DS-160

THE NEW U.S. VISA APPLICATION FORM

Consular Electronic Application Center
The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok welcomes you to the latest phase of our ongoing modernization of the non-immigrant visa application process. We hope you will find this guidebook helpful, as it provides specific step-by-step instructions on the new DS-160 electronic visa application form. Learn more here!

U.S. EMBASSY BANGKOK, THAILAND NON-IMMIGRANT VISA SERVICES JUNE 2010 Version 1.0

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

INTRODUCTION
As of June 1, 2010, all individuals applying for a non-immigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok -- excluding K1-4 fianc(e) visa class -- are required to submit a new visa application form, known as the DS-160 Electronic Visa Application. The U.S. Department of State developed this new application with a view toward streamlining and simplifying the visa application process, as well as offering greater privacy protection for visa applicants. This new application form offers several benefits to our visa applicants. First, the new DS-160 simplifies the application process by replacing the previous forms: DS-156, DS-157, and DS-158. Applicants no longer have to worry about trying to determine which application to fill out. Second, as the information provided in the form DS-160 is submitted electronically and can only be viewed by the applicant and Embassy staff, the new form offers a greater degree of privacy. Third, the new DS-160 offers a family and group feature, so there is no need to fill in identical data more than once when completing visa applications for others in an applicants family or group. Finally, as applicants are no longer required to print the various applications forms and bring them to the Embassy on the day of the visa interview, the new DS-160 is more environmentally friendly. Once an applicant has submitted the completed DS-160 online, all he/she has to do is print a single confirmation sheet! This guide was developed to help assist visa applicants navigate the new DS-160 electronic visa application form. It provides a brief overview of the general questions that will be encountered during the DS-160 process. Some applicants may be required to answer additional questions not presented in this guide, as dictated by purpose of travel or other personal information. IMPORTANT NOTE: It is important to remember that this application, like the previous ones, must be completed in full with accurate and truthful information. Errors and/or omission in your application, including questions incorrectly marked as Does Not Apply or "Do Not Know" may result in your application being rejected at the time of your visa interview and may require you to resubmit the entire application and reschedule your interview appointment for another day/time For information on how to schedule a visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or for a list of other non-immigrant visa requirements, please visit the Visa Services section of our website at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/visas.html.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

STEP ONE: BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin completing the DS-160 electronic visa form you should have your national identification, passport, travel details, employment history, contact information, and all other important travel data on hand. The form takes on average 45 minutes to complete and will time out after 20 minutes of no activity. To avoid loss of data, we recommend data be saved to a hard drive, writable CD, or other media storage device (e.g. thumb drive) after you complete each section of the form. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE ENTIRE FORM TO SAVE IT. If you fail to save the data as you go along and the form either times out or you experience a problem with your Internet connection, the data will be lost and you will be required to begin the process again from the start. Also, please make sure that you have a digital photo that meets the standard photo guidelines for the DS-160 electronic visa form ready for upload. The following minimum requirements must be met or your photo will not be uploaded. 1. The photograph must not be older than six months. 2. The photograph must measure 2x2" (5x5 cm) 3. The photograph of the applicant's head must be between 1" to 1 3/8" (2.5 to 3.5 cm) when measured vertically. 4. The photograph must have a plain, light background; Full face view in which the visa applicant is facing the camera directly. You can find a detailed list of the guidelines at http://travel.state.gov/visa/guide/guide_3877.html. Finally, before you start with the DS-160, please be sure that you determine which type of nonimmigrant visa you need. Selecting the incorrect visa classification on the DS-160 will result in your visa application being rejected on the day of your visa interview and you may have to return to the U.S. Embassy on another day to continue the visa application process. For more information on visa classifications, please visit our Visa Classification page on the U.S. Embassy Bangkok website at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/niv_visa_classification.html.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

STEP TWO: GETTING STARTED Accessing the DS-160 Application

1. Access the DS-160 from the Department of State's Consular Electronic Application Center website at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ or the U.S. Embassy Bangkok website at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov. 2. Read the instructions carefully, then click the Start Application at the bottom of the page to begin the DS-160 electronic application.

LANGUAGE TOOLTIPS: The DS-160 electronic application is available in English only, however you may select another language, such as Thai, from the Select Tooltip Language window at the top of the page to receive tooltips in your language of choice. By doing so, a translation will appear as a tooltip when you mouse over the English language text. Please be advised that all answers, except those noted specifically, must completed English characters only.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

3. Select the location (city, country) where you will apply (e.g. Bangkok, Thailand), then click either Option A if you are starting a new online application or Option B to upload an application that has been saved previously.

