VisaPro has confirmed with the National Visa Center (NVC) that effective September 1, 2013 the online Forms DS-260 [Immigrant Visa Electronic Application] and DS-261 [Choice of Address and Agent] will replace the paper-based DS-230 [Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration (parts I and II)] and the DS-3032 [Choice of Address and Agent].
Beneficiaries submitting new cases that arrive at the NVC from USCIS on or after September 1, 2013 will be instructed to complete the DS-260 and DS-261. To complete the DS-260 form, applicants must visit the website www.immigrantvisas.state.gov and select the link “Establish communication with the NVC and register an address or agent.” The invoice ID Number and the Beneficiary ID Number will be required to access and complete the DS-260 and DS-261.
For cases already in process at NVC, the DS-260 is not required:
- for beneficiaries of the cases where the case has already been documentarily qualified and ready for scheduling; and
- where the NVC receives documents that make a case documentarily qualified.
For all other cases in process at the NVC, the NVC will send instructions for beneficiaries to submit the DS-260 along with the missing documents or information, even when the DS-230 is already on file. If your case is already at the NVC, do not complete or submit the DS-260 unless instructed to do so by the NVC.
Mark Westcott, United Kingdom
