Minor (i hope) error on DS 156 - HELP

[Ryan76 46]

My fiancee is in Colombia so we are talking about the Bogota Consulate...i'm not sure if that matters or not. I posted this in the South America forums yesterday and haven't received a response yet so no I'm posting in the general forum.

The interview is Friday so we're trying to get an answer on this ASAP so we can set our minds at ease.

Okay..the problem...my fiancee's english is only about 60%, so we decided i would fill out all her forms and then ship them to her. I checked and double checked all the info before completing / sending. And when she received the documents weeks ago a told her to read every word on them over and over again to make sure everything was perfect.

Well, last night we were having a study session via skype, and she noticed that on the DS 156 question 14 (national identification number - if applicable) there was a (one) digit missing from her "cedula" which is basically like her Social Security Number. I double checked my notes and when she sent me all of her info she actually made the mistake and I repeated it when i input the forms - not that it matters who's fault it is. The only thing that matters now is what do we do? My first thought was to just cross it out and write the correct one underneath. But I'm not sure how they feel about editing this form manually. Then I took the copy i made for myself, scanned it, put it into photoshop, and fixed the number. I sent her the "Fixed" file and told her to print them, but I also told her to hold off until I got some advice from you guys. I did some internet searches and I see some people saying it's no problem to correct questions 1-14 in pen, and other people saying you can't do that. And some people saying just take the form to the interview with the error on it and explain it to them during the interview.

Any advice here?

[JnB 6]

Hi! Why not just fill in another one online, instead of manipulating the one with error.

[Ryan76 46]

Hi! Why not just fill in another one online, instead of manipulating the one with error.

Well for one, it took me about 5 minutes to scan and correct it in photoshop...it takes like an hour to fill out the form. Plus it generates barcodes that are input into the Embassy system, and I don't really know how all that works if we need to make a new one. If we do need to make an entirely new form, it's going to take me like an hour to input everything, then I'm going to have to scan all 3 pages, create PDFs, and resend to my fiancee.

I'm just not sure what is the best way to handle this. Should I just have her call the embassy and ask them what to do?

The biggest problem here is that the next 3 days before her interview we are both SLAMMED, (yes i'm working on the 4th of july and working right now). My fiancee works everyday 8-5:30 and then goes to English class and doesn't even get home until 10:00pm. She also doesn't have a printer at home.

I just can't imagine it would be a big deal that we mis-typed her ID number by 1 digit, on a question that says "if applicable". I mean she will have her ID card with her so they can see exactly what happened. I want to tell her just to call the embassy and ask what to do, but she's nervous they will delay our interview date or something drastic.

Edited July 3, 2012 by Ryan76

[JnB 6]

As far as I know nothing goes to embassy when you filled out the DS-156 form online. It just generates a unique barcode for identification purposes.

I would rather spend an hour to take care of it and have peace of mind. It really is just a simple fix.

[Larry_and_Xinji 1]

I would vote for the photoshopped solution

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

The bar code that is generated when you print it contains the information you input for the form. Photoshop will not help get you an accurate and correct bar code. You can fill it out and reprint it as many times as it takes until you get it all correct.

[Calicolom 265]

Barcode has all the information in it, even the wrong number.When they scan the barcode the form will not match the one you photoshoped,this form will the be rejected, redo the whole form at a internet shop, should not take long, all she has to do is copy all the info and get the number correct.

[Ryan76 46]

Barcode has all the information in it, even the wrong number.When they scan the barcode the form will not match the one you photoshoped,this form will the be rejected, redo the whole form at a internet shop, should not take long, all she has to do is copy all the info and get the number correct.

But then she would have two different DS 156 forms in the system, right? Would that not be a bad thing? I'm not sure she even has the time to do this because if she missed a day of work she'll get fired, and she's planning on working until August 15th to save money for her mom when she leaves. And she's also wrapping up her english classes at night and has final exams the next few nights. She is literally completely slammed up until the interview.

I just talked to my mom's friend who immigrated from Colombia in the past and by no means is she a lawyer or anything, but she, as well as the people in the South America threads, seem to think we should just take the original form with the typo and tell them she just noticed the typo, present her Cedula so they can see it was just a typo, and they will correct it for her and all will be well.

I keep trying to find a definitive answer to this and I'm hearing all sorts of different responses. Some people say the bar code is just a bar code and number...no other information. Other people say it stores all information. Other people have told me on the DS 156 you can edit questions 1-14 manually with a pen, other people have said you cannot do that. Someone from Manila told me during the interview they marked up and changed things all over her forms.

My fiancee tried to call the embassy and they said they only answer questions about the K-1 Visas on thursday from 2-4pm. So maybe we'll have her call then and ask? But that's just SO last minute it seems like we're just asking for something bad to happen

I'm really stressing out over this. I mean are they REALLY going to make a big deal out of a form that has a 1 digit typo, even though she has her Cedula right there in her hand that proves it's nothing more than a typo?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

But then she would have two different DS 156 forms in the system, right? Would that not be a bad thing?

I just talked to my mom's friend who immigrated from Colombia in the past and by no means is she a lawyer or anything, but she, as well as the people in the South America threads, seem to think we should just take the original form with the typo and tell them she just noticed the typo, present her Cedula so they can see it was just a typo, and they will correct it for her and all will be well.

Nothing is saved or sent anywhere when you fill out the form. The information is entered when they scan the bar code at the consulate.

