Complete Form DS-156: A Step-by-Step Guide for Immigrants

Introduction

Applying for a U.S. visa can be a very long and difficult process for any immigrant. In our site we try to assist as much as possible all the immigrants in the world that are trying to migrate to the United States and are given the chance to apply for a visa by explaining step by step how to fill out the DS-156 form.

As always we try to help as much as possible, have you ever been worried that a small detail or even the omission of some information could harm your visa application and therefore your attempt to migrate to the U.S.?

We previously explained the most common mistakes made by applicants when submitting their U.S. visa applications in order to help immigrants avoid mistakes and facilitate their emigration to the U.S.

Understand Form DS-156: Purpose and Importance

Don’t Let Your Visa Application Get the Best of You - Complete Form DS-156 Correctly!

The Form DS-156 is just one of the many visa application forms required by U.S. Law for temporary entry into the United States. For this reason alone, the form is very important. Incorrect information and even simple omission of crucial details on the application can cause delays and even lead to denial of the application.

Recently, the U.S. Department of State updated information regarding temporary entry into the U.S. Candidates should pay close attention to completing the required application form, DS-156, in its entirety, and truthfully.

There are many examples of visa applications for temporary entry into the U.S. processing smoothly and quickly, usually as a result of the quality of the submitted application. However, applications submitted outside of a candidate’s country of nationality or residence can experience extended wait times just to schedule an appointment for submission of the application.

Additional complexity to the process has recently been added when candidates are required to submit their applications at an embassy or consulate within their nation of citizenship or residence.

Gather Required Documents for Form DS-156

Many of our customers are encountered with difficulties in collecting documents required for processing of their applications for trips to the U.S. Below we provide a list of documents required for a start of the journey to the U.S. for different type of applications.

1. Valid Passport: Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your intended entry into the U.S. in order for us to process your visa application.
2. Passport-Sized Photo: One recent passport-sized photo which will be used for your application and must comply with American immigration photo requirements.
3. Fee Payment Receipt: The receipt given once fee has been paid for visa application is crucial to process the application as it proves payment for the application has been made.
4. Travel Itinerary: Your trip plan including your flights and your accommodation in the U.S. will be needed as part of your application.
5. Financial Evidence: Financial evidence of the applicant’s and/or sponsor’s funds to sustain in the U.S. while on a visit (copies of bank statements or a letter of sponsorship).
6. Employment Verification: A letter from your employer that describes your current job and your income.
7. Previous U.S. Visa Information: For applications such as B-2 (visitors) we also need information about previous U.S. visa requests that the applicant has made.

Gathering all the required documents can be quite daunting. Don’t worry though, we’re here to assist you. We require you to gather all the necessary documents and we will take care of the rest.

Complete Form DS-156: Step-by-Step Instructions

So there I was filling out the visa application Form DS-156. It is a form for a Non Immigrant Visa application, but I found it very confusing. In order to help those that are required to complete this form as part of their US visa application I have outlined the steps involved.

1. Download the form DS-156 from the Department of State's website or obtain a hard copy of the form DS-156 from the consulate where you will be applying for your visa.
2. Personal Information: Fill in the full name, date and place of birth, nationality of the applicant. Please note that all information supplied must match with the information contained in the applicant’s valid and unexpired passport.
3. Passport Details: Enter the Passport Number, the country where the passport was issued and the expiration date of your passport.
4. Visa Information: The applicant must enter information about the type of visa for which he/she is applying and for what reason the applicant plans to travel to the United States.
5. Travel Plans: Here you must enter the date of your departure from your country and the places you plan to travel to within the United States.
6. Background Information: Please provide information regarding past and present employment, educational background, prior applications for a visa to travel to the United States, etc. It is very important to be completely honest and accurate as any false information may result in a denial of a visa application.
7. Signature: The top right of the last page of the DS-156 form must be signed and dated by the applicant to confirm that all of the information supplied in the form is correct and complete.
8. Submission of the DS-156: Once you have completed all of the above steps for the DS-156 application form, print it and present it along with all of the additional required documents to the appropriate Consulate or Embassy of the United States for processing of your visa application to visit your loved ones in the U.S.

This simple guidance will help to prevent errors when applying for a visa to join loved ones in the U.S. by accurately and completely completing the DS-156 visa application at first attempt to join your family and loved ones quickly.

Troubleshoot Common Issues with Form DS-156

Most applicants fill out the form DS 156 online and many make serious mistakes. These errors can prove very costly to applicants. The errors are outlined on this webpage to alert potential immigrants to avoid mistakes in the form DS 156.

1. Incomplete Information: When filling out the application form for a Non-Immigrant US Visa (form DS 156) each section of the application form must be completed in full. This means that for each section of the form every item must be completed even if the information required does not in any way apply to you. If the information required for a section does not apply to you then in that space of the form enter the words ‘N/A’ (not applicable) to avoid causing confusion when the application is being processed by officials.

2. Document Requirements: Make sure that you have filled out the application form DS 156 correctly and that you have submitted all required documents with your application. Without complete required documents, your application will experience delays or even be denied. For a list of required documents for the application to a US visa, please visit the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website for the most current information. Many entry denials are due to incomplete submissions at the time of application.

