DS 160 application: time out immediately and can't enter again as surname and date of birth not correct

[Dragonsarereal 14]

Hi there!

 

I am a little frustrated as I have the embassy letter, so I went to register/fill my DS160 and I got two issue straight away, using Chrome on my iMac if that matters, and then Firefox.

1) The session logged me out as soon as I pressed next after my digital photo was accepted.

2) Despite using the correct spelling of my surname and knowing exactly when I was born, when I went to retrieve the application, I got this message:

 

Please correct all areas in error as indicated below. Once you have finished, click ‘Retrieve Application’ button to continue completing your online application form.

• Surname does not match.
• Year of Birth does not match.

 

I tried a few times but I cannot move forward and the help section does not mention this.

I am stuck! Any suggestions please? Thanks 

 

 

 

 

 

[AndiB 677]

2 hours ago, Dragonsarereal said:

Hi there!

 

I am a little frustrated as I have the embassy letter, so I went to register/fill my DS160 and I got two issue straight away, using Chrome on my iMac if that matters, and then Firefox.

1) The session logged me out as soon as I pressed next after my digital photo was accepted.

2) Despite using the correct spelling of my surname and knowing exactly when I was born, when I went to retrieve the application, I got this message:

 

Please correct all areas in error as indicated below. Once you have finished, click ‘Retrieve Application’ button to continue completing your online application form.

• Surname does not match.
• Year of Birth does not match.

 

I tried a few times but I cannot move forward and the help section does not mention this.

I am stuck! Any suggestions please? Thanks 

 

 

 

 

 

had you entered your surname, yr of birth and saved before it timed out? If you haven't then no record exists which is why it can't find it 
for instance it timed out half way through first page for me so i had to start over 

[Dragonsarereal 14]

1 hour ago, AndiB said:

had you entered your surname, yr of birth and saved before it timed out? If you haven't then no record exists which is why it can't find it 
for instance it timed out half way through first page for me so i had to start over 

yes, all I did was name, surname, and attach the photo. Got the case number so I can retrieve it..... I then clicked next when it was approved, and boom, I was timed out. I see that this is a common incidence and I found many past threads online but they all say to change browser. I used Firefox, Chrome and Vivaldi and still no luck!

[AndiB 677]

1 hour ago, Dragonsarereal said:

yes, all I did was name, surname, and attach the photo. Got the case number so I can retrieve it..... I then clicked next when it was approved, and boom, I was timed out. I see that this is a common incidence and I found many past threads online but they all say to change browser. I used Firefox, Chrome and Vivaldi and still no luck!

weird, adding photo isn't part of page one
should be given names, marital status, dob and place of birth then save
if you didn't make it to this first save point then your application doesn't exist yet, you have to start over

[Dragonsarereal 14]

2 hours ago, AndiB said:

weird, adding photo isn't part of page one
should be given names, marital status, dob and place of birth then save
if you didn't make it to this first save point then your application doesn't exist yet, you have to start over

Well, if you look at the pdf sample supplied by: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/PDF-other/DS-160-Example_11-19-2020.pdf

First line: select a location. Done. Then enter the random unreadable code. Done. Right under that it says" This visa application will ask you to upload a digital photo of yourself. There are two lines under that: test photo and Photo standard guide. I pressed on TEST photo. It was accepted as valid.

Then under that you have : start an application. Done.

Next line: choose a security question/answer. Done that. Continue. So we are still not in the application, we are preparing for it.

At which point it says 'continue' and then it looked me out.

Some people in this forum in 2017 had the same issue, and started a new application, and got logged out again and could not log back in.

 

 

 

[Dragonsarereal 14]

by the way, I cleared cache and cookies and used Chrome again, and this time I was able to load and fill 85% or more. I then uploaded the photo taken at the photo boot. It was accepted. And then that was it. I cannot go forward to the next step, called REVIEW. It's dimmed.

I tried again clearing cache and cookies, looked in the past paragraphs etc but I am stuck again. If you have ideas I will be very grateful!

 

Also, can the belongings be sent when I receive the VISA but arriving before I arrive to the USA?

 

[Dragonsarereal 14]

Ok just in case someone else encounters the same issue, I managed to solve it! I downloaded Microsoft EDGE and everything worked fine.

Filled 2 DS 160 (one for my teen), and printed off the acceptance papers. K2 for her, added in her DS 160.

Next we will take care of the ACRO, then the vaccines and the doctor. Getting there! Thanks for your assistance! PS the embassy was not able to help at all!

[Dansm 0]

On 11/22/2023 at 10:08 AM, Dragonsarereal said:

Hi there!

 

I am a little frustrated as I have the embassy letter, so I went to register/fill my DS160 and I got two issue straight away, using Chrome on my iMac if that matters, and then Firefox.

1) The session logged me out as soon as I pressed next after my digital photo was accepted.

2) Despite using the correct spelling of my surname and knowing exactly when I was born, when I went to retrieve the application, I got this message:

 

Please correct all areas in error as indicated below. Once you have finished, click ‘Retrieve Application’ button to continue completing your online application form.

• Surname does not match.
• Year of Birth does not match.

 

I tried a few times but I cannot move forward and the help section does not mention this.

I am stuck! Any suggestions please? Thanks 

 

 

 

 

 

I have the same issue. Please tell me how you solved it.

[Dragonsarereal 14]

3 minutes ago, Dansm said:

I have the same issue. Please tell me how you solved it.

I stopped using Safari and Chrome. As soon as I used Opera, (a new browser) everything worked!

[uttat 0]

Hi!

 

I found the same problem.

I cannot retrieve my application because both Surname and Birth don't match.

I have tried to change browser (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera) but the problem still remains.

Please, can you help me?

Thanks!

 

 

 

[Rococo 0]

Same situation for me. I’ve tried Safari, Chrome and Firefox and am getting nowhere with it. My surname and DOB are incorrect…. Did you all manage to solve this? If so, how?

 

many thanks

 

Ro

[powerpuff 6,728]

Old thread closed. If you have a question, please feel free to start a thread.

 

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