SEYY is one of the less-discussed sections of the DS-160, and it causes confusion. Here's the plain explanation of what it means, who it applies to, and how to answer correctly.
What Is SEYY?
SEYY = Subject to Export Yellow Yellow
SEYY is a classification from the State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual. It applies to nonimmigrant visa applicants who are beneficiaries of an approved immigration petition. The "Yellow Yellow" comes from a coding system — it doesn't have a practical meaning for applicants beyond identifying you as someone with an approved petition.
If you are the beneficiary of an approved employment petition (I-140 for EB-1, EB-2, EB-3), you answer "Yes." If you are applying for a work visa (H-1B, L-1, O-1, P) with an approved petition, you likely fall under SEYY.
The Petition Number Field
I-797 Approval Notice Receipt Number
Found at the top of your I-797 approval notice
If you answer Yes to the SEYY question, you will be asked to enter the petition number. This is the Receipt Number from your I-797 approval notice — a 13-character code that starts with three letters (e.g., WAC, EAC, LIN) followed by 10 digits. You will find it at the top of your I-797. If you have multiple approved petitions, enter the one most relevant to your current application.
Common SEYY Questions
I have an approved H-1B petition (I-797) — do I answer Yes to SEYY?
Yes — if you are applying for an H-1B visa and you are the beneficiary of an approved H-1B petition, answer Yes. The SEYY question confirms your intent to follow the terms of the petition. This means you will use the H-1B for the job and employer specified in the approved petition.
I have an approved I-140 but I'm applying for a B-1 tourist visa — do I answer Yes?
This is a more nuanced situation. If you are applying for a B-1/B-2 tourist visa while holding an approved I-140, you should answer based on your actual intent. If you intend to use the tourist visa to enter the US and eventually adjust status through the approved I-140, this may be considered visa misuse. If you are genuinely visiting temporarily and your I-140 petition will be processed later through consular processing, answer accordingly. Consult an immigration attorney if this applies to you.
I'm on an L-1 or O-1 visa with an approved petition — am I SEYY?
Yes — L-1 and O-1 applicants with approved petitions (I-797) answer Yes to the SEYY question. The same principle applies: you intend to follow the terms of the approved petition, using the visa for the specified employer and role.
What if I answer Yes to SEYY but my petition was approved for a different visa category?
Enter the petition number that corresponds to your approved petition. If you have an approved I-140 for an EB-2 and are applying for an H-1B, the situation is more complex — consult an attorney. In general: answer Yes and enter the petition number of the approved petition that is relevant to your current application.
I don't have my I-797 receipt number — what do I do?
You can find it on your I-797 approval notice. If you don't have the document, you can retrieve it from USCIS (uscis.gov) using your case number, or contact your employer's immigration attorney. You cannot guess the number — incorrect petition numbers cause processing issues. If you truly cannot locate it before submitting, answer Yes and note in your interview that you will bring the I-797 to the interview.
SEYY Section Checklist
- Work visa applicants (H-1B, L-1, O-1, P) with approved petitions: Answer Yes
- Enter your I-797 receipt number from the approval notice
- Tourist/student visa applicants without petitions: Answer based on your actual circumstances
- If in doubt about whether SEYY applies, consult an immigration attorney before answering