KUALA LUMPUR: A new electronic visa application form introduced by the United States embassy here will become mandatory on March 1. "The US embassy introduced a new online non-immigrant visa application form (DS-160) on Feb 15 The form will become mandatory on March 1," the embassy said in a statement here.

All applicants for non-immigrant visas who schedule visa interviews on or after March 1 will be required to use the new form, DS-160.

The statement said the DS-160 form should be easier and quicker for most applicants than the previous application forms.

"The new application form is completely web-based. Once completed by the applicant, all data on the form is electronically transmitted to the consular section at the US embassy," it said.

"Applicants need only print out a confirmation page to bring with them to the embassy for their interviews," the statement said.

The DS-160 form offers applicants several advantages over the previous application form. Among others, the data entered into the new DS-160 can be saved and re-used in future applications.

The form can be accessed online at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/. Information about the visa applications is also available at http://malaysia.usembassy.gov/niv.html. -- Bernama