4. If you are uploading a previously saved application, locate the file (.dat format) on your computer or media storage device by clicking Browse. Fill in the first five (5) letters of your surname and year of birth as requested for security purposes, then click Upload Data.

NOTE: You may at this time also choose to test the upload of your digital photo. This is only to test the upload of your photo. You will be asked to upload your photo into the DS-160 application during a later step of the process. Also note that if you select the Click here to review the photo standards guide you will exit the DS-160 electronic visa application and will have to begin the process again once you have reviewed the photo guidelines.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

STEP THREE: COMPLETING THE DS-160 Submitting Personal Information

1. Fill in your full name (first and last) in English. Enter all names fully and correctly, exactly as they appear in your passport. Include middle names, if applicable. You will also be asked to enter your full name in your native alphabet.

Be sure to include spelling variations of applicant name here.

2. Answer Yes or No as to if you have used other names in your lifetime, such as maiden name, religious name, professional name, etc. Please be sure that names match as written in your passport. Variations in spelling of names should be noted under "Other Names" in the "Personal Information" section of the DS-160. Please be sure that ALL prior names used are noted as failure to do so may cause delays in the processing of your visa application. 3. Indicate your sex and marital status. 4. Fill in your date and place of birth. If day or month is unknown, enter as show in your passport. 5. Fill in nationality and national identification data fields. Click Does Not Apply if you do not have a national identification number, U.S. Social Security Number, or U.S. Taxpayer ID Number.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

TIP: To avoid losing the data, we recommend that you save your application after completing each section of the DS-160. To do so, click Save button on the red toolbar at the bottom of the screen, then select either Save Application to File or Continue Application on the Save Confirmation page. If you choose Save Application to File, you will need to save your application to your computer and/or media storage device.

Address and Phone Information

1. Fill in your current home address. Please note that the DS-160 electronic visa form does not accept (/) as a valid character. For addresses that contain (/), please use (-) instead. Example: Wireless Road 191/2 should be written as Wireless Road 191-2.
1 2

4 3

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

2. Answer Yes or No as to if your Home Address is the same as your Mailing Address. Please be advised that your mailing address should be the address to which your passport will be sent if you are granted a visa. 3. Provide your home, work, fax and mobile/cell phone numbers, as applicable. If you leave a phone number blank, please remember to check Does Not Apply. 4. Provide your email address. It is important that you provide an email address in the event we must contact you in advance of your interview. If you do not have an email address, please click Does Not Apply.

Passport Information
1. Enter your passport number and passport book number, if applicable. Note: The Passport Book Number is commonly called the inventory control number. You may or may not have a Passport Book Number on your passport. If your passport does not have a Passport Book Number, please click Does Not Apply.
1 3

2. Enter Country/Authority that issued passport and where city, state/province, and country in which your passport was issued.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

3. Fill in the date the passport was issued and the date it will expire. Please note that in most cases your passport must have at least six months of validity beyond the date of your visa application and/or your arrival in the U.S. 4. Answer Yes or No as to if you have ever lost or had your passport stolen.

Travel Plans
1. Answer Yes or No as to if you are the principal applicant. If someone else is filling the DS160 form on your behalf or if you are traveling with a spouse or family member who is the principal applicant, please answer No and answer the additional questions. NOTE: All visitors for business or pleasure are principal applicants, even if you are traveling with your family. If you are coming to the U.S. in a category of visa that permits you to work (e.g. L visa), study (e.g. F visa), or get married (e.g. K visa), you are the principal applicant. You are not the principal applicant if you are accompanying your spouse or parent who is coming to the U.S. in a category of visa that permits them to work, study, or get married. 2. Select the purpose of trip to the U.S. from the dropdown menu. If you do not see the appropriate purpose of travel in the dropdown, select Other for more options.
1

Dual/multi purpose travelers must be sure to use the Add Another feature to include all purposes of travel.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

10

SPECIAL NOTE FOR DUAL/MULTIPLE PURPOSE TRAVELERS: Applicants applying for more than one type of visa MUST add additional purposes of travel by clicking Add Another. For example, flight crew members applying for both a C1 and D visa must select both categories from the Principal Applicants Purpose of Trip to U.S. dropdown box. Crew members who are also seeking a B1/B2 visa should add a third selection in the Principal Applicants Purpose of Trip to U.S. dropdown box. 3. Fill in your intended date of arrival and your intended length of stay in the U.S. Please note that if you are unsure of your exact travel plans, please provide your best estimate. 4. Provide address where you will stay while in the U.S. If you are staying with a relative (i.e., son, daughter, aunt, uncle, etc.), please provide his/her home address. If you are staying at a hotel, please indicate the name and address of the hotel. 5. Indicate the person/entity paying for your travel to the U.S. If an individual or entity other than yourself will pay for your travel, you will be asked to provide addition details about this individual/entity.
3 4

