Question Regarding Bar Code

[Palladin 18]

I have a question regarding bar code.

As some one on Visa Journey pointed out, you can generate your own bar codein teh same USCIS style, and attach it to any document you sent to them. This will facilitate processing of the case:

http://www.bcgen.com/linear-barcode-creator.html

I follow the instruction and used code 39 to generate my case bar code. It looks to be correct. However I re-examed the paper NOA1 I received for my K-1 case. And find that tehre are actually TWO DIFFERENT BAR CODES:

1. The one on the lower right corner, below the text "APPLICANT COPY". That one looks the same as the one I generated using the barcode creater web site.

2. The one on the upper right corner of the receipt, aligned vertically. This one does NOT look the same as the lower right corner one, and does nto look like the bar code I generated on my own.

Does any one know why there are two different bar codes on the same receipt.

[YuAndDan 153]

You are doing K-1, bar-codes have to do with NVC process for CR-1 and IR-1 spouse immigrant visas.

Only bar code I know of used in K-1 cases is the special one generated by the online DS-156 that will be used at the time paperwork gets turned in at the consulate in Guangzhou.

https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp

[JohnC811 4]

they may not be using code 39 and the code39 requires to have an asterisk "*" before and after the code numbers to be read by a bar code reader also use the generator they use because it contains other information than numbers and is specific to their form

Edited January 15, 2011 by JohnC811

[Palladin 18]

After I studied the technicality of bar codes a little bit. I find my answer.

The bar code at the lower right corner of the I-797C receipt, right below the text "APPLICANT COPY", is the correct bar code of the case number. The actual text is encoded using Code 39:

*WAC1190######*

Yes there is a * at the beginning and end of the string, so total 15 charatcetrs.

The bar code to the upper right edge of the receipt does not mean much. It is simply:

*00000000*

I guess that means document 0, or step 0, of the pending case.

[Palladin 18]

I figured out an easy way for you to generate your own bar code at will, when you prepare a document.

Download this free Code 39 bar code font file:

http://www.barcodesinc.com/free-barcode-font/free3of9.zip

Unzip the file and extract the two *.ttf file to your Windows fonts directory:

C:\Windows\fonts\

Now open your document using MS Word or any word processor. At the place where you need your bar code, type the string:

*WAC1190######*

You must have the beginning and ending '*'. The highlight the string and then change font to "Free 3 of 9". Bingo you get your bar code right at the place!!!

[Darnell 8,479]

bar code requirement for a K-1 visa? what? huh?

Please explain that to me, TIA !

[Palladin 18]

bar code requirement for a K-1 visa? what? huh?

Please explain that to me, TIA !

The bar code is NOT a requirement, but a help whenever you supplement additional documents or otherwise communicate with USCIS. Requiring a human being to manually punch in and search for a case number is always error prune. If you have bar code attached to all your documents they will not be lost and they can get the case number reliably and quickly. So I believe using bar code on all my documents may help.

You can download and install barcode font onto your computer, that way you can put bar code in your computer document as easy as just typing:

http://www.barcodesinc.com/free-barcode-font/free3of9.zip

Just extract the two *.TTF file and put them under your C:\Windows\fonts\ subdirectory. You may need to find the files using Windows Explorer and double click on them once, so that the Windows recognize your new addition of fonts.

To enter bar codes, type the case number with the beginning * and ending *, then change the font of the strong to the "free 3 of 9 bar code font".

[VanessaTony 3,567]

The bar code is NOT a requirement, but a help whenever you supplement additional documents or otherwise communicate with USCIS. Requiring a human being to manually punch in and search for a case number is always error prune. If you have bar code attached to all your documents they will not be lost and they can get the case number reliably and quickly. So I believe using bar code on all my documents may help.

As long as you think it will help your case that's what matters.

Personally I don't see a USCIS operator scanning a barcode that is not USCIS generated because 1. what if YOU stuffed up, 2. What if you're trying to commit some sort of fraud or it accidentally links to the wrong case and 3. It's not their barcode and they wouldn't even think to scan it...

Interesting theory though. It would be interesting to chat with a USCIS rep who's seen the barcodes and what they think of them...

[sarahlynn 0]

After I studied the technicality of bar codes a little bit. I find my answer.

The bar code at the lower right corner of the I-797C receipt, right below the text "APPLICANT COPY", is the correct bar code of the case number. The actual text is encoded using Code 39:

*WAC1190######*

Yes there is a * at the beginning and end of the string, so total 15 charatcetrs.

The bar code to the upper right edge of the receipt does not mean much. It is simply:

*00000000*

I guess that means document 0, or step 0, of the pending case.

That's right. I've done a barcode project before, and the ISO/IEC Code 39 barcode specification requires mandatory star signs (*) both at the beginning and ending of the barcode data text, called the start and stop character. You can also add an optional check character to improve your data security or readability.