DS-230 question 25

[EmilyandJason 0]

Question 25 asks for a list of previous visits to the United States, including dates. Is it necessary for me to complete this, or is this just for applicants from countries where a visa is required to visit the US.

I can't imagine where I'd begin or how I'd even obtain all those dates ...

[trailmix 77]

Question 25 asks for a list of previous visits to the United States, including dates. Is it necessary for me to complete this, or is this just for applicants from countries where a visa is required to visit the US.

I can't imagine where I'd begin or how I'd even obtain all those dates ...

We did list them, however there weren't that many, so not a huge hassle. Attempt to be as accurate as possible, that's really all you can do. I have heard of people just listing 'numerous visits' - but I don't know if that will fly in all cases.

[EmilyandJason 0]

Lol .. this is going to be fun.

[kimmbo 0]

we did a seperate sheet for my husband and listed the dates as accurately as we could.. for the dates he came to visit me in the US, and trips weve made while Ive been here in Canada were easy..but he also used to cross when he was with his ex wife so I had to put "numerous visits" for that time period.. hope this helps...heres what we did:

ADDITIONAL INFO FOR FORM DS-230 part 1

APPLICATION FOR IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION

(Name) (CASE # 2007XXXX)

# 25 LIST DATES OF PREVIOUS VISITS TO OR RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

(starting with most recent dates)

APRIL 28-MAY 20, 2006 (LAS VEGAS,NV),(VACATION/VISITING FAMILY)

OCTOBER 3 - 17, 2005 (LAS VEGAS,NV), (VACATION/VISITING FAMILY)

APRIL 8 - 26, 2005 (LAS VEGAS,NV), (VACATION/VISITING FAMILY)

AUGUST 6 - 23, 2004 (LAS VEGAS,NV), (VACATION/VISITING FAMILY)

JUNE 6 - 21, 2003 (LAS VEGAS,NV), (VACATION/VISITING FAMILY)

OCTOBER 5 - 18, 2002 (LAS VEGAS,NV), (VACATION/VISITING FAMILY)

2003-2006 WEEKEND TRIPS TO BUFFALO,NEW YORK (SIGHTSEEING,SHOPPING)

SEPTEMBER 7 - 21, 2001 (LAS VEGAS,NV), (VACATION/VISITING THEN GIRLFRIEND/NOW WIFE)

FEBRUARY 8 - 15, 2001 (LAS VEGAS,NV), (VACATION/VISITING THEN GIRLFRIEND/NOW WIFE)

1983-1998 (FAMILY VACATIONS TO TENNESSEE)

[EmilyandJason 0]

Thanks, that helps. I'm just going to have to do the best I can.

I've travelled to and through the US a fair bit throughout childhood and adulthood. I'll have to add an extra sheet as well.

For whatever reason I have a really tough time remembering the years things happened in. I actually messed up my I-130 dates for residences and jobs (YIKES).

[jynxNdragnfly 0]

Hmmm wonder if I could get away with putting something like 'every weekend since March 2006' for a period of 3 days. Though I suppose I could actually write out each and every trip for them since they seem to like wasting paper and time

[MissStacey 1]

I just wrote the dates and places the best I could from memory.

[Carlawarla 1]

I agree, write out what you can remember. Months and year should suffice. While Canadians probably do cross the border frequently, I think it's still important to write them all out...#1, because we're told to!

[David_n_Amber 3]

its never a bad thing to just list all the info you have even if you dont know whether its needed or not. i just filled in everything

[SonoranSongbird 3]

I asked this the first time I saw the DS-230 because I could not imagine my fiance could possibly remember every trip he'd ever taken to the US. What people told me was to put his visits to me and any long trips he could remember and then something like "numerous visits between ____ and _____". I'd say be as accurate and specific as you can, but don't worry about it if you don't remember every single trip you ever made. They are aware that people from border towns in particular are not going to remember each and every visit they've ever made.

I discussed this on the phone with my fiance last night, and it's actually scary how many trips to the US going all the way back to the mid 70s he can remember. But he's not from a border town (as I am) so to him it was a big deal to cross the border into Montana for 10 hours as his first visit to a foreign country. I probably went to Canada for the first time before I was a year old.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Aw man. We've been dating long distance for like 4.8 years and we visit eachother like every month

[Krikit 1,165]

This is something we called them about because, as Canadians, answering this question is a monumental task. We were told that they completely understood that Canadians travel here extensively but what they are looking for is to see if there are any overstays, so keep it general. As a result I entered "Numerous visits, but none lasting longer than 3 weeks." Didn't prove to be a problem.

[WantingMyHubby 0]

Hey everyone!

Related to that question on visits to the US, I was a bit concerned with overstay. I volunteered in the US with Habitat for Humanity for 11 months a couple of years ago (wasn't paid, I supported myself). I resided there during that time, although I only paid monthly utilities, as the house was provided by the organization.

Did any of you overstay and go through the visa process already?

I entered the US in August 2005 and went back to Canada in December for 2 weeks - therefore, my first "visit" was for 4 months.

I re-entered the US beginning of January and may have stayed just a few days past the 6 month mark (have to check the exact dates!)...I posted this info in another forum, and fellow VJ-ers mentioned that for overstays less than 180 days, there is no bar on admissibility. For more than 180 days, there ARE bars.

I guess my question is, has anyone overstayed less than 180 days and can confirm that they didn't have any problems in the end??

Thanks!!

[Krikit 1,165]

I've never had an overstay so I can't relate any experience. However, I did want to make note that the USCIS's documentation refers to problems with overstays that are longer than 180 days and that they are cumulative. (I.E., if you have one overstay of a week and another overstay of four weeks, you now have 5 weeks of overstay.) So I don't know if a very short overstay will trigger a ban. Here's a link where you could do a search.... US Customs & Border Protection - Find Answers. Good luck.