DS-230 Question #35

[NinaD 6]

Hi all,

I am trying to prepare for my next step which will be the DS-230 form.

Question #35 asks me to list all of my time living in the USA and visits to the USA. That is not a problem before I was 18, but after I turned 18 I visited the States MANY MANY times. So I have to list trips from the last 22years! I think I have been to the states every year since 1990 (my mom and aunt both live there, plus vacations to Disney World and stuff), but I have no idea what the months of my visits were!! I can remember them for the last maybe 5-6 years, but before that I don't know!

How should I answer this question?

[pgupta 19]

Hi all,

I am trying to prepare for my next step which will be the DS-230 form.

Question #35 asks me to list all of my time living in the USA and visits to the USA. That is not a problem before I was 18, but after I turned 18 I visited the States MANY MANY times. So I have to list trips from the last 22years! I think I have been to the states every year since 1990 (my mom and aunt both live there, plus vacations to Disney World and stuff), but I have no idea what the months of my visits were!! I can remember them for the last maybe 5-6 years, but before that I don't know!

How should I answer this question?

Count POE Stamps on your passport.

[NinaD 6]

I can do that for the last few years. I think I have one old passport plus my current one. But before that I don't have my old passports. Plus, until the last 6-8 years you didn't even need a passport to enter the USA. They just looked at your driver's license. Also, even in recent years, when driving through the border, or taking the train, the passport was not even stamped!

I know I have been to the USA many times without the passport being stamped or even used at all. This is mental!

[Saylin 1,605]

Hi all,

I am trying to prepare for my next step which will be the DS-230 form.

Question #35 asks me to list all of my time living in the USA and visits to the USA. That is not a problem before I was 18, but after I turned 18 I visited the States MANY MANY times. So I have to list trips from the last 22years! I think I have been to the states every year since 1990 (my mom and aunt both live there, plus vacations to Disney World and stuff), but I have no idea what the months of my visits were!! I can remember them for the last maybe 5-6 years, but before that I don't know!

How should I answer this question?

Follow this format: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNEm0btviWXw89jNWv0fh1sgPpo8-f2DpVXdv3SFWss/edit?pli=1 I wrote this up for my DS-230. I had the same issue as you

Keep in mind though, as a Canadian, you'll be using the online DS-260 and when I filled it out, they only asked for the last FIVE visits to the US.

[NinaD 6]

Follow this format: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNEm0btviWXw89jNWv0fh1sgPpo8-f2DpVXdv3SFWss/edit?pli=1 I wrote this up for my DS-230. I had the same issue as you

Keep in mind though, as a Canadian, you'll be using the online DS-260 and when I filled it out, they only asked for the last FIVE visits to the US.

THANKS! That is a relief. I seriously was starting to wonder what I was going to do about this. LOL

Since my next step is all on-line, do I do the DS-230 still, or just the DS-260?

Edited August 27, 2012 by NinaD

[Saylin 1,605]

THANKS! That is a relief. I seriously was starting to wonder what I was going to do about this. LOL

Since my next step is all on-line, do I do the DS-230 still, or just the DS-260?

I still suggest filling out the DS-230 as a practice run (and a useful reference guide). But you don't NEED to. Only the DS-260 is needed for Canadians. I suggest you read the wiki linked in my signature

[NinaD 6]

Thanks, I have looked at your WIKI link. But there is so much info that I forget what I have read half the time. I will bookmark it now and read it again (many times I am sure).

[Saylin 1,605]

Thanks, I have looked at your WIKI link. But there is so much info that I forget what I have read half the time. I will bookmark it now and read it again (many times I am sure).

Yeah, you might need to read it a few times before the information starts to sink in.

And if you ever have any questions, you can always ask me. I'm more than happy to help

[NinaD 6]

Thanks!

[JunJun 3]

What my wife had to do was she just created a supplemental sheet and wrote down all the times she went to the US; this was 7-9 trips. I know you probably have more, but we learned that being proactive will give greater returns in the future (no RFEs).

[VeeNDee 44]

I still suggest filling out the DS-230 as a practice run (and a useful reference guide). But you don't NEED to. Only the DS-260 is needed for Canadians. I suggest you read the wiki linked in my signature

In the Packet 3 sent to me by the Vancouver Consulate a week or so ago, it says:

Step One: Complete and return immediately by fax form DS-230 Part I, Biographic Data. This form is accessible online.

It has the link to the form. It also asks for DS 156 and DS 156K to be filled out. Not sure if the DS230 requirement is unique just to Vancouver or just to K visas. Either way I have to fill it out. Question 35 is a really fun question isn't it...

[RFQ 110]

My husband travels internationally so much in his life that he had to go to his local government office (I'd have to ask what its called) and they issued a printed list of all entries and exits for 10 years. Perhaps there is something like this available to you if you should ever need it?

[Saylin 1,605]

In the Packet 3 sent to me by the Vancouver Consulate a week or so ago, it says:

Step One: Complete and return immediately by fax form DS-230 Part I, Biographic Data. This form is accessible online.

It has the link to the form. It also asks for DS 156 and DS 156K to be filled out. Not sure if the DS230 requirement is unique just to Vancouver or just to K visas. Either way I have to fill it out. Question 35 is a really fun question isn't it...

I think it may be a Vancouver thing as I see K1s having to fill out the DS-260 as well.

As for question 35 it's actually easy if you follow the additional sheet I wrote up for mine: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNEm0btviWXw89jNWv0fh1sgPpo8-f2DpVXdv3SFWss/edit#bookmark=id.26d497d460f3

[VeeNDee 44]

I think it may be a Vancouver thing as I see K1s having to fill out the DS-260 as well.

As for question 35 it's actually easy if you follow the additional sheet I wrote up for mine: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNEm0btviWXw89jNWv0fh1sgPpo8-f2DpVXdv3SFWss/edit#bookmark=id.26d497d460f3

Thanks Saylin - I actually totally copied your format

[Saylin 1,605]

Thanks Saylin - I actually totally copied your format

Hopefully you changed the dates and didn't use mine