ds-230/ds-156 question

[rocks 494]

sorry if this seems like a silly question but i am so confused by these forms!

on both of the forms it asks for all previous visits to the states.

do i need to list previous visits on my old passport or is it only for trips on my current passport that they are interested in? it seems weird that they would want to know about visits on a passport that hasn't been referred to on these forms but i did make a trip a very long time ago in 2000 on my old passport and just want to check that i don't need to list it.

thanks.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I think they just want to know all the times you've been to the US, and it has nothing to do with what passport it was on.

With that said, Nick had something like 30 visits and eventually their form runs out of space to let you enter any more. So he made the decision to cut off entry with his current passport. There were no problems that came about because of not listing every visit. If you know the date, I would suggest listing the 2000 one even if it's in a previous passport.

[rocks 494]

ok, thanks a lot for the info. i expect they can always find me from my name rather than my passport? i guess i'll fill them out again!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

ok, thanks a lot for the info. i expect they can always find me from my name rather than my passport? i guess i'll fill them out again!

What a pain since you can't save them and and have to start from scratch each time.

That's why I try to warn people to print a blank one and make a rough draft of your answers. Then when you hit a question you're not sure of you can stop to find an answer or get additional info. Then when you're satisfied you have all the details, fill in the one online in one sitting. That suggestion comes from experience of filling the darn thing in multiple times until we got it right.

Another "discovery" we made was that place where you list all your visits looks like just a couple of lines and you're thinking "how can I possibly enter 30 visits?" AHA! The box just grows and grows (up to a point) to be as big as you need. It all prints on the last page as I recall.

Good luck with your paperwork and visa.

[rocks 494]

ok, thanks a lot for the info. i expect they can always find me from my name rather than my passport? i guess i'll fill them out again!

What a pain since you can't save them and and have to start from scratch each time.

That's why I try to warn people to print a blank one and make a rough draft of your answers. Then when you hit a question you're not sure of you can stop to find an answer or get additional info. Then when you're satisfied you have all the details, fill in the one online in one sitting. That suggestion comes from experience of filling the darn thing in multiple times until we got it right.

Another "discovery" we made was that place where you list all your visits looks like just a couple of lines and you're thinking "how can I possibly enter 30 visits?" AHA! The box just grows and grows (up to a point) to be as big as you need. It all prints on the last page as I recall.

Good luck with your paperwork and visa.

that is good advice for everyone currently waiting for their packet 3. print the ds-230 part i (first two pages of ds-230), ds-156, ds-156k (and ds-157 if you are male). read them and fill them out by hand so that you are sure you know what information you need to provide. for some unknown reason i didn't print the ds-156 but i printed the other two and thought i had everything covered. how wrong i was!

thanks for the support and answers to my questions. i hope all is going well with your new lives together.