United States

Consulate General
Merida, Mexico

Instructions
on how to complete the
DS-160 application

http://merida.usconsulate.gov
STEPS TO APPLY FOR A NONIMMIGRANT VISA

3. Pay the visa 4.Schedule an

fee at appointment 6. Pick up your
1.Have a valid at
2. Banamex or 5. Go to the visa at the
passport and www.usvisa-
Visit:http://usvi Scotiabank or ASC (CAS) or DHL office
complete the sa-info.com info.com or
by credit card Consulate. previously
DS-160 form. by calling:
on the web chosen.
page. ;ϵϵϵͿϮϴϱͲϲϬϬϬ
.
 BENEFITS
The U.S. Department of • The DS-160 contains all options of visa
applications in one. The applicant will
State has developed a not have to worry about which
application to use for his/her individual
smart application to help case.
make the visa process
• It offers more privacy to your
clearer and faster. information.

• Personal data will be processed at least

2 days before attending your interview
if not earlier, so it is recommended that
the application is completed two days
The application is free, must before your appointment. If the
be completed online and you do application is filled out correctly, the
not need to use intermediaries. process can be faster for everyone.
At the end it will print a
confirmation sheet with a
barcode that will give us access
to the information contained
in your application. DS-160
Complete the DS-160 application at:
https://ceac.state.gov/genniv

It is important to remember that this application

must be fully completed with accurate and honest
information as this will determine whether the
officer can better evaluate your case.

The new application does not exclude the

requirement to carry all proof of your economic
and social ties in Mexico.
Instructions on how to fill out the DS-160 form:

1 • The form is designed to be completed by the visa applicant

• Before you start, make sure you have in hand your current and previous
2 passports, previous visa, employment and education information (dates,
addresses) and complete information about the place you will visit in the U.S.

3 • Review and edit the information before submitting

4 • Even if someone helps you fill it out, the applicant is responsible

for the information contained in his/her application form.

5 •Print and bring the confirmation page (with barcode) to your appointment(s).
 Select
your
preferred
language

Indicate the
Consulate in
which you will
apply for your
visa.

http://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
Select “Start a New
Application” to
begin filling out a
new application.

In this option you

can access an
application you
previously
started.

You may continue

filling out an
application you left
pending.
Make sure to record
this Application ID
when you start filling
out the form.

Choose a
question and an
answer so in case
your time expires
you can retrieve
your application.
By pointing the cursor on the English
questions and text, these will be
translated to the language that you
chose.
 Enter your full name
correctly. The
information that you
provide on these fields
is the same that will be
printed on your visa.

Enter names and

surnames just as
they appear on
your most recent
passport.
Write on this field your
passport number.

Write on this field your

passport book number.
How to identify your passport number?

Passport
Number

Passport
Book Number
Write the purpose of your trip.

Exact or approximate
date that you plan to visit
the U.S.

Address where you will

be staying in the U.S. or
city and state that you
most frequently visit in
the U.S.
If you have traveled to
the U.S. before, write
down the most
precise possible
information of your
last 5 trips.

Specify any time that

you have been
approved or denied a
visa. In both cases you
should provide the
dates.
 How to identify your previous visa number?
If you had a previous visa, you will be
asked the date on which the visa was
issued and the visa number.

The visa number

is the number
that appears in
red.
Write the name of a relative
or contact in the U.S.

If you have no relatives in

the U.S., please check the
“do not know” box and
specify the store, hotel or
organization that you most
frequently visit in the U.S.

Address of the family

member or contact, or
hotel, store or organization
in the U.S.
 Current
employment or
school information,
including income
and a brief
description of your
duties.

Please include
previous
employment as
work history.
Verify that all information displayed is
correct. Change any incorrect
information before proceeding to
submit your application.
 If someone assisted
you filling this form,
you must indicate it
and the application
will ask you for that
person’s information.

THE VISA APPLICANT

IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
ALL THE
INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THIS
FORM and must sign
electronically with
the password
provided in the
black box.
CONFIRMATION
PAGE
The last step is to print
the confirmation page
that appears after fully
completing the online
application.

This page contains a

barcode and you must
bring it the day of your
interview. A copy will be
sent to the email address
that you provide in your
application in case you
want to print it later.
 If you are going to complete
applications for a group or
family, at the end of the first
one you will have the option
to create an application for
another family member
selecting “create a family
application”.

In this manner, some basic

information on the form will
Each member of the be imported into the rest of
group or family must the forms which saves you
fill out his/her own from having to repeat
application.
the same information
for each family member.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR VISA APPLICATION PROCESS
AT THE U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL IN MATAMOROS
1. We will ask you to enter the building at the time that corresponds to your
appointment. Be prepared for possible bad weather conditions, because you
may be asked to wait for some time out the building.
2. You will be subject to a review similar to that of the airport.
3. We will review your basic documentation and will provide you with a number to
be used throughout the process. Then we will ask you to enter into our waiting
room.
4. We will call you through an automated system to one of the cubicles where we
will make sure that the information contained in your application is correct.
5. We will ask you to go back to the waiting room where a consular officer will call
you to one of the interview windows.
6. The consular officer will make a brief interview.
7. If your visa is approved we will inform you on how you will be picking up your
visa at the DHL office previously chosen.
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DAY OF
YOUR INTERVIEW AT THE CONSULATE

• If you received help filling out the DS-160 form, please indicate it in the appropriate
section so the consular officer will not require you to fill out a new application.

• Visit our webpage to get more information on each of the “basic steps”
to apply for a visa
http://merida.usconslate.gov/visas.html

• Children ages 6 and under applying for a tourist visa DO NOT need to come to the
Consulate. Please bring a picture of them with the specific features listed on our
webpage: http://merida.usconsulate.gov/appearasc.html
 Security Policies
• All visitors to the consulate are subject to a security screening, similar
to that of an airport. When planning your visit, bring only what you
need for your interview. If you have items that are prohibited in the
consulate, you may delay other people in the line. Due to security
measures, you may have to wait a considerable time outside the
consulate.

Restricted items inside the Consulate:

Cell phones, cameras, camcorders, radios, pagers, portable radio, portable video
game, portable personal computer, computer disks, USB portable memory devices,
batteries, calculators, and any electronic cable, pocket knives, scissors, feathers,
metallic ink, belts with large metal buckles, pencil sharpener, cosmetic tweezers,
eyelash curlers, nail files, metal, nail clippers, spray any article, mirrors, glass bottles
(perfume, makeup, etc..), razors, cigarettes, lighter , matches, lanyard badge holder,
badge holder with retractable mechanism, firearms, ammunition, sharp cutting, any
liquids, chewing gum and any type of food.
http://merida.usconsulate.gov