DS 156 online.... part 2

[toocool 0]

Hi again everyone,

I took your suggestions and used my laptop....used internet explorer too and worked like a charm....got the barcode and was ready to print....then I realized that I had never used my new laptop with my printer .... and guess what? My older version printer is not compatible with windows 7...but that's another story....I can't print!!!!

So, I save the file to print it later....but you can't do this.... .asp files cannot be read as they are web-based or something like that.

So...what do I do....I have no bar code and of course I have no copy of my completed DS 156.

Do I start over?

Can I start over?

Does this kind of thing raise red flags to my visa process?

....as if this living a million miles away from your beloved isn't stressful enough.....breathe....

In advance, thanks for your help!

[Wilr 0]

Hi,

I am not sure where you are with things, but your options will be:

1- Redo the DS-156 (and make sure you have already fixed your printer issue) and if it comes to to and will be asked, you can explain to the USC interviewer what'd happened!

2- If possible, get a compatible printer and load the driver and, if you still have the PDF file (DS-156),

print the form. The trouble is that most often printer installations require a reboot and as you know by now

PDF files are read-only and cannot be saved!

Hope this helped!

Wil

[pocheros 101]

The first time you tried to complete the form you used a computer other than your laptop, right? Why don't you just download internet explorer to the computer that's compatible with your printer? Here's the link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/downloads/ie

Also make sure all your drivers are up to date, and all your Windows Updates are up to date. I use Windows 7 and initially it was very finicky about my printer as well, but then I checked Windows Updates and there was one that I specifically needed to install in order to use my printer.

You could also trying filling it out at a public library. If you mail off packet 3 without the 156 they will send you an RFE- I wouldn't risk it.

Wonder why so many people have issues with the DS 156- it worked in firefox for me just fine! Hmm.

Edited February 21, 2012 by pocheros

[Moomin 292]

You can't install the driver for the printer, or the computer doesn't see the printer? Try right-clicking(after installing the driver) the printer program icon or printer icon, then properties, then compatibility mode for whichever earlier version known to work with the printer. Sometimes it works. Other times

It won't raise any red flags, relax People have problems with their computer/software all the time.

[Floella 1]

When you are on the barcode page, there should be an option there that allows you to email the page as a PDF to an email address. In fact right on the page it says,

"If you do not have access to a printer at this time, select the option to email your confirmation page to an email address."

Once you have emailed it to yourself, you can go to the other computer and print it out? I am sorry I can't be more help, I did this last summer and I do not remember how to exactly but I KNOW the option is there because that is what I chose to do (my computer wasn't hooked to a printer at the time either).

[toocool 0]

Thanks so much everyone. I wish I saw the email option as that is the one I would have used.

My printer is not compatable with Windows 7....and I'm not comfortable downloading the Windows 7-running in XP mode compatable software....read online that not all printer options can be accessible--so what is the point of having a scanner but no printer?....think its time to just update my circa 2003 printer, which I don't have a problem with as it has served its purpose. Any wireless printer recommendations?

I thought I did download the latest and greatest versions of Internet Explorer and Mozilla, but I will check again. I did run into some router problems last night and speaking to the techie at linksys, looks like my router is outdated which contributes to excessive low speeds....which might be why I wasn't having success with the form. But, its totally weird because I had no problem with DS 160 which is the form I worried about most! It worked just fine from Mozilla and on my pc which has Windows XP.

In the meantime, I will investigate my pc's versions of Internet Explorer and Mozilla to get DS 156 barcoded and printed. I want to get Packet #3 finished and sent!!! I will make some notes on date and time I got the barcode from the first one, just in case I'm questioned about this while in interview. Thanks for the tip!

I'll also be getting a new router and printer for the laptop as this is the computer I'll be bringing when I move to marry !

Thanks everyone!

[Moomin 292]

Some hardware won't be compatible with win7, true. My backup computer-wise is actually an old laptop(and OS) that's compatible with most old hardware when my desktop refuses. My husband's ancient printer was set up with the laptop to print all documents for AOS.

Many more forms and documents to print for AOS, good choice in upgrading

[toocool 0]

I'm still problem solving and trouble shooting...with no luck...other than to go ahead and buy a new printer. (I know it's not a router problem as I got a new one last night.)

But before I do that.....

Can my friends verify that there IS OR ISN'T an option "to send barcode and completed DS 156 to an email address if a printer is not available" as a previous comment suggests. I don't recall seeing this option that one time I had the form completed but had no printer set up. Seems really silly to go purchase a printer just for this!!!

Lastly, I have double checked my browsers (firefox and explorer), java scripts and adobe downloads....and there is no problem there as I have the most up-to-date versions.. But believe this or not...I am able to complete the form on Firefox (but it won't process and barcode) and I am still totally unable to access DS 156 on Explorer...it keeps sending me to the NIV page where I register for the interview. Yes, I am using the correct links...as posted in more recent posts. This is really is most confusing.

Could this problem be related to they have flagged my ip address? Not overly knowledgeable about 'cookies'....could I have something on my system that is blocking transmission?

