Hello Folks,

have looked around for info/threads on the forum - but couldn't narrow down on what I was looking for.

Would fancy a nice 5 day break in New York in May this year. To make this happen, I need to apply for a tourist Visa and stumbled upon an address of the consulate in Zurich.

Q: Can one apply for a US Tourist Visa in Zurich / per post with Bern Embassy? Would love to spare a day holiday from an already depleted allowance!

Thanks,
Vin

Have you considered checking out the U.S. embassy's Web site?

You may find such nuggets as:

"All visa applicants, except for those applying for official or diplomatic visas, will need to appear at the American Embassy for an interview. "

I guess that negates mail or consulate. But then again, I might be wrong.

I would call the Consulate, and see if they could accomodate you
there. It might save you a trip to Bern.

Cheers,

Come on, at least give him the Web link:

http://bern.usembassy.gov/contact.html

===Consular Agency Zurich===Dufourstrasse 101
3rd floor, Zurich, Switzerland
Mailing Address: Dufourstrasse 101
CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Direction: Take the Number 4 Tram in the direction of Tiefenbrunnen to the stop Feldeggstrasse".
Tel: 043 499 29 60
Fax: 043 499 29 61
10:00 until 13:00, Monday through Friday.
E-mail: Zurich-CA@state.gov closed on American and Swiss holidays

Oh, I can tell you that you have to show up in Bern, as they don't have the fingerprinting machine in the consulates.

Hope this helps.

Damn...finger printing again :-(

This 50mm x 50mm picture format seems a rarity in Switzerland. Went over to a Studio in HINWIL and the rates are really sky high!

Anyone spotted a Fotoautomat which can take these variables?

As far as I know you need to apply for US visa from your country of citizenship (atleast for some countries like India). It would be better to ask the US consulate whether you would get that visa from here.

A friend of mine tried applying for US tourist visa from UK and was denied saying he would need to apply for visa in India.

They also take normal photos. Chop them off to be 4x5 and they'll be quite happy.

Might I suggest when applying in Bern to show up before opening hours- they go by first come first served and the ques are rather long (or at least every time I've been there it has been)

Oh and FYI- Zurich doesnt issue visas. They handle passports/ notary/ birth certificates and SS paper processing.

You are correct however if a person's legal resident is another country (i.e.Switzerland), that person may apply in Switzerland.
The counsulate in Duforstr does not deal with visa. They only take care of US citizens matters.

I remember there's a photo machine in Bern train station to take photo for U.S. visa application. On the outside of the machine, it is marked "for U.S. visa application". However, you need to verify this since I did it in 2007. Am not sure if things have changed.

Is it still like that? I thought they changed the system a few years ago - you need to call them to book a time slot, and then you go there and queue with everyone else with the same slot.

Whatever it is, you should just call them to find out.

Yup, but it doesn't work since everybody still shows up way in advance and you queue up outside the embassy since there's a maximum of x allowed at any one time inside.