The U.S. State Department has unveiled its new online nonimmigrant visa application process, reports Nextgov.com. As previously discussed, Form DS-160 combines three application forms into a single online platform. Although petitioners previously could complete applications online, they were required to bring hard copies of the completed applications to visa interviews. Now, only a confirmation sheet with a bar code is required since consular officers can retrieve the application through the department’s database.

Currently, 88 consulates and embassies have implemented Form DS-160. The State Department hopes that all overseas consular offices will use the system by the end of April 2010. However, because of the time and expense necessary to develop foreign language versions of DS-160, it is uncertain whether this goal will be met.