confusion regarding DS-160 / DS156, DS156K

[spoon]

I read on the Immihelp site that after Feb 1st 2010 online form DS-160 should be used, however on the link I got from the US Embassy in London it said to use DS156/DS156K. The petition was approved on Feb 26th and the letter from the US Embassy dated March 19th. Which is correct? I can't see the US Embassy site being wrong but at the same time the Immihelp site has been correct up until now.

[kishoyian]

Form DS-160

Uk Embassy most likely has not updated their website. I am going through the same process and my Fiancee website has new form DS-160 on their website. You should try an email to them with the question.

[nichole]

The London website is absolutely up to date. Follow the instructions they say and open every link to read details. And look at the small print and links over in the right column. And read the FAQ.

The forms for a K1 are:

DS230 part 1
DS 156
DS 156K
DS 157
IV-15 checklist

Some are in duplicate. Read their website instruction. Get the right kind of birth certificate. They tell you what has to be on it.

The DS-160 is for travel type visas and other non-immigrants. Even though a K1 is called a non-immigrant visa, the rules are more like an immigrant visa since the intention is to remain in the US and get a green card. I haven't read the page advising you to use the I-160, but that is absolutely wrong for London. I am 100% sure.

[Sansan]

The London website is absolutely up to date. Follow the instructions they say and open every link to read details. And look at the small print and links over in the right column. And read the FAQ.

The forms for a K1 are:

DS230 part 1
DS 156
DS 156K
DS 157
IV-15 checklist

Some are in duplicate. Read their website instruction. Get the right kind of birth certificate. They tell you what has to be on it.

The DS-160 is for travel type visas and other non-immigrants. Even though a K1 is called a non-immigrant visa, the rules are more like an immigrant visa since the intention is to remain in the US and get a green card. I haven't read the page advising you to use the I-160, but that is absolutely wrong for London. I am 100% sure.

And I am 100% sure you are wrong.
If you bother to click on the links on the side- the 157 no longer exists- showing that they've switched to the 160, but not updated this page.

[Bernie31]

Nichole and wrong - what you smoking dude(dudette)?

[nichole]

London Embassy website lists the following visas will use the form 160.

A-1/A-2 Visa Diplomats & Foreign Government Officials
A-3 Visa Domestic Employee of a A-1/A-2 Visa holder
B-1 Visa Business visitors, Domestic Employees, Academics, Researchers and Students
B-2 Visa Holiday, tourism, medical treatment
C-1 Visa Transiting the United States
C-1/D Visa Crewmembers working on air or sea carriers
E-1/E-2 Visa Treaty Trader/Investor
E-3 Visa Australian professional speciality
F-1/M-1 Visa Students: academic & vocational
G-1/G-4 Visa Employees of an International Organization
G-5 Visa Domestic Employee of a G-1/G-4 visa
H Visa Employment based visas including the H-3 trainee visa
L Visa Intra-company transferees
I Visa Journalists & Members of the Media
J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor, Academics, Au-pairs, Interns
NATO Visa Foreign Military Personnel stationed in the U.S.
O or P Visa Persons with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics
Q Visa International Cultural Exchange
R Visa Religious Worker


I based my info on people who interviewed this week and used the other forms mentioned. The link is indeed bad.

[immihelp]

Which is link is bad?

[nichole]

Which is link is bad?

London webpage with instructions for the K visa applicant.

Their forms link to DOS, which has moved the DS-157 link. London used to only require the DS-157 for males of a certain age range. Then in 2009 they began to ask for it from everybody. They are still wanting the same forms listed in their instructions at the most recent interviews and have not asked anyone to submit the electronic one.

These paper forms are currently mailed to London in order to get a K visa interview appointment:

DS-230 part 1
DS-156 (in duplicate)
DS-156K
DS-157 (in duplicate)
IV-15

[nichole]

Which is correct? I can't see the US Embassy site being wrong but at the same time the Immihelp site has been correct up until now.

And back to this question. Each Embassy has their own quirky ways of organizing how they want to get your information and schedule an interview. While Immihelp can give a general explanation of how things go once the petition is approved by USCIS, they can't detail the exact path every consulate in the world will require of applicants. It's up to you to read the instructions the consulate mails to you. Some let you call for an interview, Juarez lets you walk in, some let you schedule your own on-line, and some want paper forms mailed in. There are many subtle local differences at the consulate stage and Immihelp shouldn't have to keep up with each consulate's specific K visa procedure.

It's like voting. US citizens know they are going to be allowed to vote for President, but one website can't say if you personally, are going to vote in a church, or school, or barn. And they can't tell you if that place will have paper ballots or machine punch or computer. There are many local options.

[immihelp]

Nicole is right.

Every consulate in the world has little differences and it is not possible for us to keep track of everything everywhere as they keep changing all the time.

Even worse, for example, the immigrant visa instructions on all the consulates in India are outdated and sometimes contradictory.

Even worse, there are multiple sets of instructions for the same consulate that contradictory. For example, if you are going to US consulate in Mumbai for immigrant visa, NVC says something that is applicable to that consulate, US consulate in Mumbai says something different and VFS something different. Therefore, there are 3 sets of instructions even for the same consulate.

[spoon]

I just did what it said on the Embassy website, thanks for the advice