What Is the DS-260? The EB-3 Immigrant Visa Form Explained (2026 Guide + Fee Breakdown)

Last updated: October 14, 2026

The DS-260 is the U.S. State Department’s online immigrant visa application. EB-3 workers who live outside the United States fill it out on the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website, after the National Visa Center (NVC) opens their case.

The DS-260 comes near the end of the EB-3 process. By the time you see it, your employer has already finished PERM labor certification, USCIS has approved the I-140 petition, and your priority date is close to current. Every family member coming with you files their own DS-260, and each one costs $345.

This page explains what the DS-260 form is, when you file it, what it costs, how to fix mistakes, and what happens next. If you want help with each question on the form, line by line, see our step-by-step DS-260 walkthrough.

DS-260 at a Glance

Full name	Online Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration (Form DS-260)
Who files it	You (the EB-3 worker) and each family member immigrating with you
Where	Online, on the State Department’s CEAC website
When	After NVC creates your case and your fee status shows “PAID”
Fee	$345 per person (employment-based immigrant visa processing fee). No separate fee for the form itself.
Language	English answers, English characters only
What you get	A confirmation page to print and bring to your interview
Can you edit it after submitting?	Not by yourself. NVC or the embassy must unlock it.

What the DS-260 Is For (and What It Isn’t)

The DS-260 is the main application form for consular processing. That means you finish your green card case at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country, not inside the United States. Read more in our glossary entry on consular processing.

The form collects your personal history: your name, addresses, family, jobs, education, travel and background. The consular officer reviews your DS-260 online before and during your interview.

One detail surprises many people. According to the State Department, submitting the DS-260 does not formally make your visa application. Your application is only formally made when you are interviewed by a consular officer. So the DS-260 is a required step, but it is not the finish line.

Here is what the DS-260 is not:

• Not the employer’s petition. Your employer files the I-140 petition with USCIS. The DS-260 comes later and is filed by you.
• Not a green card application inside the U.S. Workers already living in the U.S. usually file Form I-485 instead (see below).
• Not a temporary visa form. The DS-160 is for nonimmigrant (temporary) visas like tourist or H-2B visas. The DS-260 is only for immigrant visas.

Where the DS-260 Fits in the EB-3 Process

Here is the usual order of the EB-3 visa process for a worker outside the U.S.:

1. PERM labor certification. Your employer proves to the Department of Labor that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the job.
2. I-140 petition. Your employer asks USCIS to approve you for the job.
3. Priority date wait. You wait until your priority date is current in the monthly Visa Bulletin. See the October 2026 Visa Bulletin for current dates.
4. National Visa Center (NVC). You pay fees, fill out the DS-260, and upload civil documents. ← You are here.
5. Embassy interview. A consular officer interviews you.
6. Visa issued. If approved, you receive an immigrant visa in your passport.
7. Entry to the U.S. You enter the U.S. as a permanent resident. Your green card arrives by mail.

Be realistic about the timing. You can’t start the DS-260 until NVC contacts you, and NVC usually contacts you when your priority date is close to current. The full EB-3 process takes about 48 months on average, and most of that time passes before the DS-260. Filling out the form quickly will not move your place in line. For current timelines, see EB-3 processing times.

Who Needs to File a DS-260

You, the principal applicant. You are the worker named in the I-140 petition, so you file your own DS-260.

Each family member coming with you. Your spouse and your unmarried children under 21 can immigrate with you as “derivative” applicants. The State Department says each of them must complete their own DS-260. That also means each one pays their own $345 fee.

If one of your children is close to 21, check whether they could “age out” before the visa is issued. Our CSPA calculator can help, and you can read more about dependents in the EB-3 process.

Who does not file a DS-260:

• Workers already in the U.S. If you are in the United States legally (for example on an H-2B or F-1 visa), you may be able to finish your case through adjustment of status. In that case you file Form I-485 with USCIS, not the DS-260. See our guides for H-2B to EB-3 and F-1 to EB-3.
• Family members who are not immigrating. You still list them on your own DS-260 (for example, a child who is over 21 or staying home). But they do not file their own form.

How Much Does the DS-260 Cost?

The State Department charges a $345 immigrant visa application processing fee per person for employment-based cases like EB-3. The fee is non-refundable.

You pay this fee through CEAC before the DS-260 opens. The State Department says you can start the form after you pay and your fee status changes to “PAID.” There is no separate fee for the DS-260 form itself.

