How to fill out Form DS-260 (DS-260 Application)

In this article, we will provide a detailed guide on filling out the DS-260 form for those who have won the Green Card Lottery. Completing this application is the first and most crucial step in obtaining an immigrant visa to the United States. Since DV-2015, winners have been required to fill out the DS-260 form online, making the process much simpler and more convenient. There is no longer a need to fill out DS-230 and DSP-122 forms and mail them to the Kentucky Consular Center. The entire procedure can now be done online from the comfort of your own home.

However, it’s important to note that due to recent changes in the DS-260 form, it’s necessary to review the new instructions in order to fill out the form correctly and avoid errors. In this article, we will also provide a detailed sample of completing the DS-260 form with descriptions in Russian to assist you in correctly filling out the application and increase your chances of a successful immigration to the United States.

Furthermore, it’s important to understand that the immigration process can be lengthy and complex, and successfully relocating to the United States requires being prepared for challenges and overcoming obstacles. Nonetheless, completing the DS-260 form is the first crucial step towards a new life in the United States and can open up numerous opportunities in the country. Follow our recommendations and fill out the DS-260 form accurately to increase your chances of a successful immigration to the United States.

What is the DS-260 Visa Application?

The DS-260 is a visa application form that every applicant must complete in order to obtain an immigrant visa to the United States. It is an online form that needs to be filled out and submitted prior to the embassy interview. At the end of the form, an electronic signature is required to confirm the accuracy of the provided information. It’s important to understand that providing false or incomplete information may result in a lifetime ban from entering the United States. After completing the form, it is necessary to save and print the DS-260 confirmation page with a barcode, which should be brought to the embassy interview. The DS-260 is an essential document for obtaining an immigrant visa to the United States, and its completion should be approached with great responsibility and attentiveness.

How to Properly Fill Out Form DS-260: Instructions and Example

Before starting to fill out the DS-260 form, you will need to have your case number, or “Case Number.” This number can be found on the notification page and typically looks like “2023EUXXXXXXXX” (X represents a digit).

If you interrupt your session for more than 20 minutes, all unsaved data on the page you stopped on will be lost. However, this will not affect the already completed pages. After filling out each page, the data in the form is automatically saved, allowing you to continue from where you left off. All information must be provided in English or English transliteration (if official documents in English indicate a different transliteration, that should be used).

To properly fill out the DS-260 form, we provide instructions and an example based on our own completion of this form for obtaining an immigrant visa at the U.S. embassy. The DS-260 application is submitted online through the following page: https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx.

CEAC stands for Consular Electronic Application Center. Enter your Case Number, instructions on how to obtain it can be found at the beginning of this article. If you have won the DV lottery, you can find the Case Number on the results checking page. The Case Number is the number assigned to your case, which allows you to track the appointment date for your interview at the U.S. Embassy. Click the “Continue” button.

Additional fields will appear for filling in:

Enter the last name of the primary applicant (for DV lottery winners, enter the winner’s last name).
Enter the date of birth of the primary applicant.
Enter the Electronic Diversity Visa Confirmation Number, which is the confirmation number of your entry for the DV lottery.
Select your role from the list:
- Applicant (e.g., Green Card lottery winner)
- Attorney
- Third-party Agent Click the “Continue” button to log in to the CEAC system.

Step 2. Applicant’s Summary Information

On this page, you can see the status of all applicants: the primary applicant and derivative family members who are included in the application, as well as information about the payment of the consular fee and the progress of completing the DS-260 form and submitting documents. This page is important for reviewing the data related to your case, which is located in the upper right corner of the page:

CASE NUMBER: 2023EU00000001 VISA CLASS: DV YOUR CASE IS CURRENTLY AT: KCC FOREIGN STATE OF CHARGEABILITY: UKRAINE/POLAND/KAZAKHSTAN…

Case Number: The case number of the winning applicant in the Green Card lottery. This number is crucial, as the last five digits determine the order of invitation for the interview at the U.S. Embassy and whether your turn will come up at all. More detailed information about the Case Number and the timelines after winning can be found on the Green Card Winners’ Timeline page. Stay updated on the deadlines!

VISA CLASS: This indicates the category of the U.S. visa. In this case, when filling out the DS-260 form for the immigration process, you are applying to the U.S. Embassy for the DV immigration visa category. This category will be specified for those filling out the DS-260 form based on the Green Card lottery win. If you have a different process, the visa category will be accordingly different.

YOUR CASE IS CURRENTLY AT: Indicates where your case is currently being processed. At the initial stage, the Consular Center in Kentucky (KCC) handles the application. If you are just starting to fill out the DS-260 form after winning, you will see that your case is being processed by KCC on this page. After submitting the form and the required document scans, they will transfer your case to the U.S. Embassy you specified at the beginning of the application. For example, if you reside in Russia, after receiving confirmation from KCC that everything is in order, instead of KCC, the page will indicate MOSCOW, which means that your case has been transferred to the U.S. Embassy in the respective country.

