Can we use the same DS-160 for multiple consulates?

[Boiler 45,549]

www.politico.com/news/2022/05/06/biden-administration-russian-visas-00030648%3F_amp%3Dtrue
 

This pretty much covers it

[Redro 4,611]

55 minutes ago, DK999 said:

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find anything in the search results.

 

Long story short, my wife and I are waiting patiently for our I-130 to be be reviewed, and in the meantime, we'd like to visit my family in the US for Christmas.

 

We are "digital nomads" and move from place to place. She is from Russia, so applying for a tourist visa there is a no-go. My question is, can we fill out one DS-160 and "shop around" for the consulate that has the shortest wait time (and of course accepts non-residents for interviews)? Or, do we have to create a new DS-160 specifically for the consulate that she would interview at?

 

Thank you in advance!

To my knowledge you have to pay $160 every time you make an appointment at a consulate. And if you change consulates you have to pay another $160.

Also some consulates have clear information stating they allow third foreign nationals to apply for a visa (I applied in Korea for a B2 even though I am not from Korea).Stories from this website suggest your partner will not receive a B2 visa because

1.) She is applying from a country she has no ties to

2.) She is married to a US citizen

but if she shows strong ties/non immigrant intent there is a chance she'll be grated a B2

It has happened before.

Apply and report back after interview to help others in a similar situation. 

Edited May 13, 2022 by ROK2USA

[JeanneAdil 6,514]

36 minutes ago, DK999 said:

Well I guess that's up to the discretion of the officer at the consulate

not really

its up to u to prove 

 

[DK999 14]

6 minutes ago, Boiler said:

www.politico.com/news/2022/05/06/biden-administration-russian-visas-00030648%3F_amp%3Dtrue
 

This pretty much covers it

Thanks for the article, though it seems to focus more on Russians fleeing for fear of persecution, economic sanctions, etc., and not Russians married to US citizens. I don't think the two groups should be so easily conflated. 

 

I take everyone's point, though. I understand that we may get denied, and that's not the end of the world for us. 

[DK999 14]

6 minutes ago, ROK2USA said:

To my knowledge you have to pay $160 every time you make an appointment at a consulate. And if you change consulates you have to pay another $160.

Also some consulates have clear information stating they allow third foreign nationals to apply for a visa (I applied in Korea for a B2 even though I am not from Korea).Stories from this website suggest your partner will not receive a B2 visa because

1.) She is applying from a country she has no ties to

2.) She is married to a US citizen

but if she shows strong ties/non immigrant intent there is a chance she'll be grated a B2

It has happened before.

Apply and report back after interview to help others in a similar situation. 

Yep will do, thanks

[Boiler 45,549]

19 minutes ago, DK999 said:

Thanks for the article, though it seems to focus more on Russians fleeing for fear of persecution, economic sanctions, etc., and not Russians married to US citizens. I don't think the two groups should be so easily conflated. 

 

I take everyone's point, though. I understand that we may get denied, and that's not the end of the world for us. 

I am aware most Russians support Putin but my feeling is that is not a good look when seeking to visit the US

 

I am of the try and find out view but you seemed wanting to travel to different Consulates which seems a bit extreme for a tourist visa

[Cathi 5,757]

Why do people ask for advice and then get defensive/argumentative when they don't get the answers they want? If you don't like what you're hearing,  do what you want and get back to us and let us know how it goes. People on this site are going to give you real talk based on real experience and believe it or not, they are not going to mislead you. Shopping around at different consulates for a mere visitor visa is not going to go well, like it or not. You have no ties to your home country giving you a zero chance of getting a visitor visa. That's the real truth.

[Redro 4,611]

2 minutes ago, Cathi said:

Why do people ask for advice and then get defensive/argumentative when they don't get the answers they want? If you don't like what you're hearing,  do what you want and get back to us and let us know how it goes. People on this site are going to give you real talk based on real experience and believe it or not, they are not going to mislead you. Shopping around at different consulates for a mere visitor visa is not going to go well, like it or not. You have no ties to your home country giving you a zero chance of getting a visitor visa. That's the real truth.

+1 

Tell us what you want to do.

Then apply for the visa and report back on the result.

I +💯want to hear positive outcomes~ 

Edited May 13, 2022 by ROK2USA

[DK999 14]

5 minutes ago, Cathi said:

Why do people ask for advice and then get defensive/argumentative when they don't get the answers they want? If you don't like what you're hearing,  do what you want and get back to us and let us know how it goes. People on this site are going to give you real talk based on real experience and believe it or not, they are not going to mislead you. Shopping around at different consulates for a mere visitor visa is not going to go well, like it or not. You have no ties to your home country giving you a zero chance of getting a visitor visa. That's the real truth.

