Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form DS-260 Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration	Form and Instruction	New	Available
Form DS-230 Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration	Form and Instruction	Unchanged	Available
Form DS-260 Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application	Form and Instruction	Unchanged	Available
(004) Tab 3 - Legal Authorities, DS-260 - 30-day PRA- 2025.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-01-09	Repair queued
(006) Tab 5 -- Legal Authorities (DS 260 & DS-230).docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-03-29	Repair queued
(003) Tab 2 - PRA Supporting Statement - 30-day PRA- DS-260 - 2025.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-01-09	Available

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
278693	Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration	Form and Instruction	New	Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
189203	Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration	Form and Instruction	Unchanged	Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
189203	Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration	Form and Instruction	Unchanged	Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application
189203	Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration	Instruction	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1405-0185	ICR Reference No: 202601-1405-006
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202203-1405-002
Agency/Subagency: STATE/AFA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 01/09/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2026
Responses	1,170,000	710,000
Time Burden (Hours)	3,022,500	1,834,167
Cost Burden (Dollars)	5,850,000	3,550,000

---

Abstract: The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq., mandates the application and eligibility requirements for noncitizens seeking to obtain an immigrant visa and alien registration. INA section 221(a) (8 U.S.C. § 1201(a)) provides that a consular officer may issue an immigrant visa to an individual who has made a proper application.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 8 USC 1201 Name of Law: Immigration and Nationality Act
   US Code: 8 USC 1202 Name of Law: Immigration and Nationality Act
   US Code: 8 USC 1182 Name of Law: Immigration and Nationality Act
   US Code: 8 USC 1158 Name of Law: Immigration and Nationality Act
   US Code: 8 USC 1101 Name of Law: Immigration and Nationality Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 12763	07/15/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 12851	11/19/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration	DS-260	Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration	DS-230, DS-260	Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application ,   Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	1,170,000	710,000	0	-250,000	710,000	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	3,022,500	1,834,167	0	-645,834	1,834,167	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	5,850,000	3,550,000	0	-1,250,000	3,550,000	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Forms

Short Statement: The Department estimates a time burden of 155 minutes per response. If 460,000 respondents spend 155 minutes filling the form, the total response time burden is 71,300,000 minutes, or approximately 1,188,333 hours. The 2024 BLS estimate for the median U.S. hourly wage for all occupations is $23.80. This hourly wage multiplied by the total time burden gives us an annual cost burden of $28,282,325.40.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $94,022,024

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 01/09/2026

---