Germans must have a machine-readable passport with a digital photo in order to travel to the United States. In certain cases where a passport was obtained prior to the October 2005 regulation requiring machine-readable passports, travelers may be allowed to use their old passport. In most cases, however, travelers must trade in their old passports for one that meets the current requirements.
Travelers from Germany must fill out a Form I-94 as well. The I-94 form is called the U.S. Customs & Border Protection Arrival-Departure record. It is intended to help the U.S. government keep track of all visitors in the country at any given time. Many airlines provide this form and allow travelers to fill it out while in flight.
German travelers must pass through customs before entering the United States. At customs, travelers must answer a series of questions about why they are traveling to the U.S. and how long they plan to stay. Additionally, they must hand over any items that are prohibited in the country. Customs agents have the authority to randomly search through luggage as well.
In April 2010, the United States expanded its Global Entry program to German citizens. This program allows Germans to go through U.S. Customs faster by using automated kiosks. The U.S. and Germany consider each other allies and low-risk, so the program is designed to make travel between the countries easier for U.S. and German citizens.
Generally, visas are not required from German travelers under the Visa Waiver Program agreement between the U.S. and many European countries. However, if a traveler intends to stay in the U.S. longer than 90 or intends to work while in the U.S., they will be required to obtain a visa.
German travelers cannot enter the United States if they bring any prohibited items onto their plane. Such items include fireworks, gunpowder, explosive material, large aerosol containers and lighters.