Furthermore, once your case is processed at the U.S. Embassy, you will see the date and time of the interview assigned to you on the case status page. If you have any questions, you can contact the KCC or the U.S. Embassy handling your case. They can provide additional information about your case status and assist with any questions you may have.

Finally, when you pass the interview at the U.S. Embassy and receive the visa, your case status will change to ISSUED. This means that you can collect your visa at the designated location (usually a mailing address or document pick-up point).

FOREIGN STATE OF CHARGEABILITY – This is the country that is currently associated with your case (typically the country of birth of the principal applicant).

To start filling out the DS-260 form, click on “NOT STARTED” in the “IV Application” section of the table. After that, you can proceed with filling out the form. Remember that the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in the DS-260 form are crucial factors for a successful immigration visa interview in the U.S.

How to add a spouse or child if you didn’t previously include them

If you want to add a spouse or child to the DS-260 form but did not include them during the registration for the DV lottery, you can do so during the form filling stage. For example, if you have a partner with whom you did not marry before submitting the application but plan to bring them to the U.S. after winning, you need to register the marriage and add them to the application. Also, if your wife was pregnant at the time of application and gave birth after winning, you can add the child to the application. To add a new family member to the DS-260 form, click the “Add Applicant” button and provide the relevant information. Remember that adding new family members may affect the processing time of your case and the scheduling of the interview.

How to add a derivative applicant to the DS-260 form?

This can be done easily by following simple instructions. Click on the “Add Derivative Applicant” button and fill out the form depending on whom you want to add to the application.

In the “Relationship to Principal Applicant” section, select the relationship of the applicant you want to add, whether it’s a spouse or child. In the “Surname” section, enter the last name in English exactly as it appears in the passport. In the “Given Name” section, enter the given name of the derivative applicant, and only the given name if the middle name is not transliterated in the passport.

Next, specify the gender, date of birth, and country of birth of the derivative applicant. After filling out the form, click “Submit.” The KCC will review the data, and usually, this process takes no more than 1 hour.

Once the derivative applicant’s data is verified, it will be added to the application, and you can start filling out the DS-260 form for them. If you want to know how to correctly fill out the DS-260 form for a child, spouse, or husband, follow the instructions below:

Relationship to Principal Applicant – Select the relationship of the applicant you want to add:

Spouse Child

Surname – Enter the last name in English exactly as it appears in the passport. Given Name – Enter the given name of the spouse/husband/child (only the given name if the middle name is not transliterated in the passport).

Gender – Specify the gender of the applicant:

Male Female

Date of Birth – Enter the date of birth. Country of Birth – Specify the country of birth.

Step 3. Accepting Program Terms (Getting Started)

When filling out the DS-260 form, remember that if you interrupt the session for more than 20 minutes, some of the entered data may be lost on the page where the session was interrupted. However, the data already entered on previous pages will remain unchanged, and if the session is interrupted, you can always continue filling out the form from where you left off. It is important to fill out the DS-260 form using information from your official documents such as passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, the most recent U.S. visa, transcripts/diplomas, and others.

By accepting the agreement, you are obligated to provide complete and truthful information in the DS-260 form. To proceed with the process, check the box next to “I certify that I have read and understand the above. I am now ready to begin the immigrant visa and alien registration application process.”

All applicants must attend an interview at the consular section that has jurisdiction over their place of residence. Additionally, you may choose a city and country for the immigrant visa interview if you have ties to other countries. By default, the system has already selected the U.S. Embassy for you based on the information provided in the initial application. You can choose one of the following options:

Yes, schedule my interview there.
No, I want to be interviewed in [select country from the list].
No, I am in the United States and want to adjust status without leaving the United States. Send my case to USCIS.

Step 4. Personal Information 1

To fill out the personal information in the DS-260 form, you need to use the data from your passport. Please carefully check all the fields before submission.

Surname: Enter your last name from your passport. In the “Given Name” field, enter only your first name without the middle name. In the “Full Name in Native Alphabet” field, enter your full name in the native alphabet.

If you have had another name (e.g., maiden name), you need to provide it in the corresponding field. You should also include your full name in English, including the middle name. Transliterate the middle name according to the rules specified on the U.S. Embassy’s website.

Gender: Select your gender – Male or Female.
Current Marital Status: Choose your current marital status from the provided list: Married, Single, Widowed, Divorced, or Legally Separated.
Date of Birth: Provide your date of birth.
Place of Birth: Enter your place of birth (city, region, country/region). Ensure that all the data is entered correctly.