Travel Companions
1. Answer Yes or No as to if you will travel with others on your visit to the U.S. (see image next page). You should answer Yes" to this question if you are traveling with family, as part of an organized tour, or as part of a performing group or athletic team. Please note that you do not

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

11

need to list individuals traveling with you for the purposes of employment with the same employer. 2. If you responded "Yes," provide the name of the group or individual(s) with whom you will travel as requested.
1

If you will travel with more than one individual, click Add Another to add additional travelers.

Previous U.S. Travel Information

1. Answer Yes or No as to if you have ever been in the U.S. before. If you answer Yes, please provide complete and accurate information regarding previous travel to the U.S., including if you hold/have held a U.S. drivers license. If you are unsure about when you last visited the U.S., please provide a best estimate of past travel date(s).
2. Answer Yes or No as to if you have ever been issued a U.S. visa.

3. Answer Yes or No as to if you have ever been refused a U.S. Visa, been refused admission to the U.S., or withdrawn your application for admission at the point of entry.
1

2 3

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

12

Contact in the U.S.

1. Provide the name and contact information for an individual in the U.S. Your point of contact in the U.S. can be any individual in the U.S. who knows you and can verify, if necessary, your identity. Please note that if you do not personally know anyone in the U.S., you may enter the name of the store, company, or organization you plan to visit during your trip.
1

Family Information
1. Please provide your fathers full name and date of birth. If you do not know your fathers name and/or his date of birth, please click Do Not Know. Please also answer Yes or No as to if your father is in the U.S. 2. Please provide your mothers full name and date of birth. If you do not know your mothers name and/or her date of birth, please click Do Not Know. Please also answer Yes or No as to if your mother is in the U.S.
1 2

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

13

3. Please answer Yes or No as to if you have immediate relatives in the U.S. Please note that for the purposes of the DS-160, Immediate Relatives means fianc/fiance, spouse (husband/wife), child (son/daughter), and/or sibling (brother/sister). It does not include parents. If you respond Yes, please provide additional details as requested. Click Add Another to include details on more than one immediate family member in the U.S. 4. Please answer Yes or No as to if you have other relatives in the U.S.
3

5. (If Applicable) Enter your spouses (husband/wife) full name, including maiden name for wife. Please enter your current spouses information. If you are divorced, please enter previous spouses information.

Work/Education/Training Background
1. Provide complete information concerning your current employment status. Select your primary occuption field from the drop-down list. 2. Provide address of employer and additional employment details, as required. 3. Provide the name, address, contact information and other employment details for your present employer.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

14

4. Answer "Yes" or "No" as to if you have been previously employed. If "Yes," provide your previous employment information for the period of the last five years. Click "Add Another" to add additional employment history, as needed. 5. Answer "Yes" or "No" as to if you have attended any educational institutions other than elementary schools (i.e. high school, university, graduate school, technical school, etc.). If "Yes," provide the name, address and other informaton, as requested. Please note that for middle school/junior high or high school course of study please indicate Academic or Vocational. For all other educational levels, please indicate your major or concentration.
3 4 5

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

15

6. (If Applicable) Answer "Yes" or "No" to the work, education, or training related questions. Please provide complete and accurate information to all questions that require an explanation.
6
Be sure to note ALL travel outside your country here.

Security and Background Information

1. Answer Yes or No to the health-related questions. Please provide complete, accurate and honest explanations in the box(es) provided for any question(s) to which you respond Yes.

2. Answer Yes or No to the questions on criminal information. Please provide complete, accurate and honest explanations in the box(es) provided for any question(s) to which you respond Yes.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

16

3. Answer Yes or No to the security-related questions. Please provide complete, accurate and honest explanations in the box(es) provided for any question(s) to which you respond Yes.

4. Answer Yes or No to the immigration violation question. Click to the "next" button at the bottom of the screen and answer "Yes" or "No" to the miscellaneous security-related questions. Please provide complete, accurate and honest explanations in the box(es) provided for any question(s) to which you respond Yes.
4

Student and Exchange Visitors

1. If you are applying for a student or exchange visitor visa (i.e. F, M, or J), you will be asked to provide at least two contacts in your country of residence who can verify the information that you have provided on the DS-160 electronic visa application form. Please do not list immediate family members or other relatives.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

17

2. If you are applying for a student or exchange visitor visa (i.e. F, M, or J), please provide your SEVIS number. 3. If you are applying for a student or exchange visitor visa (i.e. F, M, or J), you will be asked to provide additional information regarding the institution at which you intend to study, including name of school, course of study, address, etc.
1 3

Upload Photo
1. It is now time to upload your photo to the DS-160 electronic visa application form. Click the "Upload Your Photo" button to access the DS-160 photo submission system.

