UNCLAS STATE 151227

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS, CMGT, AUSP
SUBJECT: THE OF-156, NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION, GETS A 
MAKEOVER AND BECOMES THE DS-156

1. The Department announces the introduction of an updated
Nonimmigrant Visa Application.  This form was previously
known as the OF-156, but will now be known as the DS-156.
Effective immediately, Form DS-156 replaces Form OF-156.
Post should begin to use the new DS-156, which is designed
for 8.5 x 11 or A4 paper, as soon as possible.  Post may
continue to use existing OF-156 stocks for a reasonable
period of time as they make the transition to the DS-156.

2. The DS-156 is now available on the A/RPS/DIR Intranet
site (HTTP://10.4.64.84/).  This site is the official
repository for all Department forms.  The form will soon
be available to the general public on the Department's
Internet site (WWW.STATE.GOV).

3. The General Services Administration will not stock the
DS-156 (which is why the form changed from OF-156 to a
Department form and a Department designator, DS-156).
However, posts may print the English version of the DS-156
locally, using the version on the A/RPS/DIR Intranet site
as a camera copy, or they may order the English version
from Greg Liverpool of A/RPS/MMS/PRD.  Posts are reminded
that the DS-156 is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (PRA), which is administered by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).  Pursuant to the PRA, OMB
gives approval for agencies to use "information
collections" like the DS-156 for a maximum of three years
at a time.  Posts may not/not make any changes to the text
of the DS-156, nor may they modify the layout.

4. Pursuant to 9 FAM 41.103, posts may translate the DS-
156 locally, provided that the translation is accurate and
that the layout of the translated DS-156 looks as much
like that of the English version as possible.  No
Department approval is required for translations, though
posts must forward a copy of the translation to the
Department (CA/VO/F/P).

5. Starting on October 1, 2001, posts may request MRV
funds to pay for expenses of printing and/or translating
the DS-156.

6. Department thanks posts that provided input for
updating this form.

7. Minimize considered.

POWELL