Everyone who wants to apply for a US immigrant visa must fill out the Form DS-260 online through an electronic form. The purpose of the DS-260 form is to convey information to the National Visa Center which is responsible for collecting information from you and transferring your file to a US consulate where you live.
How to Fill out the Form DS-260
You will file the form DS-260 online where you will need your case number to start. Once you enter your case number you will be able to access the online form. You will fill out the form with the correct information and then re-enter your case number and submit the form. After you have submitted the form, we recommend printing out the confirmation page and presenting that confirmation page to the visa officer at your visa interview.
Section 1: Personal, Address and Phone Information
Within section 1 of the DS-260 form you will fill out any of the personal information such as your name, native language, mailing address, physical address, nationality, etc.
Section 2: Family Information
Within section 2 of the DS-260 form you will fill in your parents information, your previous spouses, and children information. You will also be providing whether you’re intending to bring your children with you to the US.
Section 3: Previous U.S. Travel Information
Within section 3 of the DS-260 form you will provide all of your previous US travel experience. You will provide the information on your last 5 US visits and your visa history.
Section 4: Work, Education, and Training Information
In section 4 of the form DS-260 you will provide information on your employment and occupation from your last 5 employers. Then you will provide your educational history, diplomas obtained, etc.
Section 5: Petitioner Information
Within section 5 of Form DS-260, you will provide all the personal information of your petitioner.
Section 6: Security and Background Information
Within section 6 of the form DS-260 there are a series of “Yes” or “No” questions that go over your health, secuirty, and criminal history.
Section 7: Social Security Number Information
Within section 7 of form DS-260, you will provide information on if you’ve ever applied for a social security number.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Form DS-260
Questions and Answers provided by travel.state.gov
What Do I Need to Complete and Submit Forms Online?
Immigrant Visa applicants must have:
- Internet access
- Your NVC Case Number (refer to the message you received from NVC)
- Your Invoice I.D. number (refer to the message you received from NVC)
Where Can I Find the DS-260?
You can access the DS-260 from the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website, by going to Immigrant Visas.state.gov and clicking on “Submit Visa Application and Civil Documents,” or on the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will apply. You may wish to preview a sample DS-260 (14.6MB) before beginning.
Do I Need to Answer in English?
Yes. All your answers must be provided in English and using English characters only. Applications submitted in any language other than English may be rejected, and you will be required to log back into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) and provide English answers.
What is the Processing Time for the DS-260?
As long as the USCIS has all the required information and documentation then the form will take between 7-15 months, depending on your specific case.
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