This is going to be my second post on the subject of visa applications. This entry is about the second stage of the process, the DS-160 application. If you haven't read my first post and/or you haven't completed the SEVIS (I-901) form yet then go ahead and read that post first. My vlog on this subject is divided slightly differently to how they appear on this blog. The information on how to book an appointment and pay the fee will be in my next post as this one has become too long. To watch my vlog on the SEVIS application the link is here and to watch my vlog on the DS-160 application, which includes how to book an appointment and pay the fee, the link is here.
Important Information:
Before we begin I need to briefly mention a few things about how this is going to work. When applying for the visa there are a few different ways to go about it. You can create a profile on ustraveldocs first and follow the steps from there. You can start an application and then create an account afterward. Apparently you can pay the fee first or you can pay it after. It all depends on what you decide to do. In this post I will describe to you the order in which I completed the steps as my personal experience is my only point of reference. The questions on the form will all be the same and the process itself will be very similar. The only difference between methods will be order and how you navigate the pages.
Secondly, any words/sentences/sections that are in bold are answers to questions that were asked repeatedly on the facebook group when we were all applying. If you're looking for a quick answer to your question check the bold sections first.
Lastly, in your offer letter from Disney there is a link to a 12 page 'Important Immigration Information' document. This document has multiple pieces of information in it that you NEED to fill in your DS-160 application. Repeatedly throughout this post I will refer to sections of that document so it is wise to access that through your offer letter or through this link.
With all the disclaimers out of the way, let's begin!
Visa Application (DS-160):
Now that you've got your SEVIS all done it's time to move to the next step, the DS-160. Head on over to www.ustraveldocs.com/au/index.html. Once you get there a little window will pop up asking you if you've ever visited the site or applied for a US visa before. I indicated it was my first time and it took me to a page that asked whether I was applying for an immigrant or non-immigrant visa. The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa so click non-immigrant.
The next page shows a list of steps you need to complete to apply for the visa with an 'Apply' button at the bottom. For some reason the 'Apply' button wouldn't work when I clicked on it. To get around this just click on the link in step two that says 'Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form'. You'll then be taken to a page that has information about the application on it including how long you have before the session times out and other information. Give this a quick read. Down the very bottom of the page there is a link to the online application form. Click on this to proceed.
Here you'll be taken to a separate site that hosts the form. To the right hand side of the page there is a drop down list containing the locations of all the US consulates around the world. In the list you need to choose the consulate you will book and attend an interview at. Once you've selected a location the page will change slightly. Underneath the drop down list there will now be a little box that relates to your visa photo.
The visa photo has different requirements to a passport photo which can be found here. With a little tweaking in the website's provided photo wizard you can turn a passport photo or even an iphone selfie into a visa photo but these guidelines must be followed. In the box there is a link that says 'test your photo' if you click on this link it will take you to the photo wizard. Here you can upload the photo you intend to use and mess around with it by zooming and moving it around to make it fit. You basically just have to make sure that your head fits between the lines and the white background fills the entire space. Once you've got it just right you can click 'continue using this photo' and it will attach this adjusted and saved version of the photo to your application.
When you're done it'll take you back to the original page, kind of like it did when you made a selection in the drop down list. This time the box surrounding the photo information box will be green. As we all know, green means go so you can go ahead and click on the 'start application' button. On the next page you will be given an application ID. Print or take note of this. If your application times out due to inactivity you can use this to get back in. If you do not have this ID you will have to start all over again. To accompany your application ID you also have to choose a security question and answer. These will also be used to get back into your application if you happen to time out.
Now we get to the actual application questions. Instead of doing them in big long paragraphs like I normally do I've just listed them all here:
Personal Details:
- Name
- Other names (maiden name if married, aliases, etc.)
