DS-160 Online Visa Application

Once you have completed and paid for your SEVIS (I-901) you will need to do your DS-160 Online Visa Application.  This is the most intense phase of the visa process so try to stay calm.  I recommend checking you have all the required information and documents on hand to make the process go quickly and smoothly; you can find the list of required documents and information HERE.

To begin, go to www.ustraveldocs.com/au/index.html.  A little window will pop up asking you if have applied for a visa or visited the site before.  If it is your first time, click ‘yes’ and you will be taken to a page that asks you if you are applying for an immigrant or non-immigrant visa.  Click on non-immigrant visa and you will be re-directed to a page that gives you a brief overview and instructions for the visa process. 

(Alternatively, if you click on ‘no’ because it is not your first time applying for a visa, you will be taken to the home page.  Simply scroll down to the list of options and click on the one that says ‘Apply for a visa’.  On the new page go to the blue menu on the left and click on ‘Complete my DS-160’; this will take you to the overview/instructions page)

Once you’ve read the overview and instructions page, you will find a link to the DS-160 at the bottom of the page.  This will take you to the US Department of State site where the DS-160 form is hosted.  The first thing you need to do on this page is select the consulate you will be attending from the drop down menu.  In Australia your choices are Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and in New Zealand you need to go to Auckland.  

Once you select your consulate, a new box will appear on the page under the drop down menu with information about your visa photo.  The visa photo requirements are different to your passport photo requirements, so make sure you check them HERE first.  You can have photos taken to the correct specifications at the post office or other locations, however, you can just as easily take the photography yourself.  I actually took my photo ‘selfie’ style using the front facing camera on my iphone and the camera on the square photo setting and it was perfect.  When you click on the small head silhouette image, you will be taken to a photo wizard where you can adjust your photo to meet the requirements if necessary and it will tell you if your photo is acceptable.

Once you have an acceptable photo and it has been attached to your application, you will return to the original page where the photo information box will have turned green.  You can then click on the button that says ‘start an application’.  On the next page you will be given an application ID.  Write your application ID down.  If your application times out, you have to stop the application and come back to it or there is any other problem, this ID will allow you to come back to your application.  Without your application ID you will have to start all over again. 

Now we finally get to the actual application.  There are many, many questions - far too many for me to address in detail – so I’ve just listed them all below for your information:

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 (If this does not apply click 'does not apply')

Home address (This is your current address)

Mailing address

Phone number

Email address

Passport Details

Passport type (Regular, the other types are for diplomats etc)

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 Aus/NZ passports so simply put down 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 Immigration Information document)

Person or entity funding your trip (This is whoever is paying for your flights, visa fees, etc – NOT Disney)

Are you traveling alone or with travel companions? (Does not include people travelling with you who are doing the same program)

Have you travelled 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 Immigration Information document)

Employer/Point of contact phone number (Found on the end of page 11 of the 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

Mother's personal details

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

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. There are five pages of security questions (it’s pretty intense) so I’m not going to list them all here, but they are all things you will be able to answer easily.  Just remember not to rush through them because you don’t want to accidentally give the wrong answer!

After the security questions, you will be asked to provide the information of 2 additional contacts from your home country who can verify the information you have provided is accurate.  These people cannot be related to you, but otherwise they can be just about anyone.  I chose two friends who know me very well but I know other people asked family friends, godparents, work colleagues, employers, lecturers etc.  I’d recommend selecting these people in advance so you can ask their permission and have their info ready to go when you do the application. 

(Please note: 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 will be asked to provide your SEVIS ID again (found in the upper-right hand side of the DS-2019) and the Exchange Number (This is the Program Number found on your DS-2019). You will also be asked 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.

The last few steps are simple confirmations of your personal details and that all the information you have provided is true and accurate.  When you have completed the application, you will be taken to 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 the consulate.

The final step of the online application process is to pay for your visa and book an appointment at the consulate.  You can find my instructions on how to do that HERE or you can return to the Visa Instructions.