Please make sure that all the fields are filled out correctly, then click the “Next: Personal 2” button to continue filling out the form.

Step 5. Personal Information 2

We continue filling out the DS-260 form for an immigrant visa to the United States by providing the applicant’s personal information in Part 2:

Country/Region of Origin (Nationality): Select the country that currently represents your nationality from the list.
Document Type: Choose the type of travel document that serves as your passport in your country.
Passport: Passport
Other Travel Document: Another type of travel document
Document ID: Enter your passport’s series and number without spaces or the “№” sign.
Country/Authority that Issued Document: Enter the country that issued your passport.
Issuance Date: Enter the date of passport issuance.
Expiration Date: Enter the passport’s expiration date.
Do you hold or have you held any nationality other than the one indicated above on nationality?: Answer whether you have had any other nationality that was not mentioned above.

Proceed to the next step by clicking “Next: Address and Phone” to continue filling out personal information.

Step 6. Contact Information (Present and Previous Address Information)

In this step of the DS-260 form for an immigrant visa to the United States, we provide the applicant’s contact information. Please pay attention to the correct format of the address in the U.S., which differs from the familiar Russian format. To correctly fill out the address, you can use the example provided in this article: How to Write an Address in the United States.

Present Address:

The house number, street name, and apartment number should be entered in the “Street Address (Line 1)” field.
If the above field is not sufficient, you can enter additional information in the “Street Address (Line 2)” field.
City, province/region/state, postal code, and country should be filled out in the respective fields.
Specify the month and year you started living at the current address in the “Started Living Here” field.

Previous Addresses:

If you have lived at other addresses since the age of sixteen, indicate them in the “Have you lived anywhere other than this address since the age of sixteen?” field.

Phone Numbers:

In the “Primary Phone Number” field, enter your primary phone number, which can be a mobile or home number.
If you have an additional phone number, enter it in the “Secondary Phone Number” field.
If you have a work phone number, enter it in the “Work Phone Number” field.
If you have used other phone numbers in the last five years, indicate it in the “Have you used any other phone numbers in the last five years?” field and add the additional phone number in the “Additional Phone Number” field.

Email Address:

In the “Email Address” field, enter your primary email address to which the DS-260 confirmation will be sent after completion.
If you have used other email addresses in the last five years, indicate it in the “Have you used any other email addresses in the last five years?” field and add the additional email address in the “Additional Email Address” field.

Social Media:

If you have accounts/profiles/pages on social media platforms, enter the relevant information in the corresponding fields. Remember to include only the accounts that are used solely by you and have been used in the last five years. Note that providing incorrect or incomplete information may affect the visa decision. If you do not have social media accounts, simply skip this section and proceed to the next step.

Step 7. Mailing/Permanent Address

In this section of the DS-260 form, you need to provide the address where all documents related to your immigrant visa will be sent. If you are already in the United States and have a valid mailing address for at least 6 months, you should enter that address. If you do not yet know where you will be going in the United States, you can provide the address of friends or relatives who are willing to receive your mail.

Mailing Address:

Street Address (Line 1): Enter the house number, street name, and apartment number (if applicable).
Street Address (Line 2) *Optional: Enter additional address information, such as building number or office.
City: Enter the city.
State/Province: Enter the state, province, region, or territory.
Postal Zone/ZIP Code: Enter the postal code.
Country/Region: Enter the country.

Permanent Address:

If your permanent address is the same as your mailing address, select “Same as Mailing Address.” If it is different, fill out the fields in the same way as the mailing address.

Street Address (Line 1): Enter the house number, street name, and apartment number (if applicable).

Street Address (Line 2) *Optional: Enter additional address information, such as building number or office.
City: Enter the city.
State/Province: Enter the state, province, region, or territory.
Postal Zone/ZIP Code: Enter the postal code.
Country/Region: Enter the country.

If you have lived in other countries for more than 6 months in the last 5 years, click on “Add Another” and provide additional information about those countries. Click “Next: Family” to proceed to the next section of the form.

Step 8. Family Information: Parents

To complete the DS-260 form for an immigrant visa to the United States, you need to provide information about your parents. In this step, you need to fill out the following fields:

Father’s Information:

Father’s Full Name and Date of Birth: Enter your father’s surname, given names, and date of birth.
Surnames: Enter your father’s given names and patronymic name (if applicable).
Given Names: Enter your father’s given names.
Date of Birth: Enter your father’s date of birth.
Is your father still living?: Indicate whether your father is currently alive. If not, specify the year of death.

