The New Form DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form: Frequently Asked Questions
On April 29, 2008, the Department of State (DOS) announced that it would begin implementation of a fully electronic version of the nonimmigrant visa application form. The Form DS-160, which is completed and submitted online through the DOS Web site, will replace the Form DS-156, which is completed online but printed out and submitted with the visa application packet. The Form DS-160 is currently in use at seven U.S. embassies and consulates and will be rolled out to additional locations over time.
The Form DS-156, still in use at most embassies and consulates, is partially electronic. When a completed Form DS-156 is printed, a bar code is generated on the form which contains some of the form data. This bar code is scanned at the consulate, entering that data into the DOS database and allowing consulate employees to avoid retyping all of the form data into the system. The Form DS-160, on the other hand, is completely electronic. It is filled out and submitted online, and all data from the submitted form is stored directly in the DOS database.
The following questions and answers address the content and requirements of the Form DS-160, as well as procedures for completing and submitting the form online.
Q: Where is the Form DS-160 currently being used?
A: As of January 2009, the Form DS-160 is currently in use in Mexico (Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Ciudad Juarez, and Matamoros only); Canada (Montreal and Vancouver only); Dublin, Ireland; and Hong Kong S.A.R.
Q: Does the Form DS-160 only replace the Form DS-156, or does it replace other visa application forms as well?
A: The Form DS-160 also includes data fields from Forms DS-156E (E visa application); DS-156K (fiancé(e) visa application); DS-156V; DS-157 (supplemental application); and DS-158 (required for J, F, and M visa applicants). As the form is filled in, the answers provided affect which fields appear next, and which visa-specific sections are included later on.
Q: Will any visa applicants still need to complete additional forms?
A: Some E visa applicants will need to complete the paper Form DS-156E as well as the electronic Form DS-160; others will not. DOS estimates that it will release the Form DS-161, an electronic form that will cover all of the information currently requested on the Form DS-156E, within the next year.
Q: Have any of the questions changed?
A: Yes. Although the information being requested has largely remained the same, some of the questions have undergone important substantive changes. For example, extensive changes have been made on questions regarding the purpose of the applicant's trip and the visa category being requested.
Q: Have any new questions been added?
A: Yes. For example, the Form DS-160 now asks for the applicant's social security number and driver's license information, detailed information regarding previous visa applications, the full name and immigration status of all immediate relatives in the United States, and includes additional security-related questions. In addition, all applicants are now required to answer citizenship and passport-related questions previously listed only on the Form DS-157. (The DS-157 is a supplemental application form with additional security-related questions, and is required of all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45. Some consulates require all applicants to submit a Form DS-157).
Q: What is the procedure for completing and submitting the Form DS-160?
A: The form can be accessed at the Consular Electronic Application Center Web site or through the Web site of the embassy or consulate.
- Access the Form DS-160 and complete the form online
- Upload a digital photo that meets the DOS requirements
- Review the application for accuracy
- Submit the application electronically
- Print the confirmation page
- Bring the confirmation page to the visa appointment and at all steps during the visa application process
Q: What if the system doesn't accept my digital photograph?
A: The system may reject digital photographs for any number of reasons, including size, color, lighting, proportion of the head to the rest of the photo, etc. A standard digital passport photograph should meet DOS's quality requirements, but if the photograph is rejected, a printed photo can be submitted with the printed confirmation page at the visa appointment. Be sure to confirm with the embassy how they would like the photograph to be attached to the confirmation page.
Q: Can I start the application and come back and finish it later?
A: After 20 minutes of inactivity, the system will time out and all unsaved changes will be lost. Incomplete applications are not saved in the DOS system. However, an incomplete application can be saved as an electronic file on your own computer and retrieved later. To continue working on an incomplete application, go to the Consular Electronic Application Center Web site and upload the saved electronic file.
Q: Can I make changes to the application after it has been submitted?
A: No. Once the Form DS-160 has been electronically submitted, it will not be possible to access the submitted form and make changes. Any errors should be addressed at the visa interview.
Q: Can I use my saved electronic file for more than one visa application?
A: Yes. An electronic file generated and saved for a previously used application is just a draft form; the application only becomes a unique visa application once it has been electronically submitted to the DOS system. You can save time by using a previously created electronic file and updating the necessary information. However, the electronic file is specific to the individual; you should not use an electronic file created for one person to create an application for another person.
Q: I am traveling with several family members. Can I create a family or group application?
A: A separate application must be created for each individual. However, after one application has been submitted, the system provides an option to create applications for family or group members. The system automatically imports certain information into the new applications. The imported information can be edited on the new forms.
Q: Can my attorney prepare and file the Form DS-160 for me?
A: The Form DS-160 can be prepared by an attorney or representative, and forwarded to the applicant as an electronic file. To review the form, the applicant must upload the electronic file to the DOS system as if he were returning to work on an incomplete application, and review each screen.
The Form DS-160 cannot be filed by an attorney or representative. The applicant must personally click the "submit" button, which serves as an electronic signature.
For more information or to access the Form DS-160, please visit the following links:
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