DS-260 form filing guide and common mistakes to avoid

Filing Form DS-260 is a key part of the immigrant visa process for individuals applying for permanent immigration, leading to the issuance of a green card from outside the United States. This online application gathers personal details needed to determine visa eligibility and move cases forward to consular processing.

In this article, we’ll walk through each step of completing DS-260, including required documents, fees, and how to avoid common mistakes that could delay approval. We’ll also explore how modern e-filing tools are helping immigration attorneys and their clients complete the process faster and more efficiently.

What is Form DS-260?

Form DS-260 is the online application required for individuals who are applying for an  immigrant visa to enter the United States on a permanent basis through a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Unlike adjustment of status, which occurs from within the U.S., this process—which is called consular processing—requires applicants to submit their biographic and background information through the DS-260 before they can schedule a visa interview.

The form serves several important purposes during the immigrant visa process:

• It helps determine whether the applicant qualifies for an immigrant visa under the relevant category.

• It provides information for required background and security screenings.

• It documents family and employment relationships that support the underlying visa petition.

Submitting DS-260 is a mandatory step before an in-person visa interview can be scheduled at a U.S. consulate or embassy. The information submitted through the form will be reviewed by a consular officer and compared with other documents in the case to ensure eligibility and consistency. If granted, the immigrant visa, which typically has a validity period of six months, is valid for a single use. Admission to the United States with an immigrant visa accords permanent  resident status. USCIS will issue a green card in the subsequent weeks after arrival. 

Understanding forms DS-260 vs. DS-160

While both DS-260 and DS-160 are used for visa applications processed at U.S. consulates, they serve very different purposes.

• Form DS-260 is for immigrant visa applicants—those seeking to live permanently in the U.S. It is part of the process for obtaining a green card through consular processing.

• Form DS-160, by contrast, is used for nonimmigrant visa applicants—such as tourists, students, or temporary workers—who intend to visit the U.S. for a limited time and purpose.

Both forms are submitted online via the Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC), but only the DS-260 leads to lawful permanent residence.

When to file the DS-260

The DS-260 isn’t the first form in the immigration process, but it is one of the most important. Before you can file it, a few things need to happen.

The DS-260 process typically begins when a U.S. citizen or green card holder submits Form I-130, a petition that establishes a qualifying family relationship with the applicant. Once U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves that petition, the case is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) to begin consular processing.

The role of the NVC

The NVC acts as the bridge between USCIS approval and your visa interview abroad. It collects fees, reviews civil documents, and verifies that applications are in order before scheduling an interview appointment at a U.S. consulate or embassy.

After receiving a case from USCIS, NVC will send a welcome letter with the case number and invoice ID—this is the official green light to begin the next steps. 

Before the DS-260 can be filed, the applicant or their attorney must submit Form DS-261 to designate an agent for communication with the State Department. After the DS-261 form is processed, the immigrant visa and Affidavit of Support fees can be paid through CEAC (see details on fees below). Once those payments are confirmed, the applicant can move forward with completing and submitting the DS-260.

Filing the DS-260 too early—or skipping any of these steps—can lead to delays, system errors, or the need to restart the application process.

Step-by-step DS-260 filing instructions

Filing DS-260 requires thoughtful preparation, careful review, and attention to detail. Below, we’ll walk through DS-260 form instructions for each step of the process—from gathering the necessary information to completing the form and submitting supporting documents—so you can complete the application with confidence.

Step 1: Gather required information

Before you begin the online application, it helps to understand the types of information requested in the DS-260 questions. Having this information ready in advance will speed up your work and reduce the risk of missing data.

Here are the key types of information you should collect:

• Passport number, issuance and expiration dates, and country of issue

• Previous addresses (residential history, including dates)

• Employment history (employer names, job titles, start and end dates)

• Family member details (spouse, children, parents, siblings; full names, dates of birth, relationships)

• Prior visa details and immigration history (previous U.S. visas, refusals, deportations, removals)

• Social media handles (platforms and usernames used in the last five years)  

Which documents are required for DS-260?

Once you’ve gathered the necessary information, you’ll also need to prepare the supporting documents that the NVC and consulate require. This includes:

• Passport (must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended date of entry)

• Birth certificate

• Marriage certificate (if applicable)

• Divorce decree or death certificate (if applicable)

• Police certificates from all countries lived in since age 16 

• Military records (if applicable) 

• Court and prison records (if applicable) 

• Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) from petitioner/sponsor

• Two identical 2×2 passport-style photographs

If any document is not in English, you must include a certified English translation. 

Also, keep in mind that additional country-specific fees and policies may apply—be sure to check the U.S. State Department website’s “Reciprocity and Civil Documents” page for detailed requirements by country.

Step 2: Log in to CEAC

To begin the DS-260, go to the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website and select the immigrant visa application option. You’ll need the case number and invoice ID that appear in the National Visa Center’s welcome letter. Once you enter those details and confirm the applicant’s identity, the system will open your DS-260 and allow you to start working through each section.

If you’re using DocketWise:

Instead of going through the CEAC website, log into your DocketWise dashboard. To begin the DS-260, click “Create New” and “Select Form”, and then select DS-260. To complete the e-filing, you’ll need the case number and invoice ID. You can find more details on this process in this support article.

