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Visa Requirements #germany

KAREN SAUNDERS
 

 

On Mon, 8 Mar 2021 at 13:02, KAREN SAUNDERS <saunderskcl@...> wrote:
My mother’s family were unable to emigrate from Berlin because her bother suffered from a stiffening of his knee. The family had been trying for a number of years to emigrate as a family but ultimately my mother was placed on a late Kindertransport and her remaining family murdered. I am wondering if anyone might have information on the health examinations required for the elusive visas and records of such. 
Any insight would be greatly appreciated. 
 
In recent times my 91 year old mother is voicing, in no uncertain terms, her anger and angst at the tragedy and her view of an unjust world. 😥
Karen Saunders
(Frank family from Berlin)
 
Joel Weintraub
 

Hi Karen,
When Visas were established in the U.S. starting in the early 1920s, many of the screening exams at the U.S. Immigration ports such as Ellis Island were taken over by the U.S. Consulates abroad.  The immigrant(s) may have filled out a "Declaration of Alien About To Depart For The United States".  They may have had to show an "Affidavit In Support Of Application For Visa" filled out by some person in the United States that was notarized that they swore they could maintain the person once they arrived in the U.S.  The consulate was also responsible for giving a literacy test to the potential immigrant that they had to pass unless they were going to a close relative (mother, father, etc.) already in U.S.  After the 1924 quotas, the number of immigrants allowed entry from southern and eastern Europe were drastically reduced.  The consulate was also responsible for the medical exam.  I'm not sure how extensive that was.  I have in my files as part of the visa documents and passport of one immigrant the result of a physical exam. I'm attaching it to my post as it's the only one I've ever seen.  As you will see, the concern was with infectious diseases, not physical ailments. But that's only a sample of one.  So there were a number of hurdles for immigrants to get Visas.  The U.S. did not welcome immigrants with open arms during this period of time from certain areas of the world.  
Joel Weintraub
Dana Point, CA
Barbara Algaze
 

My Mother's sister, her husband and my young cousin could not enter the United States in February 1939 when they were trying to get out of Germany because my Uncle had Parkinson's Disease.  They ended up in Palestine.  I think they knew this because they never even tried to get into the U.S.

Barbara Algaze
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