Urgent need clarification filling DS 157 form

[lawrgeo]

Hi Friends,

I tried to fill the DS157 form, I have some strange problem. In section 12 Listing of Last two employers.. In Dates Of Employment Iam not able to give from and to date. The is validated to* mm-dd-yyyy,* Could any one suggest me what date I have to give in this column? Start date or End date of employment.

Similarly in section 17 List of Educational Instututions.. Dates of Attendees, What date I have to give ?

Can I fill this form partially in hand? Please suggest me.


Thanks in advance,

Lawrence.

[andrewgibson2003]

2 Suggestions To Help You Complete Ds-157

You hit on a very common problem which many people are experiencing with this form. The updated version of the DS157 (which has "Expires 9/30/2008" in the top right hand corner) simply DOESN'T allow you to enter the full dates information, both 'from' and 'to', as required.

The good news is you have 2 ways to get around this problem - and I actually HIGHLY RECOMMEND you follow BOTH of these, so that you are 100% prepared for any eventuality once you get to the consulate.

1) There is a "firm requirement" or at least a 'very strong preference' (depending on the consulate or even the consulate official interviewing you) to complete the DS157 electronically (ie typed, not hand-written).

So, first suggestion is for you to go to a website hosted by the US embassy in London, where the older format DS157 is still posted, which DOES allow you to complete the dates properly, on a "from" and "to" basis. Here is a direct link to the form itself as posted on that website:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/add_males.html

Don't worry about this being the "previous" version of the form, because it is identical except for the "expires" information in the top right hand corner. I have been told by the US embassy to use this version (because of the dates problem) and to ignore the "expires" information because the embassy doesn't look at it.

2) JUST IN CASE (you never know!) I would also recommend you complete the more up to date version (the 2008 expiry version with the dates problem) and handwrite the dates in to that form. Don't offer this to the consulate official, but JUST IN CASE he/she does pick up on the "expires" date you can mention having pulled it down from an official US embassy website and the fact you had been unable to complete proper dates info in the updated versiom. You can then show the updated version, too, and let the official know you came prepared with both versions depending on his/her preference.


Hope this helps... good luck with your application

[lawrgeo]

Thanks Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Thank you very much for your prompt reply,

I filled the Q12 and Q17 in separate sheet as Annexure I
Then in DS-157 form I wrote in both Q's as ' See Annexure I'

Not questions about it. The interview went very well.

Regards,
Lawrence