Mother’s Information:

Mother’s Full Name and Date of Birth: Enter your mother’s surname, given names, and date of birth.
Surnames: Enter your mother’s given names and patronymic name (if applicable).
Given Names: Enter your mother’s given names.
Date of Birth: Enter your mother’s date of birth.
Is your mother still living?: Indicate whether your mother is currently alive. If not, specify the year of death.

This information is necessary to correctly identify the applicant and for the immigration process. If one of your parents has passed away, you need to indicate the year of their death. If you don’t know certain information about your parents, you can enter “Unknown.”

It is important to provide this information accurately and correctly to avoid delays in the application process.

Step 9. Family Information: Spouse

In this step of the DS-260 form for an immigrant visa to the United States, you need to provide information about your spouse. You should enter their surname, given names, date of birth, nationality, place of birth, and address. Additionally, you need to indicate your spouse’s primary occupation and the date and place of your marriage.

Surnames: Enter the surname of your spouse. Given Names: Enter the given names of your spouse. Date of Birth: Enter the date of birth of your spouse. Spouse’s Country/Region of Origin (Nationality): Select your spouse’s nationality from the provided list.

Place of Birth:

City: Enter the city of your spouse’s birth.
State/Province of Birth: Enter the state, province, region, or territory of your spouse’s birth.
Country/Region: Enter the country of your spouse’s birth.

In the “Spouse’s Address” field, you can choose the address of your spouse, which can be the same as the home address, mailing address, or the address of a contact person in the United States. If the address is different from the options provided, you can select “Other” and manually enter the address.

Spouse’s Address: Enter the address of your spouse.

An important question in this section is whether your spouse will be immigrating to the United States with you or at a later date. If your spouse is not immigrating with you, select “No” in the corresponding field.

Providing information about your spouse is a crucial step in the process of obtaining an immigrant visa to the United States. Therefore, you should fill out all the fields carefully and thoroughly.

Also, provide the following information:

Primary Occupation: Enter your spouse’s primary occupation.

Date and Place of Marriage:

Date of Marriage: Enter the date of your marriage.
City: Enter the city where the marriage took place.
State/Province: Enter the state, province, region, or territory where the marriage took place.
Country/Region: Enter the country where the marriage took place.

Is your spouse immigrating to the U.S. with you? If your spouse will be arriving in the United States later, select “No” in the corresponding field.

This information is crucial for the consular officer as it allows them to assess the family connection and understand the strength of the relationship between the applicant and their spouse. Based on this information, the immigration visa status for the applicant and their spouse can be determined.

Therefore, it is important to fill out all the fields carefully and accurately to avoid errors and misunderstandings. If you have any questions or need additional information, the consular officer may request additional documents or conduct an additional interview.

Step 10. Family Information: Previous Spouse

Do you have any previous spouses? If the answer is “no,” you can proceed to Step 11. If you have previous spouses, you need to provide the number of previous spouses and their surnames, given names, dates of birth, dates of marriage, and dates of divorce. You also need to indicate the reason for the termination of the marriage by selecting one of the options: annulment, death of spouse, divorce, or other. Additionally, you need to specify the country where the marriage was terminated.

The form is structured as follows:

Do you have any previous spouses?

If your answer is “No,” proceed to Step 11.

Number of Previous Spouses: Indicate the number of previous spouses.

Surnames: Enter the surname(s) of your previous spouse(s). Given Names: Enter the given name(s) and patronymic name(s) of your previous spouse(s). Date of Birth: Enter the date(s) of birth of your previous spouse(s). Date of Marriage: Enter the date(s) of marriage. Date Marriage Ended: Enter the date(s) of divorce. How was your marriage terminated? Choose one of the following options:

Annulment: if the marriage was declared invalid.
Death: if your previous spouse passed away.
Divorce: if the marriage was legally dissolved through divorce.
Other: if there is another reason for the termination of the marriage.

Country/Region where marriage was terminated: Specify the country where the marriage was terminated.

If you don’t know the answer to any of the questions, you can leave it blank. Click “Next: Children” to continue filling out the application.

Step 11. Family Information: Children

Do you have any children? If the answer is “no,” you can proceed to the next step.

Number of Children: Indicate the number of children you have.

For each child, provide the following information:

Surnames: Enter the child’s surname. Given Names: Enter the child’s given name(s) and patronymic name(s). Date of Birth: Enter the child’s date of birth. Place of Birth: Specify the child’s place of birth (city, region, country). Does this child live with you? If the child does not live with you, provide the address of their place of residence. Is this child immigrating to the U.S. with you? If the child will be immigrating to the U.S. with you, select “yes.” If the child will arrive in the U.S. at a later date to join you, select “no.” Is this child immigrating to the U.S. at a later date to join you? If the child will arrive in the U.S. at a later date to join you, indicate “yes.”

Once you have filled in the information for all children, click “Previous U.S. Travel” to proceed.

