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Booking a U.S. Visa Appointment in Germany
Applicants in Germany book through USTravelDocs, not AIS. There are three posts — Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich — and the security regime is one of the tightest in Europe, with one unusually candid concession about what to do with your things.
Nothing can be booked until the DS-160 is submitted and the visa fee has activated. The general sequence is on how to book a U.S. visa appointment; this page covers what Germany publishes.
We read the Germany USTravelDocs pages on 17 September 2026.
Three posts
| Post | City |
|---|---|
| U.S. Embassy | Berlin |
| U.S. Consulate | Frankfurt |
| U.S. Consulate | Munich |
Each keeps its own calendar, so check more than one before concluding there is nothing.
One small purse, and everything is searched
All visitors and items brought into the Embassy or Consulates are subject to a complete search.
Bags: "Bags, with the exception of one small purse or equivalent, are also not allowed." That is the whole allowance.
Not admitted: cell phones and other electronic devices — the list names smartwatches, fitness trackers, tablets, laptops, earphones, cameras, Bluetooth tracking devices and other recording devices. Sharp objects, weapons and explosives. Cigarettes, cigars, matches and lighters. Sealed envelopes or packages.
"Bluetooth tracking devices" deserves a sentence of its own. An AirTag or Tile in a bag or wallet is exactly that, and it is easy to forget one is there.
Liquids and food are prohibited, with a real exception: small quantities for babies or small children, or for applicants with medical necessity, in plastic containers — no glass. If you need medication or a medical liquid, it may come in, but decant it out of glass first.
On rainy days a small collapsible umbrella with no sharp points may be brought as far as the Consular security checkpoint. Large umbrellas are not permitted.
Germany is honest about the storage problem
Most posts say only that nothing is stored. Germany says that, and then says what people actually do about it:
Neither the Embassy nor the Consulates have storage facilities. We strongly discourage you from bringing the above prohibited items. If you must bring these items with you, there are private companies that provide storage facilities for a fee. These companies are not sanctioned by or otherwise affiliated with the U.S. government, and the U.S. government takes no responsibility for items left in their care.
That is a useful acknowledgement and a clear warning at the same time: paid lockers near the posts exist, they are nothing to do with the mission, and anything you leave there is at your own risk.
Why no slots appear
- The fee has not activated. Check the method you used on the Germany fee guide.
- That post has no availability. Germany has three — check Frankfurt and Munich as well as Berlin.
- You created a profile on AIS instead of USTravelDocs. It will never show German appointments — see which appointment site is yours.
- The DS-160 was saved but never submitted, so no confirmation number exists.
Frequently asked questions
What bag can I take into a U.S. post in Germany?
One small purse or equivalent. Everything larger is refused, and every item is searched.
Can I bring my phone?
No. Cell phones are prohibited along with smartwatches, fitness trackers, tablets, laptops, earphones and cameras, and there is no storage on site.
What about an AirTag in my bag?
Bluetooth tracking devices are named on the prohibited list. Take it out before you travel to the appointment.
I need to carry medication. Is that allowed?
Liquids are prohibited except in small quantities for babies and small children, or for applicants with medical necessity — and they must be in plastic containers, not glass.
Can I bring an umbrella if it is raining?
A small collapsible umbrella with no sharp points may be brought to the security checkpoint. Large umbrellas are not permitted.
Where can I leave my laptop?
Not at the post. Germany notes that private paid storage companies operate nearby, while stating they are not affiliated with the U.S. government and that it takes no responsibility for items left with them.
Official sources
- USTravelDocs Germany — interview and security pages, read 17 September 2026
- U.S. Mission Germany