Other Costs at This Stage

These are usually paid by the worker:

• Medical exam. Paid directly to the panel physician (the embassy-approved doctor). Prices vary by country.
• Police certificates from countries where you have lived, if required.
• Translations of documents that are not in English.
• Passport photos and passport renewal, if your passport is expiring.
• Travel to the embassy or consulate for your medical exam and interview.
• USCIS Immigrant Fee: $235 per person. You pay this after your visa is issued and before you travel, so USCIS can produce and mail your green card.

Example: A Family of Four

A worker immigrating with a spouse and two children pays:

• 4 × $345 = $1,380 in State Department visa processing fees
• 4 × $235 = $940 in USCIS Immigrant Fees after the visas are issued
• Total: $2,320 in government fees, plus medical exams, documents and travel

Who Pays What

U.S. Department of Labor rules (20 CFR 656.12) require the employer to pay the costs of PERM labor certification, including attorney fees for that step. Costs at the DS-260 stage are normally the worker’s responsibility. Ask your employer or agency early who pays for what, so there are no surprises. For a full breakdown, see our EB-3 visa cost guide.

Before You Start: What You’ll Need

Gather this information before you log in. It makes the form faster and helps you avoid mistakes.

• Your NVC case number and invoice ID number. You’ll find both in the message NVC sent you.
• Your passport. Check that it is valid and won’t expire soon.
• Your address history. Addresses where you have lived, with no gaps in dates.
• Your work and school history. Employers, job titles, schools and dates.
• Family details. Names, birth dates and places of birth for your parents, spouse, all of your children (including those not immigrating), and any former spouses.
• Travel and immigration history. Past trips to the U.S., past visas, and any visa refusals or immigration problems.
• Your job offer details. The job title and employer name exactly as they appear on your PERM and I-140. Ask your employer or agency for copies if you don’t have them.

Tip: Type your history into a separate document first, then copy each answer into the form. This protects you from losing work if CEAC logs you out (more on that below).

How to Access and Complete the DS-260

This section covers how the form works. For help with each question, use our DS-260 walkthrough for EB-3 applicants.

Log In to CEAC

1. Go to the CEAC website (ceac.state.gov) and choose the immigrant visa option.
2. Enter your NVC case number and invoice ID.
3. On your case summary page, click “START NOW” under IV Application.

The State Department says you can also reach the DS-260 through the Immigrant Visas portal (“Submit Visa Application and Civil Documents”) or through the website of the embassy where you will interview.

Save Often: CEAC Logs You Out After About 20 Minutes

If the form is idle for about 20 minutes, CEAC logs you out. Anything you typed after your last “Save” is lost.

• Click Save at the bottom of each page.
• To come back later, log in, choose View/Edit, and click Edit next to the application marked INCOMPLETE.

Answer in English Only

The State Department requires answers in English, using English characters only. Answers in other languages may be rejected, and you would have to log back in and fix them.

This matters for Spanish speakers and others. Don’t use accents or special letters like á or ñ in typed answers. Write your name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable part of your passport.

Don’t Skip Questions That Apply to You

Most fields are mandatory. Some say “Optional,” and some have a “Does Not Apply” box you can check. The form won’t let you submit with a required field blank. If you leave questions that apply to you unanswered, your form may be rejected.

The Main Sections of the Form

The DS-260 asks about:

• Personal information: name, date and place of birth, nationality
• Address and phone: current address and past addresses
• Passport: passport number, issue and expiration dates
• Family: parents, spouse, children, former spouses
• Work, education and training: current and past jobs, schools
• Security and background: health, criminal history, past immigration problems
• Sign and submit

For detailed help with each section, see our step-by-step DS-260 walkthrough.

Sign and Submit

When everything is complete, click “Sign and Submit Application” on the last page. Check every answer first. After you submit, you can’t open the form again on your own.

Your DS-260 Confirmation Page (and “DS-260 Number”)

After you submit, print the confirmation page. The State Department says you must bring it to your interview. You can print it again from CEAC at any time.

The confirmation page has a barcode and a confirmation number. People often mix up three different numbers, so here is the difference:

• NVC case number: Your case’s ID, which looks like three letters followed by numbers. You use it to log in to CEAC and check your status.
• Invoice ID number: Used with the case number to log in and pay fees.
• DS-260 confirmation number (barcode): Shows that the form was submitted. It’s printed on your confirmation page.

You don’t need to print or bring the full DS-260. The State Department says the interviewing officer can see your full application online. Bring the confirmation page only.