Step 12. Previous U.S. Travel Information

Have you ever been in the U.S.? If you have previously been to the U.S., select “Yes” and provide information only about your most recent visit.

Provide the date of arrival in the U.S. and the duration of your stay. If you have been previously issued a U.S. visa, provide the date of issuance, visa type, and number. If you have been denied a U.S. visa, indicate the reason for the denial.

This information helps the consular officer ensure that you do not intend to violate U.S. laws and that you comply with the entry and stay rules in the country. Remember that providing false information can result in visa denial or even deportation after arriving in the U.S. Once you have filled in the information, proceed to the next step, “Work/Education/Training.”

Have you ever been in the U.S.? If you have ever been to the U.S., select “Yes,” and provide the following information only about your most recent visit:

Were you issued an Alien Registration Number by the Department of Homeland Security? This question is asked when completing the DS-260 form for a U.S. immigration visa. An Alien Registration Number (ARN) is a number assigned to non-U.S. citizens temporarily residing in the U.S. It is used for tracking and identifying immigrants currently residing in the U.S. If you have never been issued an ARN, you can select “No.”

Date Arrived: Enter the date of your arrival in the U.S. Length of Stay: Specify the duration of your stay in the U.S.

Have you ever been issued a U.S. Visa? If you have been issued a U.S. visa, select “Yes.”

Date Visa Was Issued: Enter the date of issuance of your most recent U.S. visa. Visa Classification: Select the visa type from the provided list. Visa Number: Enter the U.S. visa number (an 8-digit number printed in red on the bottom right corner of the visa).

Has your U.S. Visa ever been lost or stolen? Indicate whether your U.S. visa has ever been lost or stolen. Has your U.S. Visa ever been canceled or revoked? Indicate whether your U.S. visa has ever been canceled or revoked.

Have you ever been refused a U.S. Visa, been refused admission to the United States, or withdrawn your application for admission at the port of entry? This question is part of the DS-260 form for those applying for an immigration visa to the U.S. If you have been denied a visa, you should indicate it in the form and provide an explanation for the reason of the denial. The explanation may be necessary for the visa decision, and the applicant should be prepared that a past visa denial may impact future decisions.

Explain: Provide an explanation and indicate the reason for the visa denial.

Proceed to the next step, “Next: Work/Education/Training.”

Step 13. Present Work/Education/Training Information

In this step of the DS-260 form, you need to provide information about your current employment or education. In the “Primary Occupation” field, select the most appropriate option from the provided list, including “Other.” Then, provide the name of the organization where you work or study, along with their contact information. If your occupation requires at least two years of experience or training, select “Yes” and fill in the corresponding fields. Additionally, indicate if you have any other activities and specify your plans for activities in the U.S.

Primary Occupation: Select the primary occupation from the provided options:

Agriculture Artist/Performer Business Communications Computer Science Culinary/Food Services Education Engineering Government Homemaker Legal Profession Medical/Health Military Natural Science Not Employed Physical Sciences Religious Vocation Research Retired Social Science Student Other

Present Employer or School Name: Enter the name of your current employer or educational institution.

Present Employer or School Address: Provide the contact information for your employer or educational institution. (Describing how to fill in the subsequent fields is unnecessary, as it has already been covered in previous steps.)

In this step of the DS-260 form, you are required to provide information about your current employment or education and the contact details of the organization. When providing the information about your employer or educational institution, it is important to be attentive and accurate to avoid errors in the further process. If you have previously provided information about previous employment or education in the form, you only need to provide information about your current employment or educational institution in this step.

Step 14. Previous Work/Education/Training Information

In this step of the DS-260 form, you provide information about your previous employment or education. You need to provide details for the three most recent work or educational experiences for which you have information.

You also need to answer whether any of your previous employment or education required more than two years of experience or specialized training. If the answer is yes, provide additional information about it.

Were you previously employed? — Have you worked anywhere else? (If you answered “Yes,” provide information about your previous employment) Employer Name — Name of the previous organization or company where you worked Next, provide the contact information for the previous employer (describing how to fill in these fields is unnecessary, as it has already been covered in previous steps)

Job Title — Position held Supervisor’s Surname — Surname of your supervisor Supervisor’s Given Names — Given names of your supervisor Employment Date From — Start date of employment Employment Date To — End date of employment Briefly describe your duties — Provide a brief description of your responsibilities in your previous job If you have worked at another place, click on the “Add Another” button (and fill in the details for another organization following the instructions above, where you previously worked)

Have you attended any educational institutions at a secondary level or above? — Have you attended any educational institutions, starting from secondary school level or above? (Include vocational and/or higher education here) Highest Level of Education Completed — Select the highest level of education from the provided options

Number of Educational Institutions Attended — Indicate the number of educational institutions you have attended

Name of Institution — Name of the educational institution Next, provide the contact information for the educational institution (describing how to fill in these fields is unnecessary, as it has already been covered in previous steps)

Course of Study — Field of study or specialization Degree, Diploma, or Certificate Received — Specify the type of degree or diploma received Date of Attendance From — Start date of attendance at the educational institution Date of Attendance To — End date of education If you have multiple educational experiences, click on the “Add Another” button (and fill in the details for another educational institution following the instructions above, where you studied)

It is important to provide accurate information about your previous employment or education to avoid possible errors or delays in the processing of your immigration visa application. Be prepared to provide additional information if required.