- Telecode (Australia does not have this, if it doesn't apply to you just click 'does not apply')- Sex
- Marital status
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Country of origin
- National Identification Number, Social Security Number or Tax ID Number (Again, if this does not apply click 'does not apply')- Home address (This is your address. When they want Disney's address they will ask for your employer's address)
The next page shows a list of steps you need to complete to apply for the visa with an 'Apply' button at the bottom. For some reason the 'Apply' button wouldn't work when I clicked on it. To get around this just click on the link in step two that says 'Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form'. You'll then be taken to a page that has information about the application on it including how long you have before the session times out and other information. Give this a quick read. Down the very bottom of the page there is a link to the online application form. Click on this to proceed.
Here you'll be taken to a separate site that hosts the form. To the right hand side of the page there is a drop down list containing the locations of all the US consulates around the world. In the list you need to choose the consulate you will book and attend an interview at. Once you've selected a location the page will change slightly. Underneath the drop down list there will now be a little box that relates to your visa photo.
The visa photo has different requirements to a passport photo which can be found here. With a little tweaking in the website's provided photo wizard you can turn a passport photo or even an iphone selfie into a visa photo but these guidelines must be followed. In the box there is a link that says 'test your photo' if you click on this link it will take you to the photo wizard. Here you can upload the photo you intend to use and mess around with it by zooming and moving it around to make it fit. You basically just have to make sure that your head fits between the lines and the white background fills the entire space. Once you've got it just right you can click 'continue using this photo' and it will attach this adjusted and saved version of the photo to your application.
When you're done it'll take you back to the original page, kind of like it did when you made a selection in the drop down list. This time the box surrounding the photo information box will be green. As we all know, green means go so you can go ahead and click on the 'start application' button. On the next page you will be given an application ID. Print or take note of this. If your application times out due to inactivity you can use this to get back in. If you do not have this ID you will have to start all over again. To accompany your application ID you also have to choose a security question and answer. These will also be used to get back into your application if you happen to time out.
Now we get to the actual application questions. Instead of doing them in big long paragraphs like I normally do I've just listed them all here:
Personal Details:
- Name
- Other names (maiden name if married, aliases, etc.)
- Telecode (Australia does not have this, if it doesn't apply to you just click 'does not apply')- Sex
- Marital status
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Country of origin
- National Identification Number, Social Security Number or Tax ID Number (Again, if this does not apply click 'does not apply')- Home address (This is your address. When they want Disney's address they will ask for your employer's address)
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Email address
Passport Details:
- Passport type (Regular, the other types are for diplomats and important people)
- Passport book number (Australian passports do not have these so click 'does not apply')
- Phone number
- Email address
Passport Details:
- Passport type (Regular, the other types are for diplomats and important people)
- Passport book number (Australian passports do not have these so click 'does not apply')
- Passport number
- Passport country of issue
- Passport city of issue (Not listed on the passport, the major city where your passport was processed)- Passport issue date
- Passport expiry date
- Passport country of issue
- Passport city of issue (Not listed on the passport, the major city where your passport was processed)- Passport issue date
- Passport expiry date
- Previous lost or stolen passports?
Visa Details:
- Purpose of your visa
- Date of arrival (It doesn't seem to matter what you put down for this, just explain at the consulate that your check-in date may be different to your date of arrival in the US)- Estimated length of stay (For this most people put 6 months and then explained in their interview that there were opportunities to extend to a full 12 months)- Address you will stay while completing your program (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Person or entity funding your trip (NOT Disney, this is whoever is paying for your flights, visa fees, etc.)
- Are you traveling alone or with travel companions? (Does not include people travelling with you who are doing the same program)
- Have you traveled in the US before?
- Have you had any previous US visas?
- Have you ever been refused a visa?
Visa Details:
- Purpose of your visa
- Date of arrival (It doesn't seem to matter what you put down for this, just explain at the consulate that your check-in date may be different to your date of arrival in the US)- Estimated length of stay (For this most people put 6 months and then explained in their interview that there were opportunities to extend to a full 12 months)- Address you will stay while completing your program (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Person or entity funding your trip (NOT Disney, this is whoever is paying for your flights, visa fees, etc.)
