JERUSALEM, January 12, 2010 (WAFA)- With demand for U.S. visas continuing to increase world-wide, the U.S. Department of State is committed to using new technologies to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the visa application process.

 As such, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem said in a press release, the Department of State developed a new web-based nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application called the DS-160 to incorporate all existing NIV applications into one, interactive form. The DS-160 replaces the three forms that made up the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF). The DS-160 will be available February 15, 2010 and must be used for appointments after February 15, 2010.

Applicants will continue to complete the visa application forms on-line, as they did previously with the EVAF. The new application provides “pop-up” translations of questions in many widely spoken languages, but the form must still be completed in English. The applicant will also have to upload a visa photograph and submit the form via the internet. Upon completion of the DS-160, the applicant will print one confirmation sheet.

The new DS-160 application improves the likelihood of collecting required information accurately the first time, saving applicants the trouble of having to return to the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem for successive interviews because information they entered into the NIV application was incomplete or inaccurate. The new web-based application also allows the Consulate to conduct various forms of pre-processing and pre-screening of the applicant’s data in advance of the interview, which should reduce processing delays.