“Ten printed” in the context of a US visa signifies that your fingerprints from all ten fingers have been digitally captured by the U.S. government. This process is a standard part of the U.S. visa application for most applicants. When completing the DS-160 form, you’ll encounter the question, “Have you been ten printed?”. Understanding how to answer this question correctly is crucial for a smooth application process.
DS-160 form question: Have you been ten printed? – Understanding fingerprinting for your US visa application.
Decoding “Ten Printed”: Fingerprints and Your US Visa
The term “ten printed” directly refers to the biometric fingerprinting procedure conducted by U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. This involves digitally scanning all ten fingerprints – from both hands, including thumbs. The U.S. government uses this biometric data for security and identification purposes throughout the visa application process.
Typically, if you’ve applied for a US visa after 2007, your fingerprints are already in the U.S. system. This is because the ten-print fingerprinting became a routine procedure for visa applicants globally around this time. You likely underwent this process during a previous visa interview or at a Visa Application Center (VAC) or OFC (Offsite Facilitation Center).
“Have You Been Ten Printed?” on the DS-160: Answering Correctly
The DS-160 form asks specifically, “Have you been ten printed?”. Here’s how to determine the right answer:
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First-Time US Visa Applicant?: If this is your very first time applying for any type of US visa, the answer is definitively “NO“. You would not have been ten-printed previously.
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Previous US Visa Interview?: If you have attended a US visa interview at a US embassy or consulate at any point in the past, you should answer “YES“. It’s highly probable that your fingerprints were taken during that prior application process.
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Unsure or Don’t Remember?: If you genuinely cannot recall whether you were fingerprinted during a past US visa application, it is safer to answer “NO“. Choosing “no” in this situation will not negatively impact your application. The US embassy will simply take your fingerprints again during your current application process to ensure their records are up-to-date.
Ten Printing at the OFC Center
For applicants outside the United States applying for a US visa for the first time, the ten-print fingerprinting process usually happens at the OFC center (Offsite Facilitation Center) before your scheduled visa interview at the US embassy or consulate. This is a standard step in the visa application process, designed to collect your biometric data before the interview stage.
Ten Printed for Children: Age Considerations
When applying for a US visa for a child, the answer to “Have you been ten printed?” depends on the child’s age:
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Children Under 14 Years Old: Generally, children under the age of 14 are exempt from ten-print fingerprinting. Therefore, if the question pertains to a child under 14, the answer is typically “NO“.
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Children 14 Years and Older: For children aged 14 and above, the ten-print fingerprinting is a standard requirement, just as it is for adult applicants. If a child aged 14 or older has previously applied for and received a US visa after turning 14, the answer to “Have you been ten printed?” would be “YES“.
It is important to note that fingerprinting requirements are primarily based on age at the time of the visa application, regardless of the specific type of US visa being sought. The age guidelines (14-80 years old for mandatory ten-printing) are consistently applied across all visa categories.
Distinguishing USCIS Fingerprints from US Embassy Ten Prints
It’s important to differentiate between “ten printing” for the DS-160 and fingerprinting done by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) within the US. Fingerprints submitted to USCIS for purposes like police clearance certificates, or biometric data taken at USCIS Application Support Centers (ASC) for applications such as H4, L2, or I-485, are not the same as the “ten printed” fingerprints collected by US embassies and consulates for visa applications.
The US embassy’s ten-print process is specifically linked to the Department of State and the visa application process. USCIS, on the other hand, is a separate agency within the Department of Homeland Security and their fingerprint databases are not directly shared with US embassies for visa processing purposes. Therefore, even if you have provided fingerprints to USCIS in the US, you still need to accurately answer the “Have you been ten printed?” question on the DS-160 form based on your interactions with US embassies or consulates outside the US for visa applications.
In conclusion, understanding the meaning of “ten printed” in the DS-160 form and answering the related question accurately is a simple yet essential step in your US visa application journey. By following these guidelines, you can confidently complete this section of the form and proceed smoothly with your application.
