Ask the Consul
How to Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-156) Correctly
The Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-156) is the
primary legal document submitted with all nonimmigrant visa applications. Form
DS-156 must be completed online, printed, and brought to the Consular Section of
the U.S. Embassy on the day of the interview. The form and basic instructions
for completing it can be found on the U.S. Embassy’s website at
http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov/Consular/niv-forms.htm.
Applicants often come to the Consular Section with forms
that are either incomplete or contain common errors. Please remember that this
application is a legal document. When you, as an applicant, sign the form you
must first verify that you have read and agree with the information provided.
Inadvertent errors in your form may create doubts on the part of the
interviewing officer, so please pay close attention to the questions and answer
them carefully. The following questions frequently contain errors:
10.
Date of Birth – while this may seem very simple, it is surprising how
many applications are submitted with typographical errors in this field.
17.
Marital Status – unless you are divorced, if you live in “union libre”
this should be marked “single (never married).
36 & 37. If
anyone has EVER filed a petition for an immigrant visa on your behalf, you
should mark “Yes” in box 36 and the corresponding person in box 37.
38. The six questions in this
box are very important, and should be reviewed carefully upon completing the
form.
41. Remember to sign your form. We receive forms, on a daily basis, which
lack the applicants’ signature. This requires the applicants to return to the
Consular Section in person to sign the form at a later date. To avoid this
inconvenience, double-check your forms prior to submitting them.
Completing the form correctly is not a guarantee that the
visa will be approved, but submitting a form with falsified or incorrect
information will very likely lead to a visa refusal. The little time it takes
to review the form and complete it correctly will be worth it both for you and
the officer who will conduct your interview. | 