If you simply cannot redo the form, I would go with taking the incorrect one and telling them you just noticed the 1 digit typo and have them fix it for you on the spot rather than messing with the form in Photoshop.

[Ryan76 46]

Nothing is saved or sent anywhere when you fill out the form. The information is entered when they scan the bar code at the consulate.

If you simply cannot redo the form, I would go with taking the incorrect one and telling them you just noticed the 1 digit typo and have them fix it for you on the spot rather than messing with the form in Photoshop.

yeah, okay..so i'm scrapping the photoshopped forms i made. We're either going to tell them immediately at the interview that she just noticed a typo, OR, I'm going to tell her to re-do the DS 156 altogether. I still can't decide. I'm getting ready to call her and chat about this.

But are we 100% certain that you can re-do the DS 156 multiple times until you get it right, and this will not cause problems? It's no big deal if her name and passport is associated with 3 different DS 156 barcode numbers?

So much information i'm getting is conflicting. Thanks again friends. I'll check back later. Can't wait until all this stress is over!!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

yeah, okay..so i'm scrapping the photoshopped forms i made. We're either going to tell them immediately at the interview that she just noticed a typo, OR, I'm going to tell her to re-do the DS 156 altogether. I still can't decide. I'm getting ready to call her and chat about this.

But are we 100% certain that you can re-do the DS 156 multiple times until you get it right, and this will not cause problems? It's no big deal if her name and passport is associated with 3 different DS 156 barcode numbers?

So much information i'm getting is conflicting. Thanks again friends. I'll check back later. Can't wait until all this stress is over!!

How do they have 3 different DS-156 barcode numbers? Do you need to submit this form online for her country? Did she already send it to them or is she taking it with her to the interview?

If the DS-156 is like when I did it, the form isn't "sent" anywhere when you create it online (and thus generate the barcode)... it's just a program that does it. If they've already got one because she sent it, she just takes a corrected one (I don't recall it taking an hour... and it especially shouldn't if she's just copying all the info you have except correcting the number) with her to the interview and tells them about the typo. It's really not a huge deal at all. But yes the photoshopped one is useless.

[Ryan76 46]

How do they have 3 different DS-156 barcode numbers? Do you need to submit this form online for her country? Did she already send it to them or is she taking it with her to the interview?

If the DS-156 is like when I did it, the form isn't "sent" anywhere when you create it online (and thus generate the barcode)... it's just a program that does it. If they've already got one because she sent it, she just takes a corrected one (I don't recall it taking an hour... and it especially shouldn't if she's just copying all the info you have except correcting the number) with her to the interview and tells them about the typo. It's really not a huge deal at all. But yes the photoshopped one is useless.

Okay this is getting confusing now. Yes, for Colombia (and everywhere else, I believe) you fill out the DS 156 form online, and it generates a bar code and serial number, and it prints out 3 pages, the third page being another copy of the barcode / serial number.

What i was getting at, or not understanding, is whether or not when you do the DS 156 online if the information is automatically sent to the embassy. So then if my fiancee (or anyone) had to do the DS 156 3 times before they got it right, there would be 3 different versions of the form associated with her name.

But if the form does not go to the embassy, and it just generates bar codes, then i would guess someone could do the form like 12 times if necessary and just take the most recent one (and correct) form to the interview and it will be fine, they won't even know about or see the previous forms that were not correct.

Anyway, we decided since we made a minor mistake on the DS 156, instead of taking it to the interview and asking them to correct it, my fiancee is just going to get to work really early in the morning and re-do the form. I just wanted to make sure this was all okay.

I'm really stressed about this because i wanted everything to go perfectly, and my fiancee has had the paperwork that i did for her completed and in her hands for about 6 weeks now, and she just now realized that that there was one mistake on one of the forms....and we only have two full days before the interview.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Okay this is getting confusing now. Yes, for Colombia (and everywhere else, I believe) you fill out the DS 156 form online, and it generates a bar code and serial number, and it prints out 3 pages, the third page being another copy of the barcode / serial number.

What i was getting at, or not understanding, is whether or not when you do the DS 156 online if the information is automatically sent to the embassy. So then if my fiancee (or anyone) had to do the DS 156 3 times before they got it right, there would be 3 different versions of the form associated with her name.

But if the form does not go to the embassy, and it just generates bar codes, then i would guess someone could do the form like 12 times if necessary and just take the most recent one (and correct) form to the interview and it will be fine, they won't even know about or see the previous forms that were not correct.

Anyway, we decided since we made a minor mistake on the DS 156, instead of taking it to the interview and asking them to correct it, my fiancee is just going to get to work really early in the morning and re-do the form. I just wanted to make sure this was all okay.

I'm really stressed about this because i wanted everything to go perfectly, and my fiancee has had the paperwork that i did for her completed and in her hands for about 6 weeks now, and she just now realized that that there was one mistake on one of the forms....and we only have two full days before the interview.

Okie dokie. NO, generating the form and barcode online does NOT send it anywhere. So yep just take the correct one to the interview.

It will be okay. You will be with your love soon. Small mistake and even if you hadn't noticed, not something to be denied for.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Okie dokie. NO, generating the form and barcode online does NOT send it anywhere. So yep just take the correct one to the interview.

It will be okay. You will be with your love soon. Small mistake and even if you hadn't noticed, not something to be denied for.

Yes, like I stated earlier in this thread, it is not sent to or saved anywhere. You can fill it out and print it as many times as you need to in order to have everything filled out correctly. Good luck!

[Ryan76 46]

Thanks guys!