European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 5, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday augusts 1987 the stars and stripes Page 9 submit visa paper work Early ins urges required for . Citizen family members by Crystal Laureano stuff writer Frankfurt although immigrant visas for the United states arc valid for Only four months . Consulate officials say it is never too Early 10 Start inc visa obtain ing process. People should nol wait until the last minute Loac quire the paper work for their spouses and children said Valerie Martha Blake . Immigration and naturalization service spokeswoman. The summer travel season and Peak Transfer periods often cause backlogs in processing. The bulk of our received petitions occur when someone gels pcs permanent change of station or ets expiration of term of service orders she said. The ins office in Frankfurt which processes All Immi Grant visas submitted in Germany receives 250 to 400 petitions monthly. Ideally immigrant visas should be applied for the Day after the honeymoon Blake said. And when Chil Dren Are bom overseas records of birth should be obtained immediately along with a passport. Immigrant visas Are required for All . Citizen family members most commonly spouses and step children. Reports of birth and passports arc needed by american children bom overseas. The first Stop for people requiring documents to move to the slates should be the sponsor s personnel Center Blake said. We try to work very closely with the regional personnel centers she said noting thai they often can save people time and confusion. Reports of Binh and passports must be processed through personnel centers and information on specific documents needed for visas is also available for personnel in Germany documents arc proc Essed by the immigration and naturalization service and stale department offices located Al the . Consulate in Frankfurt. The consulate in Berlin also will accept the documents and Forward them to Frankfurt. The ins approves petitions and the state department issues the visas. Petitions Are submitted in Belgium