Maybe it's because literally one person in this entire thread actually read my post and answered my question. Did anyone actually read my post? It says "Can we use the same DS-160 for multiple consulates?" Seems like a simple yes or a no question. I found out the answer is no. 

 

Where in my post did I ask if we'd get approved? I didn't. Seems like everyone in the tourist visa section is a bit too cranky. 

[Redro 4,611]

5 minutes ago, DK999 said:

Maybe it's because literally one person in this entire thread actually read my post and answered my question. Did anyone actually read my post? It says "Can we use the same DS-160 for multiple consulates?" Seems like a simple yes or a no question. I found out the answer is no. 

 

Where in my post did I ask if we'd get approved? I didn't. Seems like everyone in the tourist visa section is a bit too cranky. 

The short answer from https://vn.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/frequently-asked-questions-nonimmigrant-visas/#:~:text=If you wish to change,bring to the visa interview.

 

If you wish to change your interview location, a new form DS-160 is not required. The Embassy or Consulate at which you actually apply can access your form using the barcode on your DS-160 confirmation page, which you must bring to the visa interview. However, accessing a DS-160 submitted to a different location requires extra time, so you may encounter significant delays if you appear for an interview with a DS-160 submitted to a different location.  Unfortunately, we are unable to predict the duration of these delays

 

K1 visas state you need to pay the fee again.... but I can't find any information about fee payment on this page. 

Edited May 13, 2022 by ROK2USA

[DK999 14]

2 minutes ago, ROK2USA said:

The short answer from https://vn.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/frequently-asked-questions-nonimmigrant-visas/#:~:text=If you wish to change,bring to the visa interview.

 

If you wish to change your interview location, a new form DS-160 is not required. The Embassy or Consulate at which you actually apply can access your form using the barcode on your DS-160 confirmation page, which you must bring to the visa interview. However, accessing a DS-160 submitted to a different location requires extra time, so you may encounter significant delays if you appear for an interview with a DS-160 submitted to a different location.  Unfortunately, we are unable to predict the duration of these delays

Thank you. So, technically yes you can, but not in the way that I intended.

[Redro 4,611]

1 minute ago, DK999 said:

Thank you. So, technically yes you can, but not in the way that I intended.

Changing appointment dates can be a pain~

IF you change your dates and location please report back.

Most of us don't have the experience~ 

If you have a positive result please report back to help other members. 

[DK999 14]

1 minute ago, ROK2USA said:

Changing appointment dates can be a pain~

IF you change your dates and location please report back.

Most of us don't have the experience~ 

If you have a positive result please report back to help other members. 

Got it, thank you. We're going to choose one and stick with it. It may be a few months until we have an update, but I'll report back.

[JeanneAdil 6,514]

2 hours ago, DK999 said:

Maybe it's because literally one person in this entire thread actually read my post and answered my question. Did anyone actually read my post? It says "Can we use the same DS-160 for multiple consulates?" Seems like a simple yes or a no question. I found out the answer is no. 

 

Where in my post did I ask if we'd get approved? I didn't. Seems like everyone in the tourist visa section is a bit too cranky. 

use new form for every application / pay the fee each time/  no refunds 

 

most embassies require a person to be a resident 

that covers it all

Edited May 13, 2022 by JeanneAdil

[SteveInBostonI130 3,459]

8 hours ago, DK999 said:

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find anything in the search results.

 

Long story short, my wife and I are waiting patiently for our I-130 to be be reviewed, and in the meantime, we'd like to visit my family in the US for Christmas.

 

We are "digital nomads" and move from place to place. She is from Russia, so applying for a tourist visa there is a no-go. My question is, can we fill out one DS-160 and "shop around" for the consulate that has the shortest wait time (and of course accepts non-residents for interviews)? Or, do we have to create a new DS-160 specifically for the consulate that she would interview at?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

Technically, the same DS-160 can be used.  But the MRV fee has to be paid again - the fee is tied to the consulate and is not transferrable.

 

Some consulates allow non-residents to interview for visas, but this typically take a while.  This "group" has the lowest priority and may not be able to schedule an interview for a year or more.

 

My nephew had an interview scheduled for Kyiv for a B2.  When I tried to transfer my nephew's application, I contacted Lithuania and Slovakia.  Lithuania allowed Ukrainian applications as a special case, but the fee had to be paid through one of two local banks.   The closest branch was about 10 km from the Polish-Lithuanian border.  Slovakia also allowed transfers for Ukrainians, but said that interviews were not available currently for non-residents - my nephew needed a Slovakia address to be able to get an interview slot in the next month or so.  

 

The hurdle that I saw was that the DS-160 had to be updated if any information changed.  Technically the same DS-160 can be used, but in reality the DS-160 would be updated with a new current address if trying to get an interview in certain consulates/embassies that only allows interviews for those residing in-country.  Updating the DS-160 doesn't cost anything.   A new MRV fee will need to be paid to be able to schedule an interview.