Fictional example · DS-160 · Intracompany transferee

L-1 DS-160 Sample for an Intracompany Transfer (India)

See how a fictional engineering manager from India moving to his company's U.S. subsidiary answered the DS-160, including the petition number, the U.S. employer, his family travelling and a consultant as preparer. Know what the form asks before you start your own.

20sections209responses~45 minto fillL-1 & transfer visas
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This is a fictional example for educational purposes, not an official or pre-approved application. Your DS-160 answers must reflect your own circumstances. Do not copy the sample answers unless they are independently true for you.

Is this example similar to your situation?

  • L-1 intracompany transferee visa, applying in Mumbai
  • An engineering manager moving from Pune to his company's U.S. subsidiary in New Jersey for three years
  • The U.S. company pays for the trip and is his point of contact
  • Travelling with his wife and son
  • Visited the U.S. once before, on a different type of visa
  • An immigration consultant prepared the form

Different situation? Browse other completed DS-160 examplesSkip to the full sample

Before you start: information you'll want ready

The form will ask for

  • Your passport
  • Your L-1 approval notice (I-797), for the receipt number and the petitioner's name
  • The address and phone of your U.S. workplace, and your monthly pay there
  • Your earlier U.S. visa, and the date and length of your last U.S. trip
  • Your wife's full name, date and place of birth
  • Your current and earlier employers, with addresses, dates and duties

Helpful to have nearby

  • The name, phone and email of your contact at the U.S. company
  • The name and address of whoever helps you fill in the form, such as an immigration consultant
  • Your social media usernames from the last five years
  • A recent photo that meets the U.S. visa photo rules

Questions applicants commonly get stuck on

How this fictional applicant answered, why, and what to check for your own form. Answer for your own situation, which may differ.

  1. Sample answer

    Purpose of Visit

    Petition Number or Application Receipt Number

    The receipt number is a 13-character alphanumeric identifier and follows this format: XXX-YY-ZZZ-NNNNN

    Why
    Rohan's U.S. company filed an L-1 petition for him, so he chooses L1 and copies the receipt number from the approval notice.
    For your application
    Copy the receipt number exactly from your I-797: three letters, then ten digits. If your employer uses a blanket L petition, ask it which number to give.

  2. Sample answer

    Address where you will stay in the U.S.
    Why
    He will live in a flat in Edison, and his U.S. employer pays for the trip, so he chooses Employer in the U.S. as the payer.
    For your application
    Give the address where you will actually live, even if it is temporary housing. Check with your employer what it pays for before you choose the payer.

  3. Sample answer

    Where Do You Intend to Work?
    Why
    The U.S. subsidiary filed the petition and is also where he will work, so its name and its Iselin office go here, with his monthly pay in U.S. dollars.
    For your application
    Copy the petitioner's name as it is on your approval notice. Give the address where you will actually work and the monthly pay in your U.S. offer.

  4. Sample answer

    Contact Person or Organization in the United States

    Your U.S. Point of Contact can be any individual in the U.S. who knows you and can verify, if necessary, your identity. If you do not personally know anyone in the U.S., you may enter the name of the store, company, or organization you plan to visit during your trip.

    Contact Person or Organization in the United States

    Contact Person

    Do Not Know

    Organization Name

    Do Not Know
    Why
    His contact is a named person at the U.S. company, with her work phone and email, and the relationship is Employer.
    For your application
    Name someone at the company who knows about your transfer and will answer the phone. Use their work address and email.

  5. Sample answer

    Traveling with Others

    You should answer Yes to this question if you are traveling with family, as part of an organized tour, or as part of a performing group or athletic team. You do not need to list individuals who are traveling with you for the purposes of employment with the same employer.

    Are there other persons traveling with you?required
    Are you traveling as part of a group or organization?required
    Provide the following information for each person traveling with you:
    Why
    His wife and son move with him, so he lists them as companions. Each of them fills in their own DS-160 for an L-2 visa.
    For your application
    List everyone travelling with you. Each family member, children included, needs their own DS-160.

    See the DS-160 for Neha: L-2 DS-160 (India)

  6. Sample answer

    Have you ever been in the U.S.?required

    Previous U.S. Visits

    If you are unsure about when you visited the U.S., please provide a best estimate.

    Details on your visit
    Provide information on your last U.S. visit:
    Date Arrivedrequired
    30 MAR 2023
    Do you or did you ever hold a U.S. Driver's License?required
    Have you ever been issued a U.S. Visa?required
    Previous U.S. Visa
    Date Last Visa Was Issuedrequired
    05 DEC 2022

    Visa Number

    Enter the 8-digit number that is displayed in red on the lower right hand side of your visa. If your previous visa was a Border Crossing Card enter the last 12-digit number of the first line of the machine readable zone.