2. Once there you will be given instructions on how to upload an approved photo for your nonimmigrant visa application (see image next page). Click "Browse" to select the location of the digital photo file you wish to upload. After you have selected the image (.jpg file type only), click "Upload Select Photo." If the system verifies the photo is acceptable, you will return to Confirm Photo screen in order to continue the application process.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

18

3. If your photo does not meet the guidelines, you will receive an error message with details on why your photo did not meet the image quality standards. Click "Continue Without a Photo" to continue with the application.
3

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

19

4. Click "Choose a Different Photo" to upload another image OR you may click "Next" to move to the "Review" portion of the DS-160 electronic visa application. Please note that if you choose to continue without a photo, you MUST bring a physical photo that meets the standard photo guidelines to your visa interview appointment.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PHOTOS: All applicants, even those who were successful in uploading digital photos during the DS-160 process, are encouraged to bring a physical photo that meets the standard photo guidelines to the Embassy on the day of interview, in the event there is an issue with the photo uploaded to the DS-160 electronic visa application form.

Review Your Information

1. You will now have a chance to review and edit, as needed, all the information you have submitted in the DS-160 electronic visa application form. Take time to review all your responses carefully. To edit your responses, click the Edit Information link to the corresponding section in which you would like to make changes (see image next page). PLEASE VERIFY THAT ALL INFORMATION IS COMPLETE AND CORRECT. YOU MAY NOT MAKE CHANGES ONCE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR APPLICATION.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

20

NOTE: Errors and/or omission in your application, including questions incorrectly marked as Does Not Apply or "Do Not Know," may result in your application being rejected at the time of your visa interview and may require you to resubmit the entire application and reschedule your interview appointment for another day/time.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

21

Sign and Submit Your Application

1. Read the information completely and carefully before dating, electronically signing and submitting your DS-160 electronic visa application. Enter your passport number and the code as shown in the box to the right of the data box, then click "Sign and Submit Application." Please note that clicking "Sign and Submit Application" constitutes your electronic signature, certifying that all the answer on your DS-160 electronic visa application are true.
1

Printing Your Confirmation Page

1. You MUST print the confirmation page (see next page sample). The barcode MUST be clear and legible on the printed page. Bring the printed confirmation page to your visa interview, along with your passport and any other documents that may be required. 2. If you were unable to upload a digital photo, you MUST bring a physical photo of yourself that meets the standard photo guidelines to your visa interview. WE CANNOT ACCEPT DIGITAL PHOTOS ON THE DAY OF YOUR INTERVIEW. 3. You may print the entire application for your records; however, you are only required to bring the PRINTED CONFIRMATION PAGE to your visa interview. 4. You may also email the confirmation to yourself or another individual (e.g. to the applicant if you are completing the DS-160 on someone's behalf).

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

22

Email the confirmation page to yourself or someone else. 4 1 3

Your confirmation page will look like this if you were not able to upload a digital photo.

NOTE: The confirmation form is NOT A VISA. It serves as confirmation that the completed DS160 electronic visa application form has been transmitted to the Embassy/Consulate that was indicated in the first step of the application process. In all but a few cases, individual applicants MUST appear for a visa interview in order to complete the visa application process.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

23

Family and Group Option

The new DS-160 electronic visa application form includes a new "Family and Group" option that allows applicants to copy certain information into a new DS-160 application form. On the Thank You page you will see an option to create a family or group application. When you select this option, certain information from your application will automatically be imported to and displayed on a new application. Please note that you will still need to create an individual application for each of your family members traveling with you or for each individual within the group.

Other Required Documents

Please note that the DS-160 application form does not replace the following supplemental forms that must be completed and brought to the visa interview, depending on the selected visa category. Standard required supplemental forms include: Students (F visa): Form I-20 and SEVIS Receipt Exchange Visitors (J visa): DS-2019 and SEVIS Receipt Temporary Workers, Artists, Athletes, etc. (H, O or P visas): Form I-797 Blanket L1 Applicants: Form I-129S Diplomats and Officials (A, G or NATO visas): Diplomatic Note Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor (E visa): Form DS-156E Ship/aircraft workers (B1 visa), crew (C1/D visa), and journalists (I visa): A letter from the employer verifying details of employment, and a letter from the inviting organization in the U.S., if applicable.