Continue filling out the DS-260 form by clicking “Next: Work/Education: Additional.”

Step 15. Additional Work/Education/Training Information

Step 15 includes several questions about various professional and personal aspects of your life that may affect the decision regarding visa issuance. For example, questions about your membership in professional, social, or charitable organizations, possession of specialized skills or knowledge in areas such as explosives or biological substances, as well as your military service experience or involvement in groups related to violence.

Questions about language skills can help determine your ability to adapt to a new environment and communicate with others.

Have you traveled to any countries/regions within the last five years? — Have you traveled abroad in the last five years? (If “Yes,” list the countries you have visited)

For those who have traveled to Hong Kong — in the DS-260 form, select “Hong Kong SAR” from the list Abkhazia -> Georgia Crimea -> Ukraine

Have you ever served in the military? — Have you served in the military? (Check your military ID or records for the “served/not served” indication. If “Yes,” provide military service information) Name of Country/Region — Select the country where you served from the list Branch of Service — Military branch Rank/Position — Rank or position held Military Specialty — Military specialty Date of Service From — Start date of service Date of Service To — End date of service

Have you belonged to, contributed to, or worked for any professional, social, or charitable organization? Do you have any specialized skills or training, such as firearms, explosives, nuclear, biological, or chemical experience? Have you ever served in, been a member of, or been involved with a paramilitary unit, vigilante unit, rebel group, guerrilla group, or insurgent organization?

Can you speak and/or read languages other than your native language? List the languages that you speak and/or read — Specify the languages you speak and/or read.

Answer these questions accurately and truthfully, as they are important for the visa application process. Providing false information can lead to visa denial or other legal consequences. Proceed to the next step, “Next: Security and Background.”

Step 16. Security and Background: Medical and Health Information

This step of the DS-260 form pertains to your health and medical information, which is important for assessing your eligibility for a visa.

Do you have a communicable disease of public health significance such as tuberculosis (TB)? — Answer “Yes” or “No” to indicate whether you have a communicable disease of public health significance, such as tuberculosis (TB). If you answer “Yes,” additional medical examinations may be required during the consular medical appointment.

Do you have documentation to establish that you have received vaccinations in accordance with U.S. law? — Indicate “Yes” or “No” and, if you have vaccination records, ensure they comply with the list of required vaccinations for an immigrant visa in the United States. If any vaccinations are missing, additional vaccinations may be required. The list of required vaccinations for an immigrant visa can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/vaccinations.html

If you have all the necessary vaccinations for your country of residence, but they do not match the U.S. requirements, you can select “No” and explain that you have received vaccinations in accordance with the laws of your country of residence by stating: “I RECEIVED VACCINATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH [COUNTRY] LAWS,” where COUNTRY is the name of your country.

Do you have a mental or physical disorder that poses or is likely to pose a threat to the safety or welfare of yourself or others? — Answer this question honestly, as it may affect your eligibility for an immigrant visa to the United States.

Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict? — Answer this question truthfully, as it may also impact your eligibility for a visa.

During the consular medical appointment, your vaccination records and overall health will be reviewed. These questions are designed to ensure the safety and well-being of both the visa applicant and others. Your responses may impact the outcome of the medical examination and, consequently, your eligibility for an immigrant visa to the United States.

Step 17. Security and Background: Criminal Information

Step 17 of the DS-260 form requests information regarding involvement in criminal activities, including drug addiction, and prostitution. If you have a history related to any of these issues, it may result in visa denial. Additionally, there are questions related to terrorism, money laundering, and human trafficking offenses. Answering “Yes” to any of these questions may lead to further scrutiny and delay in visa processing. All responses must be truthful and accurate, as providing false information can result in visa denial.

Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime, even though subject of a pardon, amnesty, or other similar action?

Have you ever violated, or engaged in a conspiracy to violate, any law relating to controlled substances?

Are you the spouse, son, or daughter of an individual who has violated any controlled substance trafficking law, and have knowingly benefited from the trafficking activities in the past five years?