    NA Do not know
    Are you applying for the same type of visa?required
    Are you applying in the same country or location where the visa above was issued, and is this country or location your place of principal of residence?required

    Ten-printed

    Ten-printed means that you have provided fingerprints for all your fingers, as opposed to having provided only two fingerprints.

    Have you been ten-printed?required
    Has your U.S. Visa ever been lost or stolen?required
    Has your U.S. Visa ever been cancelled or revoked?required
    Why
    He spent three weeks in the U.S. on an earlier visa of a different type, so he answers Yes to both, then No to applying for the same type of visa.
    For your application
    Copy the visa number and issue date from the visa in your passport, and the arrival date from your travel records, not from memory.

  7. Sample answer

    Present Work/Education/Training Information
    Present Employer or School Information
    Present Employer or School Address
    NA Does not apply
    NA Does not apply
    Start Daterequired
    28 JUL 2016
    NA Does not apply
    Why
    He still works for the company's office in Pune, so that is his present employer. The list has no option for managers, so he picks his field, Computer Science.
    For your application
    Your present employer is the one you work for today, usually the company abroad that is transferring you. Your U.S. job goes on the work page.

  8. Sample answer

    Preparer of Application

    If someone other than you completed this application, provide their details here. You must still electronically sign the application yourself.

    Did anyone assist you in filling out this application?
    Preparer Details
    NA Does Not Apply
    NA Does Not Apply
    NA Does Not Apply
    NA Does Not Apply
    NA Does Not Apply
    Why
    An immigration consultant filled in the form for him, so he answers Yes and gives her name, organisation and address.
    For your application
    If anyone helps fill in the form, such as a consultant or your employer's mobility team, answer Yes and give their details. If you fill it in yourself, answer No.

Common questions about this example

Can I fill in the DS-160 before my L-1 petition is approved?

You can start it, but the form asks for the petition's receipt number. An individual L-1 petition must be approved by USCIS before you apply for the visa, and the approval notice (I-797) shows the receipt number.

Official source
What if my company has a blanket L petition?

The form still asks for a petition or receipt number on the purpose page. Ask your employer which number to give and which papers to bring to your interview.

My earlier U.S. visa was a different type. What do I answer?

Answer Yes to having been issued a U.S. visa and give its number and issue date. Then answer No to applying for the same type of visa, as Rohan does.

Do my wife and son go on my form?

Your wife goes on the spouse page and both go on the companions page, but each of them needs their own DS-160. Their forms ask for your name and your petition's receipt number.

Official source

The completed DS-160, question by question

§1

Personal Information - Part 1

11 responses

Surnames

Enter all surnames as listed in your passport. If only one name is listed in your passport, enter that Surname.

Given Names

If your passport does not include a given name, please enter 'FNU' in Given Names.

Full Name in Native Alphabet

If your passport does not include a given name, please enter 'FNU' in Given Names.

NA Does Not Apply/Technology Not Available

Other Names

Other names used include your maiden name, religious name, professional name, or any other names which you are known by or have been known by in the past.

Have you ever used other names (i.e., maiden, religious, professional, alias, etc.)?required

Telecode

Telecodes are 4 digit code numbers that represent characters in some non-Roman alphabet names.

Do you have a telecode that represents your name?required

Sex

Please select MALE or FEMALE

Date of Birth

If day or month is unknown, enter as shown in passport.

Date of Birthrequired
14 FEB 1988
NA Does Not Apply

Country/Region

Select the name that is currently in use for the place where you were born.

§2

Personal Information - Part 2

6 responses
Do you hold or have you held any nationality other than the one indicated above on nationality?required

Permanent Resident

Permanent resident means any individual who has been legally granted by a country/region permission to live and work without time limitation in that country/region.

Are you a permanent resident of a country/region other than your country/region of origin (nationality) indicated above?required

Identification Numbers

Your National ID Number is a unique number that your government provides. The U.S. Government provides unique numbers to those who seek employment (Social Security Number) or pay taxes (Taxpayer ID).

NA Does Not Apply
NA Does Not Apply
NA Does Not Apply
§3

Purpose of Visa

13 responses
Purpose of Visit

Petition Number or Application Receipt Number

The receipt number is a 13-character alphanumeric identifier and follows this format: XXX-YY-ZZZ-NNNNN

Have you made specific travel plans?required

Arrival Plans

If you are unsure of your travel plans, please provide an estimate.

Please provide an explanation of your travel plans.
Arrival Daterequired
11 FEB 2027
Address where you will stay in the U.S.
§4

Travel Companions

8 responses

Traveling with Others

You should answer Yes to this question if you are traveling with family, as part of an organized tour, or as part of a performing group or athletic team. You do not need to list individuals who are traveling with you for the purposes of employment with the same employer.

