Ds-160

[Outback]

Has anyone in Ukraine tried to come visit the US this year? The new DS-160 form has a section talking about a passport book number AKA an inventory control number. Some passports have this along with the normal passport number, but some don't. In a Ukrainian international passport, where is this number located?

[stepanstas]

Wow.

I searched all over the place and could not find information about it anywhere. That is ridiculous. My assumption would be it does not apply/does not exist in a Ukrainian passport, but that's a wild guess.

Don't really feel like calling the US Embassy in Ukraine ($$$).

[stepanstas]

Alright.

Did some more searching. Here is the best I could find.

Below is an old Mexican passport



Notice, there are 2 numbers, one on top, one on the bottom. I am assuming the top one to be a book number. So, if you have a Ukrainian passport with a number that is different from the passport number, that is the book number. They say, if it exists, it should be on the first page, not on the picture page. Likely this does not apply.

The only doubt I have is whether the numbers stamped with holes, on every page or half the book, counts as a book number. I don't know if they still do that. I believe this number is the same as your passport number, question is if it would be considered a book number as well.

Overall, I think this does not apply to Ukrainian passports. I think you would be safe with checking off "does not apply". I am 95% positive, but I have no certification so don't take my word.

Good Luck and let us know what you find out when you submit the application. There is clearly a lack of sources on-line, so this would help to be a future reference.

[Outback]

We just clicked "Does not apply".

This new form is a mixed blessing. You have to fill it out online but it will time out after 20 minutes and erase all info. To get around this you can save it and upload the file and resume. At the end the applicant has to click "submit" and print the confirmation page. If someone else is preparing the form for you, they are "supposed" to email you the saved file for you to upload and click submit. Supposedly the gov can trace the electronic signature.

However, my mother in law doesn't know English, she's on an old computer that's on dial up, and has no printer. So we searched online at in every instance they say you can have the preparer fill out the form, submit the application, print the confirmation page, and send that page in the mail to the applicant. But all of that is in contradiction to what's actually written on the form.

So it basically boils down to whether or not the embassy wants to be troublesome or not. It seems like common sense that it should be okay to do what we did, but government and common sense don't often go hand in hand. They're getting their money, that should be the only thing they care about.

[AkMike]

If you're talking about her "internal" passport to use inside Ukraine, the number is punched into the paper at the top of every page.
If you're talking about the international passport , the number is in the top right corner of the picture/info page. (the inside front cover.
I looked at my wifes passports for this info.

My step son was turned down for a visa to come and visit us recently. No defined reason just "because". They didn't look at any paperwork he brought just at the form that was filled out online. (They have a copy filed as soonas you click send/print) They asked 5 questions and turned hjm down. The interview lasted less than 3 minutes total! I recently heard that you have alot better chances IF you get a Mexican visa first. Go figure that one out.... I'm trying to get copies of that ruleing.
I hope that you have better luck!

[Outback]

Well yeah, if you can get to Mexico or Canada you can just walk across the border and get everything handed to you. Meanwhile the people that spend the time and money to do it the legal way get rejected for no reason. Great system we have here!

[AkMike]

That's my take on it also. Sad state of affairs when people that are legal and try to play by the rules are stopped from visiting.