Are you coming to the United States to engage in prostitution or unlawful commercialized vice or have you been engaged in prostitution or procuring prostitutes within the past 10 years?

Have you ever been involved in, or do you seek to engage in, money laundering?

Have you ever committed or conspired to commit a human trafficking offense in the United States or outside the United States?

Have you ever knowingly aided, abetted, assisted, or colluded with an individual who has been identified by the President of the United States as a person who plays a significant role in a severe form of trafficking in persons?

Are you the spouse, son, or daughter of an individual who has committed or conspired to commit a human trafficking offense in the United States or outside the United States and have you within the last five years, knowingly benefited from the trafficking activities?

Answer these questions honestly and accurately, as the responses may impact your visa eligibility.

Step 18. Security and Background: Security Information 1

Step 18 of the DS-260 form addresses questions related to national security and aims to ensure the safety of the United States. In this step, applicants are required to answer questions regarding potential involvement in illegal activities associated with terrorist groups, participation in genocide, torture, and other criminal actions. Understanding that providing this information may impact the immigration process, including visa denial, is crucial for applicants. Some of the questions may appear unexpected, such as joining a communist or totalitarian party, providing assistance to terrorist organizations, or interfering with others’ property. However, these questions are designed to ensure the security of the United States, and the answers to them can be critical in the decision-making process for issuing an immigrant visa.

Answers to these questions must be honest and accurate, as providing false statements can result in visa denial or even future denial of US citizenship. It is important to exercise special care when answering these questions to avoid errors or misunderstandings and seek guidance from an attorney or lawyer if needed.

Do you seek to engage in espionage, sabotage, export control violations, or any other illegal activity while in the United States?

Do you seek to engage in terrorist activities while in the United States or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities?

Have you ever or do you intend to provide financial assistance or other support to terrorists or terrorist organizations?

Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization?

Have you ever ordered, incited, committed, assisted, or otherwise participated in genocide?

Have you ever committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in torture?

Have you committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in extrajudicial killings, political killings, or other acts of violence?

Answer these questions honestly and accurately, as false statements can result in visa denial or future consequences. Exercise caution when responding to these questions and seek legal advice if needed.

Step 19. Security and Background: Security Information 2

Step 19 of the DS-260 form continues with questions related to security and background information. These questions are aimed at ensuring the national security of the United States. It is important to provide accurate and honest answers, as false statements can result in visa denial or future consequences, including denial of US citizenship.

Are you a member of or affiliated with the Communist or other totalitarian party?

Have you ever directly or indirectly assisted or supported any of the groups in Colombia known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), National Liberation Army (ELN), or United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)?

Have you ever, through abuse of governmental or political position, converted, confiscated, or expropriated property in a foreign nation to which a United States national had claim of ownership for personal gain?

Are you the spouse, minor child, or agent of an individual who has through abuse of governmental or political position converted, confiscated, or expropriated property in a foreign nation to which a United States national had claim of ownership for personal gain?

Have you ever been directly involved in the establishment or enforcement of population controls, forcing a woman to undergo an abortion against her free choice or a man or woman to undergo sterilization against his or her free choice?

Are you the spouse, minor child, or agent of an individual who has disclosed or trafficked confidential U.S. business information obtained in connection with U.S. participation in the Chemical Weapons Convention?

Have you ever disclosed or trafficked confidential U.S. business information obtained in connection with U.S. participation in the Chemical Weapons Convention?

These questions are critical for national security purposes, and providing accurate responses is crucial. Seek legal advice if needed to ensure you understand the questions and provide the necessary information accurately.

Step 20. Security and Background: Immigration Law Violations Information 1

Step 20 of the DS-260 form focuses on checking for any issues related to the applicant’s immigration history. The questions in this step inquire about potential violations of immigration laws, such as fraud, illegal presence in the United States, deportation orders, and other problems. It is crucial to provide honest and accurate answers to all questions, as providing false information can result in visa denial.

Have you ever sought to obtain or assist others to obtain a visa, entry into the United States, or any other United States immigration benefit by fraud or willful misrepresentation or other unlawful means?

Have you ever been the subject of a removal or deportation hearing?

Have you failed to attend a hearing on removability or miscellaneous inadmissibility within the last five years?

Have you ever been unlawfully present, overstayed the amount of time granted by an immigration official, or otherwise violated the terms of a U.S. visa?

Are you subject to a civil penalty under INA 274C?

Have you been ordered removed from the U.S. during the last five years?

Have you been ordered removed from the U.S. for a second time within the last 20 years?

Providing accurate responses to these questions is essential, as false statements can lead to visa denial. Seek legal advice if needed to ensure you understand the questions and provide the necessary information accurately.

Step 21. Security and Background: Immigration Law Violations Information 2

Have you ever been unlawfully present and ordered removed from the U.S. during the last ten years?

