Electronic Visa Application Form (Online English DS-156)

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing is pleased to announce an online visa application form (the English DS-156) that will save time for applicants and our Consular Section staff. The online form contains a bar code, which will allow us to electronically transfer data and therefore reduce waiting time during the visa application process. 

Once the application form is completed online, it must be printed, and then submitted to the Consular Section at the time of the visa interview. Please submit the original printed form, including the last page, which contains the bar code—photocopies or faxes of the printed form are not acceptable. In addition, please do not fold the printed application form.

There are some system requirements for using the new online visa application form:

• Your Internet browser must support 128-bit encryption. If you are using Internet Explorer, the minimum version that will work with the site is version 5.0, with service pack 2. If you are using Netscape, the minimum version that will work with the site is version 6.2.
• You must also have Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to download and print the completed application form. The minimum version that will work with the site is version 5. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5.0 or higher, you may download a copy from Adobe's website.
• You should use a laser printer to print the completed application form.  Please make sure the printer has adequate ink, and that the forms are legible.  Forms printed by ink-jet printer cannot be scanned. 

Note: Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, it may take several minutes to download the initial and completed copies of the form.  Please be patient. If your system does not meet these requirements, you might consider using a computer with that capability at an Internet Café or elsewhere.

Instructions for completing an electronic visa application form:

1. Open the online form; click “Yes” if “Security Alert” window bumps out.
   
2. Enter the information requested into the appropriate spaces on the form. Please answer all questions. Your answers must be in English and must use English characters.  Letters like ñ, é, ü, ç and symbols like ，/ # $ & * are not recognized by the system.
   
3. Review the information you entered for accuracy.  (Note: The form cannot be saved online.  You will have to fill out a new form if you need to correct some of the information on the form you have completed.)
   
4. Press the "Continue" button at the end of the form. Failure to click on the "Continue" button will result in an incorrectly formatted application form. (Note: Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, it may take several minutes to download the completed form.  Please be patient.)
   
5. Print the form after it is returned to you and displayed in Adobe Acrobat. The barcode that prints on the last page contains the information you entered and will help us process your application more quickly.
   
6. After the form is printed out, Chinese nationals must also fill out the following items manually in Chinese: Item 6 (Surnames), Item 7 (First and Middle Names), Item 8 (Other Surname Used), Item 9 (Other First and Middle Names Used), Item 15 (Home Address), Item 18 (Spouse’s Full Name), Item 20 (Name and Address of Present Employer or School).
   
7. After the form is printed out, Chinese nationals must also manually fill in the standard telegraph code (STC) for their Chinese surnames and given names in Item 6 & 7.  Chinese telegraph codes may be found on the following website or from most Chinese telecom offices and post offices free of charge.  Additionally, these codes can be found at the Chaoyang Government’s Visa Service Center for a fee.
   
8. While filling out item 15 and item 16, Chinese nationals (including returning F, H & L visa applicants) should provide their home address in CHINA as well as their contact information in CHINA, NOT their U.S address & contact information.   
   
9. You should GLUE a 2X2 inches recent color photo onto the printed form (click for photo requirements).  Please DO NOT STAPLE your photo.
   
10. Please TAPE your application fee receipt on the last page of the printed out form.  Please, do NOT cover the barcode area, and please do NOT staple or glue your receipt. You may find a sample of the completed online DS-156 at the bottom of this web page.
    
11. Bring all printed pages with you when you come in for your interview. Please DO NOT FOLD the printed application form．
    

Note: You can save time filling out the online DS-156 application form for family members by using the "Generate Family Duplicate" button located at the bottom of the online DS-156 application form. Once you have completed and printed your online DS-156 application form, click the "Back" button on your browser to return to the online DS-156 application form and then click on the "Generate Family Duplicate" button to copy the values into a new online DS-156 application form.

THE ONLINE VISA APPLICATION FORM CAN BE DOWNLOADED BY CLICKING HERE.  

The sample of a COMPLETED electronic DS-156 is provided here only for applicants’ information.  To know how to fill out the form correctly, please click HERE.