German consulate in Paterson
No German mission is based in Paterson. The office for this part of New Jersey is in New York.
Paterson
Consular districts in the United States are fixed and published, so there is no choosing between missions. New Jersey belongs to New York.
Between Paterson and New York there are 20 miles, some 35 min of driving at the speed limit.
The city lies in Passaic County. That makes it the 3rd furthest of the 8 cities we list in New Jersey.
New Jersey also has honorary consuls, at Philadelphia. Philadelphia can take passport applications, which may be a much shorter journey than New York.
The same question, answered for other New Jersey cities: East Orange (17 mi), Elizabeth (18 mi), Irvington (18 mi), Jersey City (7 mi), Newark (15 mi).
The full picture for the state, including every city and the other German offices in it, is on the New Jersey page.
What you can settle without travelling
Not everything on the German paperwork list needs an appointment.
- Track a passport that is already in progress: it is printed in Berlin and the six to eight weeks are set there, not at the counter that took your application
- Order copies of German civil records for a citizenship file: those come from German municipalities by post, and they are the slowest part of any descent case
- Order a German birth, marriage or death certificate: the registry office of the German town where it happened issues it, and most of them take an online or postal request
This is an independent directory of German consular offices in the United States. It is not operated by the Federal Foreign Office or by any German mission. Fees, opening hours and requirements change: always confirm them with the office before you travel.