Many U.S. Consulates Now Require Online DS-160 Electronic Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form

All U.S. consulates and embassies will soon require nonimmigrant visa applicants to use Form DS-160, the Department of State (DOS)’s fully electronic nonimmigrant visa application, instead of Form DS-156, the paper-based application. The new DS-160, Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, is a fully integrated online application form that will be used to collect the necessary application information from persons seeking a nonimmigrant visa. The DOS has announced that all U.S. posts will require the online DS-160 form by April 30, 2010. Many posts have already adopted the form.

At this time, when applying at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate that is using the new DS-160,  only this form will be used.  Form DS-160 has replaced all of the following forms: DS-156, DS-157, DS-158, and DS-3032 in Embassies and Consulates that have converted to this new process. The exceptions are Fiancee Visas (K-1/2) which still require use of the forms DS-156 and DS-156K, and the Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor visa application. The nonimmigrant visa applicant should bring only the confirmation page during all phases of the application process. Click here to see the list of U.S. Embassy and Consulate locations that are using Form DS-160.