- Are you traveling alone or with travel companions? (Does not include people travelling with you who are doing the same program)
- Have you traveled in the US before?
- Have you had any previous US visas?
- Have you ever been refused a visa?
- Have you ever been denied travel to the US?
- Have you ever petitioned to immigrate to the US?
Point of Contact Details:
- US contact person (There is no one person listed as a contact so tick 'do not know')
- Contact organisation (Walt Disney World Co., found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Relationship (Employer)- Employer/Point of contact address (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Employer/Point of contact phone number (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)- Employer/Point of contact email address (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
Family Details:
- Father's personal details (E.g. Full name, country of birth, etc.)
- Mother's personal details (E.g. Full name, country of birth, etc.)
- Do you have any relatives in the US?
Occupation Details:
- Primary occupation (If you are still studying put student, if you have graduated put your employment)- School/Employer details (E.g. address, phone, weekly income, etc.)
- Description of duties (If you put student list duties such as 'attending class', 'handing in coursework' or leave it as N/A. If you put your employment list duties relevant to your employment)- Previous employment (If you put student as your primary occupation but you also have a part time job you can list that employment here and indicate the end date as being the day before you are completing the visa application)
Security Questions:
These are all yes/no questions relating to your history whether it be medical, criminal or immigration history. The questions below may not be the exact phrasing used on the form but the content of the question should be the same.
- Do you have any diseases, mental/physical disorders or drug addictions that would hinder you from working?
- Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime?
- Have you ever violated a law relating to controlled substances?
- Have you ever been involved in prostitution?
- Have you ever been involved in money laundering?
- Have you ever been involved in human trafficking?
- Have you ever assisted in human trafficking?
- Have any of your relations ever assisted or been involved in human trafficking?
- Have you ever been involved in any other illegal activity?
- Have you ever been involve in terrorist activity?
- Have you ever financed a terrorist activity?
- Have you ever been a member of a terrorist organisation?
- Have you ever been involved in genocide?
- Have you ever been involved in torture?
- Have you ever committed and other acts of violence?
- Have you ever been involved in the recruitment of child soldiers?
- Have you ever, while employed as a government official, committed any severe violations of religious freedom?
- Have you ever been involved in the enforcement of population control?
- Have you ever been involved in the coercive transplantation of human organs?
- Have you ever attended a deportation hearing?
- Have you ever entered the US unlawfully OR assisted someone else to enter unlawfully?
- Have you ever failed to show up for deportation?
- Have you ever overstayed a visa or violated the terms of a visa?
- Have you ever withheld the custody of a child?
- Have you ever voted in the US unlawfully?
- Have you ever renounced US citizenship as a tax dodge?
- Have you ever attended a school without reimbursing them? (Certain dates and conditions applied to this question)
Once you've finally made it through the mine field of security questions you can move to the next section. Here you have to provide two additional points of contact from your home country who can vouch for you. These people can not be part of your family but they can be friends, work colleagues, etc. You need their full name, address, phone number and email. Please note that the top of this section mentions something about these contacts confirming your intent to study. IGNORE THIS. Later on in the form you will be asked to indicate whether or not you intend to study. Intent to study is not a requirement of the program or the visa. However, you do still have to provide the points of contact.
On the next page you need to enter your SEVIS ID again (Found in the upper right hand corner of the DS-2019) and the 'Program Number' (The Exchange Visitor Program Number, found just above the middle of the DS-2019). The form also asks if you intend to study in the US. You must click 'No' for this question. Even if you intend to take classes at Disney the Disney University is not a recognized educational institution so your 'study' there will not be in any official capacity.
After that page is complete you move to a page that asks you to confirm your address information. The next page requires you to perform an electronic signature to verify that all of the details entered in this form are correct to the best of your knowledge and you have not lied on the form. The next page is your DS-160 confirmation page. You MUST print the DS-160 confirmation page. If you don't have a copy of this at the appointment you will not be allowed inside.
