U.S. Immigrant Visas: Completing Form DS-260

Tips to help you complete Form DS-260, the U.S. Immigrant visa application form.

This SlideShare presentation covers
1) How to get started
2) How to update your Form DS-260/retrieve your DS-260 confirmation page
3) How to resolve a technical issue
4) What to do if you are unsure how to answer a particular question

1. Immigrant VisasImmigrant Visas
Completing Form DS-260Completing Form DS-260

2. Completing Completing Form DS-260 Form DS-260 is the first step in is the first step in
applying for a immigrant visa. applying for a immigrant visa.
This presentation will cover: This presentation will cover:

3. How do I get started?How do I get started?

4. How do I get started?How do I get started?
Form DS-260 Form DS-260 is available online at is available online at
https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx
Enter the Enter the Invoice ID Number Invoice ID Number that the National that the National
Visa Center has sent you.Visa Center has sent you.
Select who you are from the Select who you are from the ‘I AM’ ‘I AM’ drop down drop down
list: list: Applicant, Attorney, Petitioner or Third Applicant, Attorney, Petitioner or Third
Party Agent.Party Agent.

5. How do I get started?How do I get started?
All All beneficiariesbeneficiaries and any and any derivativesderivatives are are
required to complete an individual Form DS-required to complete an individual Form DS-
260. 260.
Form DS-260 is dynamic based on the Form DS-260 is dynamic based on the
information you provide. information you provide.
You should answer You should answer all questions all questions truthfully and truthfully and
to the best of your ability to the best of your ability

6. How do I access a previously saved How do I access a previously saved
DS-260?DS-260?
If you have saved your application, you may If you have saved your application, you may
be able to be able to retrieveretrieve it at: it at:
https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx
You should select You should select ‘View/Edit’‘View/Edit’ from the IV and from the IV and
Alien Registration section of Summary Alien Registration section of Summary
Information screen.Information screen.

7. Why can’t I access my previously saved Why can’t I access my previously saved
DS-260?DS-260?
Once you have submitted your application by Once you have submitted your application by
clicking the clicking the ‘Sign and Submit Application’‘Sign and Submit Application’
you will be unable to you will be unable to retrieve retrieve your application your application
again without assistance from again without assistance from NVC, or the NVC, or the
Immigrant Visa Unit.Immigrant Visa Unit.

8. What if I need to step away if I am in the What if I need to step away if I am in the
middle of completing my DS-260?middle of completing my DS-260?
You may save the You may save the DS-260DS-260 anytime by clicking anytime by clicking
on the on the ‘Save’ ‘Save’ button at the bottom of every button at the bottom of every
page if you need to step away.page if you need to step away.
The data that you have entered up to the The data that you have entered up to the
point of clicking point of clicking ‘Save’ ‘Save’ will be stored until you will be stored until you
are ready to complete the form. are ready to complete the form.

9. What do I do if my application has timed What do I do if my application has timed
out?out?
If your DS-260 has been If your DS-260 has been inactiveinactive for for
approximately approximately 20 minutes20 minutes, it will log you off , it will log you off
from CEAC. from CEAC.
All data you have entered up until the last All data you have entered up until the last
time you clicked time you clicked ‘Save’ ‘Save’ will be will be stored. stored.
Any data entered after last clicking Any data entered after last clicking ‘Save’ ‘Save’ will will
be be lost.lost.

10. I am experiencing technical difficulties,I am experiencing technical difficulties,
Can you help me?Can you help me?

11. I am experiencing technical difficulties. I am experiencing technical difficulties.
Can you help?Can you help?
When completing theWhen completing the DS-260 DS-260, we advise you to: , we advise you to:

12. I am experiencing technical difficulties. I am experiencing technical difficulties.
Can you help?Can you help?
When completing theWhen completing the DS-260, DS-260, we advise you to: we advise you to:

13. The form crashes each time I add an The form crashes each time I add an
address, can you help me?address, can you help me?
We recommend that you input We recommend that you input oneone address address
and move onto the next part of the DS-260. and move onto the next part of the DS-260.
If you have lived at If you have lived at multiple addressesmultiple addresses, you , you
may wish to write the additional addresses may wish to write the additional addresses
on a on a piece of paper piece of paper and and provideprovide this at the this at the
time of your interview. time of your interview.

14. I’m unsure how to answer a question, I’m unsure how to answer a question,
can you help? can you help?
Answer the question to the Answer the question to the best of your best of your
abilityability, you will have the opportunity to , you will have the opportunity to
discussdiscuss the matter with the consular officer the matter with the consular officer
during your interview. during your interview.

15. Are all fields on the DS-260 mandatory?Are all fields on the DS-260 mandatory?
Most fields are mandatory. However, you Most fields are mandatory. However, you
can leave fields marked as can leave fields marked as ‘Optional’ ‘Optional’ blanks.blanks.
Some fields my give you the option to select Some fields my give you the option to select
‘Does Not Apply’.‘Does Not Apply’.
If a field does not apply to you, mark the box If a field does not apply to you, mark the box
next to next to ‘Does Not Apply’‘Does Not Apply’

16. Are all fields on the DS-260 mandatory?Are all fields on the DS-260 mandatory?
The application will The application will not allow not allow you to move you to move
onto the next stage or submit the form if any onto the next stage or submit the form if any
mandatory mandatory fields are left blank.fields are left blank.
If you If you do not do not answer all the mandatory answer all the mandatory
questions that apply, your form may be questions that apply, your form may be
rejected.rejected.

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