DS-230 - List Trips to the US

[Tankgurl38 0]

Question for everyone from Canada, how many trips to the US did you list for the Question 25 on the DS-230 form? All you made in the past year, or all you have ever made?

I have no clue how many times I have been down there in my lifetime......lots....too many to remember.

How far back do you need to list?

[JillA 2]

I actually listed out on a word doc each and every visit that I could recall..... after finding out I didn't really need to do that, but I wanted to be safe. Maybe Sapphire can let you know what she did, as she did that recently I believe....

[Krikit 1,163]

Hi Tankgurl. We were puzzled by this question, too, so my husband called the NVC (or whoever the heck he called. lol) We were told that the intent behind this question is to determine if there were any overstays and they would be fine with the response we gave them which was..... "numerous visits but none beyond 3 weeks". They realize that Canadians regularly cross the border and to list all the visits would be next to impossible.

[Tankgurl38 0]

So I would be safe just listing all the trips I took in the past two years?

I seriously can't remember past that....damn blonde moments!

[Krikit 1,163]

So I would be safe just listing all the trips I took in the past two years?

I seriously can't remember past that....damn blonde moments!

They want all your trips. The text I gave you is sufficient. Just determine the longest amount of time you have been in the US at any one point in time and enter that. I.E. Numerous visits but none lasting more than x amount of weeks/months.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I just put "Multiple short visits between 2002-2008"

On the DS 160 - you have to list out the last 10 visits or something, so luckily I had a calendar that I kept with all my dates, so I broke them all out for them there.

I think they recognize that Canadians travel back and forth frequently. Honestly, I don't think I could possible list every date out as we have been dating long distance for 5.5 years and I visit almost every other month... so I consider what I wrote the most accurate I could be.

[Danu 19]

Hmm.. I can only remember the dates for the last 3 trips I have made to the states, I know I went down twice to Michigan for camp, and once to Louisianna when I was little, but I don't remember any dates for that...would it be ok to omit these as they were all like 10 years ago and theres prolly no way to find out dates? (we didn't get stamped or anything for the trips)

[Krikit 1,163]

Hi Tankgurl. We were puzzled by this question, too, so my husband called the NVC (or whoever the heck he called. lol) We were told that the intent behind this question is to determine if there were any overstays and they would be fine with the response we gave them which was..... "numerous visits but none beyond 3 weeks". They realize that Canadians regularly cross the border and to list all the visits would be next to impossible.

So I would be safe just listing all the trips I took in the past two years?

I seriously can't remember past that....damn blonde moments!

They want all your trips. The text I gave you is sufficient. Just determine the longest amount of time you have been in the US at any one point in time and enter that. I.E. Numerous visits but none lasting more than x amount of weeks/months.

Hmm.. I can only remember the dates for the last 3 trips I have made to the states, I know I went down twice to Michigan for camp, and once to Louisianna when I was little, but I don't remember any dates for that...would it be ok to omit these as they were all like 10 years ago and theres prolly no way to find out dates? (we didn't get stamped or anything for the trips)

READ THE ABOVE POSTS!!!!!

[Travis & Kim 0]

I put my last 3 visits and they were fine with that

[trailmix 77]

I put my last 3 visits and they were fine with that

So I think we can deduce that you can enter whatever takes your fancy

But seriously. You can just list your last three visits and if they don't ask about your visits to the U.S. during the interview - that will be fine - but what if the conversation went like this:

"So, you have only visited the U.S. 3 times?"

"Well no, I have visited many times over the years, but I couldn't remember them all"

So basically you have now lied on the form.

I'm not trying to make drama where none is due, but I think krikit's answer is the safest 'correct' answer and it covers the bases - just my opinion.

[Danu 19]

Lol. I did read the post krit. I meant for on the 160. If it asks for timelines, even if I put multiple trips over X period, if they ask for the last 10...hmm...

*hides from Krit's ebil hammer wimpering*

Edited February 2, 2009 by Danu

[Krikit 1,163]

Lol. I did read the post krit. I meant for on the 160. If it asks for timelines, even if I put multiple trips over X period, if they ask for the last 10...hmm...

*hides from Krit's ebil hammer wimpering*

OHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I rescind my ebil hammering.

[Danu 19]

Lol. I did read the post krit. I meant for on the 160. If it asks for timelines, even if I put multiple trips over X period, if they ask for the last 10...hmm...

*hides from Krit's ebil hammer wimpering*

OHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I rescind my ebil hammering.

Lol. For some reason I can totally see you running around with a little inflatable mallet. Ah well. My mind is all garbled so I'm not making much sense today. My appologies.

[Tankgurl38 0]

Thank you for your replies....that helps alot!

Hey....it takes talent to be an Ebil Hammerer!

[SapphireDreams 71]

I put my last 3 visits and they were fine with that

So I think we can deduce that you can enter whatever takes your fancy

But seriously. You can just list your last three visits and if they don't ask about your visits to the U.S. during the interview - that will be fine - but what if the conversation went like this:

"So, you have only visited the U.S. 3 times?"

"Well no, I have visited many times over the years, but I couldn't remember them all"

So basically you have now lied on the form.

I'm not trying to make drama where none is due, but I think krikit's answer is the safest 'correct' answer and it covers the bases - just my opinion.

Well it's not necessarily lying.... its answering the question to the best of your knowledge. I live an hour from the border and go for day trips frequently to shop - so there is no possible way for me to remember every single date. I mean I could if I wanted to spend hours searching my emails with my shopping plans etc., but that seems like a lot of effort for one measly question. Especially when I know I'm not even close to the 6 month mark. I suppose if you travel for longer periods of time and they see a pattern in that, they will ask.

I think for the DS160, the last 3 trips would be fine. You aren't lying, you're just stating the most recent and memorable trips. I think as long as they see you hold a job, travel back and forth semi-regularly, you haven't stayed. I'm sure they look at a variety of aspects - like how long you live in one spot, how long you hold a job etc. to better assess your 'risk' of overstay. I think they look for patterns... but that's just my theory.

I don't know, I'm a very laid back person, so I figure if they want more information I'm totally willing to give it, but I'm not going to kill myself over it or worry about it. I mean heck, I was going to get a letter from my Dr. for proof of Gardasil, miss work for an appointment to get the letter etc. and they didn't even want it!! All they wanted was it written in my immunization booklet, which I could've done myself!

Anyways, I digress. If you think you could be asked about an overstay, I think it's better to be safe than sorry and list out everything. I consider myself pretty black and white. We have easy access to eachother and are able to have shorter, more frequent visits, I have a full time job that I cannot just be away from... so I think that all of the other information along with my DS160 answer with my last 10 visits shows that I don't have any overstays.

Hopefully I'm not being too laid back about it all, I figure if they want more information they will ask and I will provide.