Form DS-160 is an essential material for applying for an U.S. non-immigrant visa. This article will guide you step-by-step on how to fill out Form DS-160.
Below is a detailed guide to filling out Form DS-160:
I. Preparation
1. Access the DS-160 page to begin filling out the form.
2. The default language of Form DS-160 is English. You can use the language translation tool in the top right corner. However, all answers must be in English, except for your full name, which should be in both English and "native alphabet."
3. Select the embassy/consulate where you will have your interview and enter the captcha.
Notes:
The interview location you select at the beginning of Form DS-160 must match the location where you schedule your interview appointment.
4. Upload a digital version of your visa photo. Before uploading, you can use the "Test Photo" option to check if it meets requirements.
5. Click "START AN APPLICATION" to begin filling out Form DS-160.
6. Fill in security questions and answers. Please print or write down your application ID.
7. If inactive for over 20 minutes, your session will time out and the application process will terminate. Please always hit “save” whenever you’ve filled in a page. This will allow you to retrieve your application later by clicking "Getting Started" if you need to close your browser in the middle of the process.
Caution:
If you forget this number, you will need to start a new application. The incomplete one will be automatically discarded.
8. After creating your account and saving your Application ID, make sure you have the following documents and information at your hand (depending on the particular type of visa you’re applying). This will facilitate the whole process to a large extent.
- Personal Information: passport, social security number (if applicable), travel history in the U.S. (i.e., date arrived, length of stay), previous U.S. Visa, U.S. contact information (contact person name, relationship to you, U.S. contact address, phone number, email address);
- Family Information: names and dates of birth of your father, mother, and spouse;
- Work Information (if applicable): your current and previous companies’ name, address, phone number, start date, monthly income, and job duties;
- Education Information: your school’s name, address, date of attendance, and SEVIS number.
II. Personal Information
Personal Information 1 includes your name, your name in native alphabet, sex, marital status, date and place of birth.
Personal Information 2 includes country of origin, national identification number, U.S. Social Security Number, and U.S. Taxpayer ID Number.
Generally, first-time F-1 visa applicants do not have a U.S. Social Security Number or Taxpayer ID Number, which are only issued to those legally working in the U.S. For these sections, you can select "Does Not Apply."
III. Travel Information
Travel information includes your purpose of trip to the U.S., your travel plans (if you don’t have specific travel plans, just select “No” and provide an estimated arrival date and length of stay), your travel companions’ information, and your previous U.S. travel history.
Completing this part is straightforward. If you have previously stayed in the U.S., be sure to fill in the information accurately.
IV. Address and Phone Information
In this section, you will be asked to provide your address, phone number, email address, and social media information.
U.S. Customs occasionally checks international students' social media accounts to verify that they do not pose a threat to the U.S. The embassy also takes this into consideration when issuing visas.
Nevertheless, when completing the DS-160 form, you only need to provide your social media usernames, not passwords. This means embassy and customs officials can only view the content you have made public on these accounts.
Note:
According to Mandy Feuerbach, a former U.S. visa officer in China, if visa officers have doubts about an applicant's motives for going to the U.S., they might review the applicant's social media accounts. However, based on her experience, visa officers are very busy and therefore do not check each applicant's social media accounts individually.
The U.S. embassies and consulates state that they will not deny visa applications based on an applicant's race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, political views, gender, or sexual orientation. However, if you want to avoid potential issues, you can make your accounts and posts private. By doing so, you can honestly provide your account IDs while minimizing potential risks.
* For more details, see the FAQs about social media information collection on the U.S. government's official Travel.state.gov website.
V. Passport Information
Complete this section based on the biographical page of your passport. Please note that the Passport Book Number is on the right side of your passport with a smaller font.
VI. U.S. Point of Contact Information
If you do not have a contact person in the U.S., you may enter your school's information. For the contact phone number, you can provide the work phone number of your school's DSO (Designated School Official).
VII. Family Information: Relatives
Provide the names, dates of birth, locations, and other relevant information for your parents, spouse, fiancé(e), children, or other relatives in the U.S.
VIII. Work, Education, and Training
This section consists of three pages: The first page is about your current work and education information, the second page is about your past and education experience, and the third page is about additional information.
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Current work/education information: Fill this out according to your current status. If you are currently working, provide information about your current job, including company name, address, phone number, start date, monthly income, and job juties. If you are a student, provide your school information.
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Past work/education experience: Provide information about your previous work/study experiences. Fill in as much as you can remember.
- Additional Information: provide your international travel history within the past five years.
IX. Security and Background Information
This section contains questions about national security and personal criminal history. If you have no issues, you can generally select "No" for these questions.
X. SEVIS Information
Your SEVIS number can be found on your I-20.
XI. Applicant Photo
You can use the DS-160 photo tool.
XII. Reviewing and Submitting the Form
Before submission, you must review all the information you have entered. After the review, you can proceed with the electronic signature to confirm submission.
After submission, a DS-160 confirmation page will be automatically generated. This completes the first step of your visa application.
Print out the DS-160 confirmation page. You will need to reference to this confirmation page and the information from your DS-160 multiple times during your visa interview. he DS-160 confirmation page will be emailed to you, so ensure you have entered your email address correctly.