Is It Okay to Practice writing on DS156 and 156k

[gabrielle08 0]

hi

I would like to ask if its ok to practice writing on form ds 156k and 157..what about the bar code?

[Amby 490]

what do you mean practice writing on them?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Why not just go to the USCIS web site and order forms by mail and order an extra one or two? There is no charge and you will get them in a week. Or maybe just download the ones on VJ and practice on those?

ok, I dont remember but maybe you can't order the DS ones from USCIS.

Edited June 14, 2008 by Nagishkaw

[gabrielle08 0]

Why not just go to the USCIS web site and order forms by mail and order an extra one or two? There is no charge and you will get them in a week. Or maybe just download the ones on VJ and practice on those?

ok, I dont remember but maybe you can't order the DS ones from USCIS.

Thanks for the info

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

It depends if your embassy wants the barcoded online version. You may not want to have somebody send you paper forms if Manila wants a barcode. London requires the barcode so I can tell you about that. Open it from the website and print off a blank copy to fill in for practice. You need to know what all information it asks for and what you might need to look up and come back to. The form we did had to be filled in online and couldn't be saved. So you have to type it all in one session. That's why it's good to make a practice one you wrote on, because if you don't finish with all your information and print it, then you have to start over. When you've typed your whole thing, print it. A big square barcode that prints holds all your information that you typed in. Weird, but that's what the barcode is.

Another thing you might want to know is that if there is a space that looks like it won't hold all your information, it keeps getting bigger. Like there is a place asking for all visits to the US and dates. My finance had over 20 and the space looked big enough for one. It got bigger and all showed when he printed. And all are included in that barcode. I understand the embassy can scan that big code and put all your information into their system without somebody having to type it in.

EDit: I think the DS-230 is the one with the barcode. I can't remember the numbers right now. You can do those forms over and over until you like what you did. Print extra copies before you close the file just to have in case it gets lost by the embassy or something. You'll have a backup and not have to start over again since you can't save it.

Edited June 14, 2008 by Nich-Nick

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Print them off, make photocopies, and use the photocopies as your 'practice forms'. When you feel you have all of the information right and are ready to fill out the final form, just transfer the information from the photocopy.

[Dakine 26]

hi

I would like to ask if its ok to practice writing on form ds 156k and 157..what about the bar code?

You can fill out and print all the DS forms you want to online. They don't go anywhere electronically. The information you put goes into the barcode. USEM will scan your final printed out form at the interview making things go faster.

[Jack and Barbara 0]

Absolutely not... they will know you are practicing

I am kidding btw.