Made a Mistake? How to Edit a DS-260 After Submitting

Once you click “Sign and Submit Application,” the form is locked. You can’t edit it yourself. Only the office handling your case can unlock it:

• While your case is at NVC: Contact NVC through its Public Inquiry Form. Say which applicant’s form has the error, which page, the current answer and the correct one. NVC may unlock the form so you can fix and resubmit it.
• After your case moves to the embassy: Contact the embassy or consulate using its published contact method.
• At your interview: You can tell the officer about a small error and give the correct information. Prepare a short list of corrections and raise them at the start.

Never leave a known mistake about your immigration history, criminal record or past visa refusals. Giving false information on purpose (misrepresentation) can make you permanently unable to get a U.S. visa. If you forgot something important, correct it before or at your interview.

Common DS-260 Mistakes That Delay EB-3 Cases

Most DS-260 delays come from small mismatches. Watch out for these EB-3-specific problems:

• Your name doesn’t match. Spelling or name order differs from your passport, birth certificate or I-140.
• The job details don’t match. The job title or employer on your DS-260 should match the job your employer sponsored in the PERM and I-140.
• There are gaps in your history. Missing months in your address or work history raise questions.
• Children are missing. You must list all your children, even those not immigrating with you.
• Past problems aren’t disclosed. Earlier visa refusals, overstays or deportations must be reported honestly.
• Only the principal files. Your spouse and children each need their own DS-260. One missing form can hold up the whole family.
• You paid for a “visa agent” website. The DS-260 is filed for free on the official CEAC website (you only pay the $345 government fee). Be careful with websites or people who charge extra to “submit” the form for you.

For a longer list with examples, see our DS-260 walkthrough.

What Happens After You Submit the DS-260

1. Upload your civil documents to NVC. This usually includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, the passport biographic page and police certificates. Requirements vary by country.
2. Check whether you need an affidavit of support. Most EB-3 workers do not need Form I-864. It’s only required if a relative filed your petition, or a relative owns 5% or more of the company sponsoring you.
3. NVC reviews your case. When everything is complete, NVC marks your case “documentarily qualified.” Review time varies (often weeks to a few months), and you can’t speed it up. NVC also needs a current priority date before it schedules an interview.
4. Your interview is scheduled. Before the interview, you complete a medical exam with a panel physician, a doctor approved by the U.S. embassy. (This is different from the USCIS civil surgeon used for green cards filed inside the U.S.)
5. You attend the interview. The officer reviews your DS-260, documents and job offer. Prepare with our guide to EB-3 interview questions. Since September 18, 2026, officers apply a stricter public charge review, so read about the new public charge rule.
6. Your visa is issued. Pay the $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee, travel to the U.S., and your green card arrives by mail.

How to Check Your Status

Use the CEAC Visa Status Check with your case number. Common statuses:

• At NVC: Your case is still at the National Visa Center.
• Ready: Your case is at the embassy, waiting for an interview or already scheduled.
• Administrative Processing: The officer needs more information or review before deciding.
• Issued: Your visa is approved and printed.

DS-260 vs. Other Forms

Form	What it’s for	Who files	Where
DS-260	Immigrant visa application (green card through an embassy)	Worker and each family member	Online (CEAC), from abroad
DS-160	Nonimmigrant (temporary) visa, such as tourist or H-2B	The visa applicant	Online, from abroad
I-485	Green card application inside the U.S. (adjustment of status)	Worker and each family member	USCIS, inside the U.S.
I-140	Immigrant petition for the job	Employer	USCIS

The short version: if you will interview at an embassy abroad, you file the DS-260. If you are already in the U.S. and eligible to adjust status, you file the I-485.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• U.S. Department of State: DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application FAQs (case number and invoice ID, 20-minute timeout, English-only answers, locked after submission; checked October 14, 2026)
• U.S. Department of State: Step 6: Complete Online Visa Application (each family member files, “PAID” status, confirmation page, application formally made at the interview; checked October 14, 2026)
• U.S. Department of State: Fees for Visa Services ($345 employment-based immigrant visa processing fee; checked October 14, 2026)
• U.S. Department of State: CEAC Visa Status Check
• eCFR: 20 CFR 656.12, Improper commerce and payment (employer pays PERM costs)
• EY: USCIS issues final rule to adjust certain immigration and naturalization fees (USCIS Immigrant Fee of $235, effective April 1, 2024)

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This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often. For advice about your own case, speak with a licensed immigration attorney.