Are there other persons traveling with you?required
Are you traveling as part of a group or organization?required
Provide the following information for each person traveling with you:
§5

Previous U.S. Travel History

16 responses
Have you ever been in the U.S.?required

Previous U.S. Visits

If you are unsure about when you visited the U.S., please provide a best estimate.

Details on your visit
Provide information on your last U.S. visit:
Date Arrivedrequired
30 MAR 2023
Do you or did you ever hold a U.S. Driver's License?required
Have you ever been issued a U.S. Visa?required
Previous U.S. Visa
Date Last Visa Was Issuedrequired
05 DEC 2022

Visa Number

Enter the 8-digit number that is displayed in red on the lower right hand side of your visa. If your previous visa was a Border Crossing Card enter the last 12-digit number of the first line of the machine readable zone.

NA Do not know
Are you applying for the same type of visa?required
Are you applying in the same country or location where the visa above was issued, and is this country or location your place of principal of residence?required

Ten-printed

Ten-printed means that you have provided fingerprints for all your fingers, as opposed to having provided only two fingerprints.

Have you been ten-printed?required
Has your U.S. Visa ever been lost or stolen?required
Has your U.S. Visa ever been cancelled or revoked?required
Have you ever been refused a U.S. Visa, or been refused admission to the United States, or withdrawn your application for admission at the port of entry?required
Have you ever been denied travel authorization by the Department of Homeland Security through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)?required
Has anyone ever filed an immigrant petition on your behalf with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services?required
§6

Address and Phone Details

16 responses
Home Address
NA Does not apply
NA Does not apply

Mailing Address

If your mailing address is different from your home address, please provide your mailing address.

Is your Mailing Address the same as your Home Address?required

Phone

You must provide a primary phone number. The primary phone number should be the phone number at which you are most likely to be reached; this could be a land line or a cellular/mobile number. If you have an additional land line or a cellular/mobile number please list that as your secondary phone number.

Phone
NA Does not apply
NA Does not apply
Have you used any other phone numbers in the last five years?required

Email Address

You must provide an email address. The email address you provide will be used for correspondence purposes. Provide an email address that is secure and to which you have reasonable access.

Have you used any other email addresses in the last five years?required
Social Media
Do you wish to provide information about your presence on any other websites or applications you have used within the last five years to create or share content (photos, videos, status updates, etc.)?required
§7

Passport Information

10 responses

Passport/Travel Document Number

Enter the information on the travel document you will be using when traveling to the U.S. Your travel document should be a valid, unexpired passport or other valid, unexpired documentation that is sufficient to establish your identity and nationality.

Passport Book Number

The Passport Book Number is commonly called the inventory control number. You may or may not have a Passport Book Number on your passport. The location of the Passport Book Number on your passport may vary depending on the country that issued your passport. Please contact your passport issuing authority if you are unable to determine whether or not your passport contains a Passport Book Number.

NA Does not apply
Where was the Passport/Travel Document Issued?
Issuance Daterequired
27 AUG 2021

Expiration Date

In most cases your passport/Travel Document must have at least six months of validity beyond the date of your visa application and/or your arrival in the United States.

Expiration Daterequired
26 AUG 2031
NA No expiration
Have you ever lost a passport or had one stolen?required
§8

US Contact Information

11 responses

Contact Person or Organization in the United States

Your U.S. Point of Contact can be any individual in the U.S. who knows you and can verify, if necessary, your identity. If you do not personally know anyone in the U.S., you may enter the name of the store, company, or organization you plan to visit during your trip.

Contact Person or Organization in the United States

Contact Person

Do Not Know

Organization Name

Do Not Know
Address and Phone Number of Point of Contact
NA Does not apply
§9

Family Information

10 responses
Father's Full Name and Date of Birth
NA Do not know
NA Do not know
Date of Birthrequired
08 SEP 1958
NA Do not know
Is your father in the U.S.?required
Mother's Full Name and Date of Birth
NA Do not know
NA Do not know
Date of Birthrequired
03 MAY 1962
NA Do not know
Is your mother in the U.S.?required

Immediate Relatives

Means fiancé/fiancée, spouse (husband/wife), child (son/daughter), or sibling (brother/sister).

Do you have any immediate relatives, not including parents, in the United States?required
Do you have any other relatives in the United States?required
§10

Spouse Information

7 responses
Spouse's Date of Birthrequired
23 NOV 1990
Spouse's Place of Birth
NA Do not know
§11

Current Occupation

12 responses
Present Work/Education/Training Information
Present Employer or School Information
Present Employer or School Address
NA Does not apply
NA Does not apply
Start Daterequired
28 JUL 2016
NA Does not apply
§12

Previous Occupation

26 responses
Were you previously employed?required
Employer/Employment Information:
Employer Address
NA Does not apply
NA Does not apply
NA Do not know
NA Do not know
Employment Date Fromrequired
26 AUG 2010
Employment Date Torequired
18 JUL 2016

Level of Education

You must answer Yes to this question if you have ever attended, for any length of time, a high school/secondary school (or its equivalent in your country) or college, university, graduate school, a doctoral program, or a vocational program.