Super thanks!!

[toocool 0]

When you are on the barcode page, there should be an option there that allows you to email the page as a PDF to an email address. In fact right on the page it says,

"If you do not have access to a printer at this time, select the option to email your confirmation page to an email address."

Once you have emailed it to yourself, you can go to the other computer and print it out? I am sorry I can't be more help, I did this last summer and I do not remember how to exactly but I KNOW the option is there because that is what I chose to do (my computer wasn't hooked to a printer at the time either).

Hi Floella,

I just printed out the barcode from several completed DS 156....finally got a printer and sites to work...and there is no option "to send to an email address for printing at a later date". Perhaps, you are thinking of another form.

I double checked this option as I wanted others to know that this could be an option should they not have access to a printer....but no such thing exists.. It is a good idea though.

Just thought I;d post this as I would hate for others to think that they could do this.

On another note for newcomers reading this post...I'm still not sure why I was unable to access DS 156 from my pc....but I will confirm Internet Explorer worked like a charm on my laptop with Windows 7....wish I could say that Firefox was at par, but I can't....as I completed the form, pressed continue but got a "corrupted content error" mesage which routed me back to the montreal.usconsulate website.

Good luck to all in completed this part of packet 3....I'm glad I'm finised with DS 156!

[jbel 3]

I'm not sure if it was mentioned, either, but D-156 is a form that is possible to save onto your computer (unlike some of the other forms. I have mine saved so that I could print out some more copies when the time came (original barcode and everything)...so if you're running into an issue like this you could simply save it to a thumb drive and print it out at a later date. Perhaps even off of a printer that can take thumb drives/memory cards.

[toocool 0]

I'm not sure if it was mentioned, either, but D-156 is a form that is possible to save onto your computer (unlike some of the other forms. I have mine saved so that I could print out some more copies when the time came (original barcode and everything)...so if you're running into an issue like this you could simply save it to a thumb drive and print it out at a later date. Perhaps even off of a printer that can take thumb drives/memory cards.

Hi jbel...

I did save it when I realized I had printer problems. And when I went to open the file I got "unable to read .asp files"...how would you like to open it.? When I asked windows to search for a compatible program another message came up stating ".asp are web based completed pdf files and unable to open or read". Totally weird....as I thought you could save pdf. Wonder if its because the form filled out is not the format in which data is saved on the barcoded copy???

Curious in knowing how long ago did you complete DS 156? The form was just updated.

Anyways....don't know what I would do without my friends at VJ....everyone has been so helpful.

Thanks millions everyone!

[jbel 3]

It was completed in January, so my dates are alright. I definitely made sure of that (I am so very paranoid about this entire process). Expires in 2014.

As far as opening ASP files and that sort of thing, when I saved mine I saved it as a pdf file, so I could just open it right in my copy of adobe. I might have a different version of the program than you do, though I'm fairly certain I didn't pay for it, so I think it's just the good old fashioned downloadable version.

Yes, alright, I just refilled the form to find out how I saved it (Because I'm also a glutton for punishment)... I hit continue at the bottom of the page and a PDF file popped up with my completed DS156 ready to print...from this PDF page I simply it the little floppy disk and saved it in my documents as a PDF file.

I do have the most recent free adobe, but that shouldn't matter. It saves as an ASP file if you try to save it on the previous screen before you hit continue, just as you aren't supposed to print from that page you can't save it, either.

(Also, my computer geek is showing, I'll just stuff my bits, bobs and random lines of code into this bag over here...)

[toocool 0]

It was completed in January, so my dates are alright. I definitely made sure of that (I am so very paranoid about this entire process). Expires in 2014.

As far as opening ASP files and that sort of thing, when I saved mine I saved it as a pdf file, so I could just open it right in my copy of adobe. I might have a different version of the program than you do, though I'm fairly certain I didn't pay for it, so I think it's just the good old fashioned downloadable version.

Yes, alright, I just refilled the form to find out how I saved it (Because I'm also a glutton for punishment)... I hit continue at the bottom of the page and a PDF file popped up with my completed DS156 ready to print...from this PDF page I simply it the little floppy disk and saved it in my documents as a PDF file.

I do have the most recent free adobe, but that shouldn't matter. It saves as an ASP file if you try to save it on the previous screen before you hit continue, just as you aren't supposed to print from that page you can't save it, either.

(Also, my computer geek is showing, I'll just stuff my bits, bobs and random lines of code into this bag over here...)

jbel,

you are so correct and thanks for posting your comment....but I will tell you my computers are really playing strange games on me....or is this just stress kicking in?????

I had to redo ds 156 as I had to remove the names of my children who were not coming with me immediately on my copy of the ds 156....so I had to complete a new one...after printing it, I went to the floppy disk icon as you suggested to save it....and ta da it saved it as a pdf.....however the first time I did this (as in my previous post) it did not save as a .pdf file. I did nothing new this time when saving...totally weird...but I am very happy. I would have never tried to save the file again had you not posted your comment....so thank you.

Doing this journey is much easier with my friends at VJ!