Morgan Lewis

Various U.S. Consulates Now Require Use of Form DS-160

By Immigration Practice

LawFlash/Client Alert

  • published on:

    11/24/2008

  • by:

    Immigration Practice

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Some U.S. consulates abroad now require the use of U.S. State Department Form DS-160 for certain types of visa applications. For nonimmigrant visas, the consulates in Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey, Mexico, and Montreal and Vancouver, Canada, require Form DS-160. Beginning today, November 24, 2008, the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong will require the use of Form DS-160 for H, L, O, P, and Q visa applications.

Form DS-160 is an electronic “smart form” that is competed online. Questions on the form will vary depending on the applicant’s answers to previous questions. Form DS-160 combines Forms DS-156, DS-157, and DS-158. Form DS-160 is available through the DOS Consular Electronic Application Center at http://ceac.state.gov/genniv/.

How This Affects You

Visa applicants submitting applications at the above-named consulates for the affected visa categories must use electronic Form DS-160 when submitting their application. When making visa applications, applicants should carefully review the instructions for their intended consulate. Consular websites can be found at http://www.usembassy.gov/.

Morgan Lewis will continue to monitor the process and will update you with any new information. If you have any questions about any of the issues raised in this Morgan Lewis Immigration Alert, please contact:

San Francisco
A. James Vázquez-Azpiri
415.442.1343
ajvazquez@morganlewis.com

Lance Nagel
415.442.1345
lnagel@morganlewis.com

Washington, D.C.
Eleanor Pelta
202.739.5050
epelta@morganlewis.com

Eric Bord
202.739.6040
ebord@morganlewis.com

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