Have you attended any educational institutions at a secondary level or above?required
Provide the following information on the educational institution(s) you have attended.
Address
NA Does not apply
NA Does not apply
Date of Attendance Fromrequired
25 AUG 2006
Date of Attendance Torequired
24 JUN 2010
§13

Additional Occupation Details

11 responses
Do you belong to a clan or tribe?required
Provide a List of Languages You Speak

Enter only one language per field. To add more languages, use the Add Another button below — do not list several languages in the same field.

Have you traveled to any countries/regions within the last five years?required
Provide a List of Countries/Regions Visited
Have you belonged to, contributed to, or worked for any professional, social, or charitable organization?required
Do you have any specialized skills or training, such as firearms, explosives, nuclear, biological, or chemical experience?required
Have you ever served in the military?required
Have you ever served in, been a member of, or been involved with a paramilitary unit, vigilante unit, rebel group, guerrilla group, or insurgent organization?required
§14

Security Background - Part 1

3 responses
Do you have a communicable disease of public health significance? (Communicable diseases of public significance include chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, infectious leprosy, lymphogranuloma venereum, infectious stage syphilis, active tuberculosis, and other diseases as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services.)required
Do you have a mental or physical disorder that poses or is likely to pose a threat to the safety or welfare of yourself or others?required
Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?required
§15

Security Background - Part 2

7 responses
Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime, even though subject of a pardon, amnesty, or other similar action?required
Have you ever violated, or engaged in a conspiracy to violate, any law relating to controlled substances?required
Are you coming to the United States to engage in prostitution or unlawful commercialized vice or have you been engaged in prostitution or procuring prostitutes within the past 10 years?required
Have you ever been involved in, or do you seek to engage in, money laundering?required
Have you ever committed or conspired to commit a human trafficking offense in the United States or outside the United States?required
Have you ever knowingly aided, abetted, assisted or colluded with an individual who has committed, or conspired to commit a severe human trafficking offense in the United States or outside the United States?required
Are you the spouse, son, or daughter of an individual who has committed or conspired to commit a human trafficking offense in the United States or outside the United States and have you within the last five years, knowingly benefited from the trafficking activities?required
§16

Security Background - Part 3

12 responses
Do you seek to engage in espionage, sabotage, export control violations, or any other illegal activity while in the United States?required
Do you seek to engage in terrorist activities while in the United States or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities?required
Have you ever or do you intend to provide financial assistance or other support to terrorists or terrorist organizations?required
Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization?required
Are you the spouse, son, or daughter of an individual who has engaged in terrorist activity, including providing financial assistance or other support to terrorists or terrorist organizations, in the last five years?required
Have you ever ordered, incited, committed, assisted, or otherwise participated in genocide?required
Have you ever committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in torture?required
Have you committed, ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in extrajudicial killings, political killings, or other acts of violence?required
Have you ever engaged in the recruitment or the use of child soldiers?required
Have you, while serving as a government official, been responsible for or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom?required
Have you ever been directly involved in the establishment or enforcement of population controls forcing a woman to undergo an abortion against her free choice or a man or a woman to undergo sterilization against his or her free will?required
Have you ever been directly involved in the coercive transplantation of human organs or bodily tissue?required
§17

Security Background - Part 4

5 responses
Have you ever been the subject of a removal or deportation hearing?required
Have you ever sought to obtain or assist others to obtain a visa, entry into the United States, or any other United States immigration benefit by fraud or willful misrepresentation or other unlawful means?required
Have you failed to attend a hearing on removability or inadmissibility within the last five years?required
Have you ever been unlawfully present, overstayed the amount of time granted by an immigration official or otherwise violated the terms of a U.S. visa?required
Have you ever been removed or deported from any country?required
§18

Security Background - Part 5

5 responses
Have you ever withheld custody of a U.S. citizen child outside the United States from a person granted legal custody by a U.S. court?required
Have you voted in the United States in violation of any law or regulation?required
Have you ever renounced United States citizenship for the purposes of avoiding taxation?required
Are you a former exchange visitor (J) who has not yet fulfilled the two-year foreign residence requirement?required
Have you attended a public elementary school on student (F) status or a public secondary school after November 30, 1996 without reimbursing the school?required
§19

Temporary Visa Information

10 responses
Where Do You Intend to Work?
§20

Preparer of Application

10 responses

Preparer of Application

If someone other than you completed this application, provide their details here. You must still electronically sign the application yourself.

Did anyone assist you in filling out this application?
Preparer Details
NA Does Not Apply
NA Does Not Apply
NA Does Not Apply
NA Does Not Apply
NA Does Not Apply

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