Step 3: Complete each section carefully

Take your time as you move through the form. Every answer should match the information on the applicant’s official documents, including names, dates, and addresses. Small discrepancies can cause delays or lead to additional requests for evidence, so it’s helpful to double-check each field before continuing to the next page.  

Step 4: Upload supporting documents

After completing the form, you’ll be asked to upload the civil and financial documents required for your case. Follow the file-format and size guidelines listed in CEAC, and make sure each document is clear, complete, and properly translated into English if needed. Consulates may have additional instructions or country-specific requirements, so always review the guidance posted for the location where your interview will take place. 

Step 5: Print the DS-260 confirmation page

Once the DS-260 is submitted through CEAC, a confirmation page will appear with a barcode and the applicant’s case number. Save and print this page—it’s the only formal proof that the form was submitted successfully.

The DS-260 confirmation page must be brought to the visa interview at the U.S. consulate or embassy. Without it, the applicant may be unable to proceed with the appointment, which can delay the case or require rescheduling.

DS-260 fees and processing times

When preparing for the DS-260 filing, it’s critical to understand the fees and timing involved, both to set expectations and to avoid delays.

Fees

For family-based cases, most petitioners will need to pay the following fees:

• $325 — Immigrant visa application processing fee ($345 for employment-based cases)

• $120 — Affidavit of Support processing fee (only when reviewed domestically) 

• $235 — USCIS Immigrant Fee, payable online at https://my.uscis.gov — this covers production of the green card once your client enters the U.S.  

Applicants pay the visa application and affidavit of support fees through CEAC, and the system must show the status as “Paid” for your client to access and submit the DS-260.

Processing timeline

While the application is submitted online and can be processed quickly, DS-260 processing times depend on many moving parts: NVC review of fees and supporting documents, interview scheduling, visa issuance, and payment of the USCIS fee. Delays in any of those steps can extend the schedule. 

For most applicants, the time between DS-260 submission and visa issuance typically ranges from 2 to 6 months, depending on consulate capacity and case complexity. In some instances—particularly when background checks, document issues, or administrative processing are involved—the timeline can extend to 12 months or more.

Tracking the case through CEAC, confirming fee status, and monitoring document review are key ways to manage expectations and avoid bottlenecks. 

Common DS-260 mistakes to avoid

Even small mistakes on Form DS-260 can create major delays or lead to a denial. When guiding clients through this process, it’s important to catch potential issues before the form is submitted.

Here are some of the most frequent errors that occur when completing the DS-260:

• Omitting family members: Failing to include a spouse or child—especially a derivative beneficiary—can result in processing delays or a need to refile.

• Entering inaccurate or incomplete personal information: This includes names, birthdates, residential history, travel records, and employment details that don’t match supporting documents.

• Failing to disclose prior visa denials or arrests: Leaving out this information can be viewed as misrepresentation during the consular interview.

• Providing inconsistent details across forms: Differences between the DS-260 and other USCIS or NVC records can trigger red flags during review.

• Using non-English responses: All answers must be provided in English, including address fields and free-text responses.

• Not printing the confirmation page: This page serves as proof of successful submission, and applicants are required to bring it to the interview.

To reduce the risk of these errors, it’s helpful to review every entry against official documents before submitting. Using software that includes real-time validation or form logic checks can also help flag missing or mismatched information. Whether you’re filing DS-260 manually or e-filing, double-checking the entire application with your client is a crucial step before clicking submit.

The rise of e-filing technology in immigration case management

Preparing and filing the DS-260 can be a complex, time-consuming task—but in recent years, some immigration case management platforms have introduced tools that streamline the entire e-filing process, from client intake to CEAC submission. Below are two key examples of such tools.

Smart intake questionnaires collect all the necessary DS-260 information directly from the client. That data is then mapped to the correct fields in the application, reducing the need for manual entry. Built-in validation tools can automatically flag missing or inconsistent entries before the form is finalized, which helps prevent common errors and minimizes the risk of rejection. Lawyers can review and edit responses as needed before moving on to filing.

E-filing features allow attorneys to initiate the DS-260 submission process from within their case management solution. After validating the client-provided details in the form fields, the attorney can then sync the DS-260 application to the CEAC platform and e-file it, receiving a confirmation when submission is successful.

By minimizing repetitive administrative work, smart intake forms and e-filing tools make it easier for attorneys and staff to focus on the higher-value aspects of immigration practice, including case strategy and client service. For firms managing a high volume of DS-260 filings, this kind of automation can be a significant efficiency gain.

File DS-260 faster with 8am™ DocketWise e-filing

8am DocketWise gives attorneys the tools to handle e-filing faster, more accurately, and with fewer administrative bottlenecks. With everything you need in one place, you can easily move from client intake to form submission without manually re-entering information or switching between disconnected systems.

DocketWise supports e-filing for a growing list of government forms, including DS-260. While it doesn’t submit applications on your behalf, it securely transfers client data into CEAC—so you can review everything for accuracy before completing the submission.

Here are some of the benefits your firm can gain from using DocketWise:

• Save time and reduce manual entry by using Smart Form questionnaires to auto-fill government forms

• Prevent delays with real-time validation alerts that flag missing or inconsistent responses

• Eliminate extra steps by syncing client data directly to CEAC as soon as fee payments are confirmed

• Stay informed at every stage with in-app confirmation and success notifications once data is transferred

To learn how DocketWise can help your firm simplify e-filing and build smarter immigration workflows, schedule a demo today.