3. Technical problems with the online form DS 156: In case of technical problems while filling out the form online, it is recommended to use a different web browser (e.g. Firefox instead of Explorer) and from time to time to clear the cache of your browser. Recent changes (e.g. new questions about your social media accounts) can cause problems with the online submission of your form DS 156. Some applicants were surprised by these changes.

4. Errors in Information: Even after your application has been submitted, you still have the chance to correct errors in the information you provided. Of course you must immediately inform the consulate of such errors, and it would be best if you informed them of them during your interview. Immigration services have experts who process errors quickly in order to avoid problems during your interview.

5. Interview Preparation: At the time when your interview is set to take place you will need to go over all of the applications and supporting documentation which you submitted. You should familiarize yourself with your travel plans as well as with the reasons for your intended visit to the U.S.. These factors will more than likely be brought up by the consular during your interview and by going over them beforehand you shall be adequately prepared to explain your point of view. As the aforementioned statistics report, those applicants who are well-prepared for the interview are far more likely to gain a visa than those who are not.

Follow these easy steps and complete your visa application for travel to the U.S. with confidence. Secure your future.

Conclusion

When filling out the complex US visa application form DS-156, it can be confusing for many applying for a visa to visit the U.S. In order to help facilitate the process for filling out your visa application, this guide goes through the information needed to complete the application, as well as the various required supporting documents for a visa application, and step by step instructions on how to fill out the actual visa application form.

In this article we will give you information about the basic requirements to fill out the form DS-156 and the documents that you need to start your application. We also explain each section of the application in detail and give you tips how to complete it correctly. If you are not careful, filling out a visa application can cause problems like delays, refusals or other mistakes. By reading this article, you will be able to fill out your application correctly.

We can make it easier for you to begin your process to enter the U.S. First, you must fill out the complex form DS-156 for a visa to visit the U.S. We at Legal Services USA can help you complete your U.S. visa application, including filling out of your application in Spanish or English as needed. We have the resources and the bilingual staff to answer all of your questions about the process and help you along the way, including other necessary forms. We provide free initial consultations and competitive payment plans to help make affordable legal services for obtaining a visa to enter to U.S. to visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Form DS-156?

Form DS-156 is a visa application form required by U.S. law for temporary entry into the United States.

Why is Form DS-156 important?

It is important because incorrect information or omissions on the form can cause delays or lead to the denial of the visa application.

What should candidates do when completing Form DS-156?

Candidates should complete the form in its entirety and truthfully to ensure a smooth application process.

How can the quality of the submitted application affect processing times?

High-quality applications are more likely to be processed smoothly and quickly, while poorly completed applications can lead to delays.

What challenges might candidates face when submitting Form DS-156 outside their country of nationality or residence?

Candidates may experience extended wait times just to schedule an appointment for submission of the application when applying outside their country.

Where are candidates required to submit their applications for Form DS-156?

Candidates are required to submit their applications at an embassy or consulate within their nation of citizenship or residence.

List of Sources

1. Understand Form DS-156: Purpose and Importance
   • U.S. Department of State Announces Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants Should Schedule Visa Appointments in Country of Nationality or Residence | Columbia | Immigration Resources (https://immigration.columbia.edu/news/us-department-state-announces-nonimmigrant-visa-applicants-should-schedule-visa-appointments)
   • DOS adds social media questions to Forms DS-156 and DS-160, Applications for Nonimmigrant Visa | Immigration Policy Tracking Project (https://immpolicytracking.org/policies/dos-requests-comment-on-a-revision-of-a-currently-existing-information-collection-from-forms-ds-156-and-ds-160-applications-for-nonimmigrant-visas)
   • DOS Now Requires that Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants be Asked About Possible Grounds for Future Asylum Claims | Tafapolsky & Smith LLP (https://tandslaw.com/dos-now-requires-that-nonimmigrant-visa-applicants-be-asked-about-possible-grounds-for-future-asylum-claims)
   • U.S. Visas News (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news.html)
   • Visa Statistics (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics.html)
2. Gather Required Documents for Form DS-156
   • Immigration Data Portal (https://cis.org/Immigration-Statistics-Data-Portal)
   • Recent Immigration Updates (https://oiss.washu.edu/immigration-updates)
   • Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuance Statistics (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html)
   • Immigration and Citizenship Data (https://uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/immigration-and-citizenship-data)
   • Visa Statistics (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics.html)
3. Complete Form DS-156: Step-by-Step Instructions
   • Case Studies | Visarefusal (https://visarefusal.com/case_studies?p=5)
   • Nonimmigrant Visa Statistics (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/nonimmigrant-visa-statistics.html)
   • Nonimmigrant Admissions Annual Flow Reports (https://ohss.dhs.gov/topics/immigration/nonimmigrant/annual-flow-report)
   • Case Studies | White & Associates (https://bridgewest.com/case_studies)
4. Troubleshoot Common Issues with Form DS-156
   • DOS adds social media questions to Forms DS-156 and DS-160, Applications for Nonimmigrant Visa | Immigration Policy Tracking Project (https://immpolicytracking.org/policies/dos-requests-comment-on-a-revision-of-a-currently-existing-information-collection-from-forms-ds-156-and-ds-160-applications-for-nonimmigrant-visas)
   • Nonimmigrant Visa Statistics (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/nonimmigrant-visa-statistics.html)