Form DS-230 - visits & stays in U.S.

[Ms Hogan 295]

As suggested by many folks here I've started prepping ahead of time for my DS-230. I have some questions and concerns I'd like to hear your thoughts on:

1. I have been traveling to the US since childhood. We are 1.5 hours from the border and have always traveled to the US. There is no way I can list all of those visits. Should I write a letter to attach to the form explaining all of this?

2. I travel to the US every 2-3 weeks now and have done so for the past 3 years visiting my husband. Same issue as above, do I just write a letter to cover this off and attach it? Will I be able to attach said letter since everything will be done electronically?

3. I used to go to the US in the Winter on a B1 visa for 3 years on a training program. BUT I don't remember those exact dates. What are the consequences of not knowing the dates? This was as far back as 1997. The place I visited no longer exists thanks to Hurricane Katrina so I can't coordinate with them trying to figure it out.

4. In listing the places I've lived since the age of 16, do I have to include the apartments and house I stayed in while training in the US? I honestly can't remember the actual addresses and they were paid for by the place I was visiting. Nothing was in my name. I can't even call the rental offices because they were wiped out by Katrina. The form asks for the town and the state, is that all that's needed?

Thank you for any thoughts and suggestions!

[pushbrk 13,411]

As suggested by many folks here I've started prepping ahead of time for my DS-230. I have some questions and concerns I'd like to hear your thoughts on:

1. I have been traveling to the US since childhood. We are 1.5 hours from the border and have always traveled to the US. There is no way I can list all of those visits. Should I write a letter to attach to the form explaining all of this?

2. I travel to the US every 2-3 weeks now and have done so for the past 3 years visiting my husband. Same issue as above, do I just write a letter to cover this off and attach it? Will I be able to attach said letter since everything will be done electronically?

3. I used to go to the US in the Winter on a B1 visa for 3 years on a training program. BUT I don't remember those exact dates. What are the consequences of not knowing the dates? This was as far back as 1997. The place I visited no longer exists thanks to Hurricane Katrina so I can't coordinate with them trying to figure it out.

4. In listing the places I've lived since the age of 16, do I have to include the apartments and house I stayed in while training in the US? I honestly can't remember the actual addresses and they were paid for by the place I was visiting. Nothing was in my name. I can't even call the rental offices because they were wiped out by Katrina. The form asks for the town and the state, is that all that's needed?

Thank you for any thoughts and suggestions!

List your latest two visits, most recent at the top. On line three, enter, "Multiple visits since 1997. No Overstays." if true and call it good. Works every time it's tried. If you were only visiting the USA, you were visiting, not residing, so don't list where you stayed during visits. Note that you will be using the online DS260 coming from Canada, not the DS230, though I do suggest completing the DS230 as a guide for the DS260.

[cillyx5 2]

If you do the online version of that form, it only requires the info from your last 3 visits. So, if you are doing the paper version, I agree with pushbrk, just note your last two, and then state there's been plenty more.

Good luck.

[peteranna 0]

If you do the online version of that form, it only requires the info from your last 3 visits. So, if you are doing the paper version, I agree with pushbrk, just note your last two, and then state there's been plenty more.

Good luck.

Along the same topic....would anyone know if we are to bring a hard copy of the ds-230 prefilled to the interview? I filled out the ds-260 online but i know we have to sign part 2....so not sure if we bring it or they supply it...

[Ms Hogan 295]

Pushbrk, thank you for your response. Can you help me a little further. If I was visiting on a B1 visa for training purposes, would that still be considered "visiting" even though I had an apartment or house provided to me while I stayed there? I know I may be overthinking it but I don't want to mess anything up.

And yes, I'm doing the 230 as a preparation for the online version which I know us Canucks are required to do. I'm just paying close attention to everyone's advice about being ready to go when the NOA2 comes along!

[pushbrk 13,411]

Pushbrk, thank you for your response. Can you help me a little further. If I was visiting on a B1 visa for training purposes, would that still be considered "visiting" even though I had an apartment or house provided to me while I stayed there? I know I may be overthinking it but I don't want to mess anything up.

And yes, I'm doing the 230 as a preparation for the online version which I know us Canucks are required to do. I'm just paying close attention to everyone's advice about being ready to go when the NOA2 comes along!

If you had given up your actual residence outside the USA then that's where you were living. Otherwise, you were visiting. You'll disclose the dates of the visit and B1 visa elsewhere on the application.