Form DS-160 Worldwide Deployment

The Department of State has announced that it will deploy the DS-160 fully web-based nonimmigrant visa application form worldwide.  DS-160 has been used so far successfully in 24 consular posts and will be expanded to cover all consular posts by April 30, 2010.

About DS-160

The DS-160 application form combines all information previously collected on the DS-156, 157, and 158 for appropriate applicants, and the DS-3052. Applicants for “E” class treaty trader NIVs will complete the DS-160 and have to fill out a hard copy DS-156E until the DS-160E electronic form is fielded in the near future. Until further notice, K visa applicants should continue to use the DS-156 and DS-156K instead of the DS-160.

Timeline of Worldwide Rollout

The rollout will be in two main phases.  First phase posts must adopt the DS-160 prior to March 1, 2010, for all applicants, with the exception of K’s.   Those posts are Algiers, Algeria; Vienna, Austria; Manama, Bahrain; Minsk, Belarus; Beijing, China; Chengdu, China; Guangzhou, China; Shanghai, China; Shenyang, China; Havana, Cuba; Djibouti, Djibouti; Cairo, Egypt; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Paris, France; Frankfurt, Germany; Chennai, India; Hyderabad, India; Kolkata, India; Mumbai, India; Delhi, India; Jakarta, Indonesia; Surabaya, Indonesia; Tel Aviv, Israel; Jerusalem; Amman, Jordan; Nairobi, Kenya; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

All remaining posts not listed above should implement the DS-160 between March 1, and April 30, 2010 for all applicants, with the exception of Ks.