Downloadable Forms
How to fill out Non-immigrant Visa Application Forms (DS-156/157/158)
Accuracy and completeness are crucial
Filling out the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) application (DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158) properly will make your processing go smoother and faster. Please answer all questions with a complete, accurate answer, or answer "none" when a question does not apply to you, except questions 8 , 9 and 14.
Specific sections of the DS-156
6. Surnames (As in Passport)
Please make sure that your name is spelled exactly as it is in your passport.
8. Other Surnames Used (Maiden, Religious, Professional, Aliases)
Be sure to provide any maiden or former surnames. Please leave this question blank if you have no other surnames. Do not write "none."
9. Other First and Middle Names Used
Please leave this question blank if you have no other names. Do not write "none."
14. National Identification Number
Please enter only the last seven digits of your national identification (KID) number. For example, if your KID number is 800101-1234567, only enter 1234567. Non-Koreans must enter their own national identification number, if there is any, otherwise please leave this question blank.
21. Present Occupation
Please enter the most accurate descriptive title of your job. For example:
- Housewife, Retired, Jobless or Student.
- For private companies, Owner or President, NOT Representative.
- Salesman, Accountant or Manager, NOT Employee, Section Chief or Team Leader
- Be specific, i.e. Army Officer or City Office Clerk, NOT Public Official.
- If there is no job title, write a description of what you do for work. For example: Web Designer, Apartment Security Guard, Engineer, Bus Driver, Seaman.
- If an example is not possible, put down the department or section of your work. For example: Accounting Staff, Shipping Staff or Gwangwhamun Post Office Staff.
24. At what address will you stay in the U.S.?
Write the name and address of where you are staying.
- If address is known, be specific. For example: James Kim, 123 Main St, Amherst MA 01002
- If you are going on a package tour and will be staying at several locations, please write the name of the tour. For example: KAL West Coast Tour to CA, AZ and NV or Asiana FL Disneyland Package Tour
27. What is the purpose of your trip?
Be as specific as possible. Some examples are:
- Visit wife's uncle in CA and sightsee
- Business meeting with IBM in NY
- Sightseeing tour of West Coast
- See Broadway plays and shop
- Honeymoon
- Play golf
- Study for PhD in Biology at Purdue
- Attend 33rd Intl Psychology Conference in Chicago
- Help daughter with pregnancy
39 and 40. Signature of person preparing form
If another person or travel agent helps you complete this application you must enter that information here. The signers are fully responsible for all information on an application.
41. Applicant's signature
All applicants over 16 must sign their own application. Parents may sign for children under 16 by writing Kim, Hana by mother Kim, Young Soon. The signers are fully responsible for all information on an application.
- Requirements for photo on the NIV application (DS-156) more
- A receipt from the Shinhan Bank for visa processing fee.
Please glue a MRV receipt to the 2-D barcode page of the EVAF DS-156 as shown on the sample.
DS-157 and DS-158
All NIV applicants must also submit a completed Supplemental NIV Application DS-157. All applicants seeking F, J and M visas must complete and submit a Contact Information and Work History for NIV Applicant DS-158, in addition to the DS-156 and DS-157.
Download completed sample nonimmigrant visa application forms
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For nonimmigrant visa (NIV) inquiries (excluding E, H, L, O, P, Q visa inquiries), please e-mail us at: seoulniv@state.gov. For E, H, L, O, P, Q visa inquiries, please e-mail us at: seoulgoldteam@state.gov.
The applicant, not the U.S. Government, assumes full responsibility for all documents and materials submitted in connection with any consular or visa matter, and for ualifying for the required visa or travel document in time to meet the applicant's needs.
This is an official U.S. Government source of information on the WWW. Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links or information does not imply endorsement of contents.
The U.S. Embassy is closed on both U.S. and Korean holidays.
Updated 2007-August-31