For information on how to pay your fee and book your visa appointment see my next post here.
- Lily
- Have you ever petitioned to immigrate to the US?
Point of Contact Details:
- US contact person (There is no one person listed as a contact so tick 'do not know')
- Contact organisation (Walt Disney World Co., found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Relationship (Employer)- Employer/Point of contact address (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Employer/Point of contact phone number (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)- Employer/Point of contact email address (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
Family Details:
- Father's personal details (E.g. Full name, country of birth, etc.)
- Mother's personal details (E.g. Full name, country of birth, etc.)
- Do you have any relatives in the US?
Occupation Details:
- Primary occupation (If you are still studying put student, if you have graduated put your employment)- School/Employer details (E.g. address, phone, weekly income, etc.)
- Description of duties (If you put student list duties such as 'attending class', 'handing in coursework' or leave it as N/A. If you put your employment list duties relevant to your employment)- Previous employment (If you put student as your primary occupation but you also have a part time job you can list that employment here and indicate the end date as being the day before you are completing the visa application)
Security Questions:
These are all yes/no questions relating to your history whether it be medical, criminal or immigration history. The questions below may not be the exact phrasing used on the form but the content of the question should be the same.
- Do you have any diseases, mental/physical disorders or drug addictions that would hinder you from working?
- Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime?
- Have you ever violated a law relating to controlled substances?
- Have you ever been involved in prostitution?
- Have you ever been involved in money laundering?
- Have you ever been involved in human trafficking?
- Have you ever assisted in human trafficking?
- Have any of your relations ever assisted or been involved in human trafficking?
- Have you ever been involved in any other illegal activity?
- Have you ever been involve in terrorist activity?
- Have you ever financed a terrorist activity?
- Have you ever been a member of a terrorist organisation?
- Have you ever been involved in genocide?
- Have you ever been involved in torture?
- Have you ever committed and other acts of violence?
- Have you ever been involved in the recruitment of child soldiers?
- Have you ever, while employed as a government official, committed any severe violations of religious freedom?
- Have you ever been involved in the enforcement of population control?
- Have you ever been involved in the coercive transplantation of human organs?
- Have you ever attended a deportation hearing?
- Have you ever entered the US unlawfully OR assisted someone else to enter unlawfully?
- Have you ever failed to show up for deportation?
- Have you ever overstayed a visa or violated the terms of a visa?
- Have you ever withheld the custody of a child?
- Have you ever voted in the US unlawfully?
- Have you ever renounced US citizenship as a tax dodge?
- Have you ever attended a school without reimbursing them? (Certain dates and conditions applied to this question)
Once you've finally made it through the mine field of security questions you can move to the next section. Here you have to provide two additional points of contact from your home country who can vouch for you. These people can not be part of your family but they can be friends, work colleagues, etc. You need their full name, address, phone number and email. Please note that the top of this section mentions something about these contacts confirming your intent to study. IGNORE THIS. Later on in the form you will be asked to indicate whether or not you intend to study. Intent to study is not a requirement of the program or the visa. However, you do still have to provide the points of contact.
On the next page you need to enter your SEVIS ID again (Found in the upper right hand corner of the DS-2019) and the 'Program Number' (The Exchange Visitor Program Number, found just above the middle of the DS-2019). The form also asks if you intend to study in the US. You must click 'No' for this question. Even if you intend to take classes at Disney the Disney University is not a recognized educational institution so your 'study' there will not be in any official capacity.
After that page is complete you move to a page that asks you to confirm your address information. The next page requires you to perform an electronic signature to verify that all of the details entered in this form are correct to the best of your knowledge and you have not lied on the form. The next page is your DS-160 confirmation page. You MUST print the DS-160 confirmation page. If you don't have a copy of this at the appointment you will not be allowed inside.
For information on how to pay your fee and book your visa appointment see my next post here.
- Lily
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