Important Reminder
PLEASE VERIFY ALL DATA BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR DS-160 ELECTRONIC VISA APPLICATION FORM. Once you have submitted your DS-160 electronically, you may not go back and edit/revise the data. DS-160 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WITH INCORRECT DATA AND/OR ERRORS MAY RESULT IN YOUR VISA APPLICATION BEING REJECTED ON THE DAY OF YOUR VISA INTERVIEW AND YOU MAY HAVE TO RETURN TO THE U.S. EMBASSY ON ANOTHER DAY TO CONTINUE THE VISA APPLICATION PROCESS.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

24

Here are a few of the common errors applicants encounter in completing the DS-160: Incorrect visa classification. Be sure to choose the correct classification from the "Purpose of Travel to U.S." pull-down menu in the "Travel Information" section. If your purpose of travel is not covered in the list, click on "Other" for a further drop-down list of choices. Applicants who are seeking employment-authorized visas, such as H-1Bs, L-1s, H-3s should not select "Business/Conference Visitor" (B-1) or "Business/Personal Travel" (B1/B2). Doing so will cause your application to be rejected. Dual purpose travelers MUST be sure to include all relevant purposes of travel in the Travel Plans section of the application. Incomplete or incorrect names. Enter all names fully and correctly in English characters, exactly as they appear on the passport. All middle names should be entered. Variations in spelling of names and aliases should be noted under "Other Names" in the "Personal Information" section of the DS-160. Please be sure that you note ALL prior names and aliases used, as failure to do so may cause delays in the processing of your visa application.

STEP FOUR: WHAT'S NEXT?

In Thailand, non-immigrant visa interviews are conducted by appointment only. To make an appointment for a non-immigrant visa, please visit http://thailand.us-visaservices.com or contact the Visa Call Center at 001-800-13-202-2457. You must purchase a personal identification number (PIN) in order to access the visa information and non-immigrant visa appointment services. PINs can be purchased online, by phone at 001-800-13-202-2457 with a credit card, or at participating Thailand Post Offices. For detailed information on how to purchase and use a PIN, please consult the How to Purchase and Use a PIN instruction guide on the U.S. Embassy Bangkok website. Please be advised that to schedule a visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy through our visa services center, you will be required to provide your DS-160 confirmation number, which can be found on the DS-160 "Confirmation" page. Most non-immigrant visa applicants also must pay a non-refundable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee. The only exceptions

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

25

are people instructed by a consular officer not to pay the MRV application fee are exempt. The amount of the MRV application fee depends on the type of visa you are requesting. MRV application fees must be paid in the Thai baht equivalent of the following dollar amounts: Visitors for Business or Tourism, Students, or Exchange Visitors (Category B, F, J, or M): US$140 Petition-Based Employment and Work Visas (Category H, L, O, P, Q, or R): US$150 Treaty Trader and Investor (Category E): US$390 Fianc(e) (Category K): US$350 All other visa categories: US$140 The MRV application fee can be paid at any one of 260 designated Thai Post offices nationwide. You cannot pay the visa application fee at the U.S. Embassy Consular Section. Save your visa application fee receipt and bring it with you on the day of your interview. For general information about MRV application fees, please visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1263.html. Once you have (1) completed your DS-160 electronic visa application, (2) made your visa appointment, and (3) paid your MRV application fee, you are ready to appear for your visa interview! Gather the documents you must bring with you on the day of your interview: Printout of your DS-160 application confirmation page with barcode clear and legible; Original MRV application fee receipt paid at Thai Post; Current valid passport; Appointment confirmation page from VisaPoint; and Other required documents (Note: These vary based on your visa category and individual circumstances). Please note that applicants should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled interview. If you arrive more than 30 minutes before your scheduled interview, you will be asked to wait outside of the Embassy. If you arrive more than an hour after your scheduled appointment, you will not be permitted entry and will be required to make a new appointment. For more on what to expect on the appointment day, please consult the How to Apply for a U.S. Visa checklist on the U.S. Embassy website.

The DS-160 Electronic Visa Application Form: A Step-by-Step Guide

26

QUESTIONS?
We hope that this step-by-step guide to the new DS-160 electronic visa application form has been helpful. If you have additional questions or concerns, we suggest you review these Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have questions or concerns, please consult the following resources: Visa Information and Appointment Website: http://thailand.us-visaservices.com Live Call Center Service: 001-800-13-202-2457 (fees apply) Non-immigrant Visas Information Recording: Tel: +66-2-205-5003 (English) or +66-2-2055007 (Thai) Email: [email protected]