it.

 

However, I had to renew my US passport this past fall and now have a new US passport number that (of course) does not match the one on the card. The card gives me the right to work at my mini-job. When I renewed my US passport and handed the card over to the (native German speaker) at the US embassy, I asked her "do I need to get a new card from the Auslanderbehörde?" She said "No, this one is good until 2017." Nevertheless, there is a further line in very tiny writing on my card near the bottom under "Anmerkungen" which says "Kartennutzung bis [date my passport officially expired]." Is it me or does this seem contradictory? Has anyone else dealt with this and what did you have to do?

[engelchen 13,040]

You need a new card because your passport number needs to be on the card.

[AmandaUCSC 1,152]

Alright, so the woman lied to me. That pisses me off. I explicitly asked her twice and pointed it out. Is there something online in German where it says what I need to do? Thanks.

[AmandaUCSC 1,152]

Ok so I found this online document in English about the eAT (which is what I have). According to this, yes, I do need to update my passport info - the question is whether or not this is something that they did or could have done at the U.S. embassy when I gave them my card? Given that there's a chip inside, there must be some way to check online, even though all the links to the online system seem broken on the BAMF website... I do remember when I got the card initially that I was also given or told to choose a PIN which I have somewhere filed away. Question is how do I access that info online and can I change it that way as well.

 

Update: My husband found this information online which as far as we can tell means I only need to go to the local Bürgeramt to do this... does that seem right?

[engelchen 13,040]

 

Alright, so the woman lied to me.

 

I don't think she lied to you, I just think that she didn't know what she was talking about.

 

 

According to this, yes, I do need to update my passport info - the question is whether or not this is something that they did or could have done at the U.S. embassy when I gave them my card?

 

No, the U.S. Embassy wouldn't be able to make changes to the card (unless of course they hack it).

 

 

My husband found this information online which as far as we can tell means I only need to go to the local Bürgeramt to do this... does that seem right?

 

I know that it is possible to have the AE stickers transferred at the Bürgeramt as well as have a sticker with a new adress for the cards, however, I don't think you can apply for a new card at the Bürgeramt (but I'm not sure).

[AmandaUCSC 1,152]

Yeah, no worries, my husband said he'll call the Bürgeramt Monday morning to try and get a straight answer. I really really really want to avoid the Ausländerbehörde if possible... I'm 9 months pregnant.

[engelchen 13,040]

 

I'm 9 months pregnant.

 

It is actually the best time to go to the ABH (and any other office in Germany). Pregnant women and families with small children always get preferential treatment. Take your Mutterpass with you (although you probably won't need it).

 

The ABH has also gotten much better with waiting times, but there were times a few years ago when I seriously considered borrowing a kid to take with me.