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Completing the DS-160


Guest ExChinaExpat

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Guest ExChinaExpat

The new online DS-160 form replaces several older paper forms. We completed these forms for K1/K2 a few weeks ago, but the process had several bumps and false starts. First, consider that the forms must be completed in English. Second, that the forms are quite long and require several comprehensive details about the applicant(s). To begin these forms one must first create a user account. It's not at all clear how the user accounts are scrutinized, but my suspicions are they are scrutinizing them very carefully and most likely in an unfair manner when considering just how unfriendly the website is to honest users. It's also not clear just who in the hell is supposed to create the user account, but it appears that only the Chinese applicant should do so. They just may be hiding out to see whether there are oppressive men who try to help their partners with good intentions.

 

It is likely nearly one-hundred percent of all applicants need the help of a native English speaker to work their way through the myriad of questions. You should be ready for a tough marathon session that can take a few hours to complete. For us, we assumed the website correctly indicated that the user could save their work and go back and complete it later. That didn't work for us and we lost everything close to the end of the first try.

 

The account holder must register using their email. My partner and I shared the account and after a bit we saw we could close the form, save it, and I could reopen and also save. Toward the end, or beginning as I dont' remember, the applicant must upload a passport style photo and review the content and submit it. There is a question that in my estimation can be interpreted two ways which caused me to wonder after my partner submitted if I had guessed wrong. The DS-160 question was whether the applicant had third party assistance to submit/complete the form. I assumed, that the NVC people would examine the MAC, IP, and email address and see that it was the applicant who actually submitted the form. However, I have no way of knowing how or what they do. My fiance and her daughter reviewed the content of these forms online while we all spent hours on the telephone to complete them. We also answered the question as NO, that requested whether they had assistance, as I assumed it meant only a lawyer or another actually clicked submit.

 

Needless to say I am nervous about everything at this moment. You just cannot assume that having an honest heart and being truthful in all answers your provide is good enough. For all I know these guys are out there playing "gotcha" when a man helps the Chinese woman with the form and then answers the question at the end as to whether or not you helped.

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This question has come up more than a few times, back to the paper form days - the answer is 'No' if your spouse is the 'third party' who helped with the forms.

 

As far as who clicks the 'Submit' button, I think they were initially picky there as to whose IP it came from (at least for the G-28's when the electronic processing was initiated), but VERY quickly realized that spouse's WOULD be helping with these things.

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