Have you ever been convicted of an aggravated felony and been ordered removed from the U.S.?

Have you ever been unlawfully present in the U.S. for more than 180 days (but no more than one year) and have voluntarily departed the U.S. within the last three years?

Have you ever been unlawfully present in the U.S. for no more than one year or more than one year in the aggregate at any time during the last 10 years?

Step 22. Security and Background: Miscellaneous Information 1

Step 22 and 23 consist of a list of questions related to violations of U.S. immigration and civil rules that may lead to visa denial. These questions cover various aspects of immigration, such as providing false information, unlawful presence in the United States, involvement in criminal activities, tax evasion, and other offenses. When completing the DS-260 form, it is important to provide honest and accurate answers to all questions, as providing false information may result in visa denial.

Have you ever withheld custody of a U.S. citizen child outside the United States from a person granted legal custody by a U.S. court?

Have you ever intentionally assisted another person in withholding custody of a U.S. citizen child outside the United States from a person granted legal custody by a U.S. court?

Have you voted in the United States in violation of any law or regulation?

Have you ever renounced United States citizenship for the purpose of evading Social Security requirements or avoiding taxation?

Have you attended a public elementary school or a public secondary school on student (F) status after November 30, 1996, without reimbursing the school?

Do you seek to enter the United States for the purpose of performing skilled or unskilled labor but have not yet been certified by the Secretary of Labor?

Are you a graduate of a foreign medical school seeking to perform medical services in the United States but have not yet passed the National Board of Medical Examiners examination or its equivalent?

Are you a health care worker seeking to perform such work in the United States but have not yet received certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Medical and Health Nursing Schools or from an equivalent approved independent credentialing organization?

Are you permanently ineligible for U.S. citizenship?

Have you ever departed the United States in order to evade military service during a time of war?

Are you coming to the U.S. to practice polygamy?

Are you a former exchange visitor (J) who has not yet fulfilled the two-year foreign residence requirement?

Has the Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States ever determined that you knowingly made a frivolous application for asylum?

Are you likely to become a public charge after you are admitted to the United States?

Answer these questions honestly and accurately as part of the visa application process. Providing false information can have serious consequences, including visa denial.

Have you ever applied for a Social Security number? Were you issued a number?

Do you need a new card issued?

Do you authorize disclosure of information from this form to the Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and such other U.S. Government agencies as may be required for the purposes of assigning you a Social Security number (SSN) and issuing you a Social Security card, and do you authorize the Social Security Administration to share your SSN with the Department of Homeland Security?

Step 25. Sign and Submit

In this step, you need to answer only one question and provide the required information.

Did anyone assist you in filling out this application?

After that, you need to fill in the KKC Case Number, enter your Passport Number, and input the verification code generated on the page.

Once you have completed this, click on “Sign and Submit Application”.

Please note that once you click this button, no further changes can be made. Before submitting, double-check all pages for accuracy.

The End!

Congratulations. You have completed one of the most complex forms that are filled out for the DV Program win.

F.A.Q. – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about completing the DS-260 form

Q: How much time is allocated for filling out the DS-260 application for Green Card winners? How long can one wait before filling out the DS-260 application after winning? A: After winning the DV lottery, you have until the end of your DV program, which ends on September 30th of the following year, to fill out the DS-260 application. However, if you submit the application, for example, on September 10th of the following year, you will not have enough time to receive an interview invitation. Therefore, the deadline for completing the DS-260 application is July 10th of the following year.

For example, for DV-2023 winners, they have until mid-July 2023 to complete the application. This applies to everyone. However, the order of consideration depends on your case number. If you want to be considered in chronological order, you need to have a rough idea of what range your case number falls into. For example, if your number is 10,000, you should submit the DS-260 application by the beginning of November 2022 to not miss your number.

Even if you miss your turn and submit the application after November, there is no need to panic, you will still be considered. The most important thing is to submit the DS-260 application no later than July 10th, 2023 for DV-2023.

Comment: It is important to remember that filling out and submitting the DS-260 application is one of the important stages of the green card acquisition process, so it is necessary to monitor the deadlines and submit the application as early as possible to not miss your turn. If you are unsure of the order in which to submit your application, you can seek assistance from a lawyer or immigration consultant.

Q: There is a problem with submitting the DS-260 application related to an incorrect Case Number. A: The error may be related to the presence of zeros in the number after the regional code. It is necessary to remove the zeros before the first digit in the number (for example, 2023EU00010865 should be written as 2023EU10865). If you still cannot submit the application due to a technical problem, try closing the browser and reopening the website. If the problem persists, seek assistance. It is important to follow the specified rules for correctly completing the application and successfully passing the interview.

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