Form Guide
Work through each section of the DS-160 with clear preparation guidance.
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Independent application guide
DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application
Your comprehensive guide to completing the DS-160 form correctly and efficiently for your US visa application.
- Independent guidance
- Reviewed information
- Free tools
What is the DS-160?
The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa application every visitor, student, exchange visitor, and temporary worker files before a U.S. visa interview. It is completed on the Department of State’s CEAC website, it is free to submit, and each applicant — including infants — needs their own form and barcode confirmation page.
The form asks for your passport and travel history, employment and education, U.S. contacts, and a set of security questions. Answers are checked against your prior applications and your interview, so consistency matters more than polish.
How the DS-160 process works
- Complete and submit the DS-160 on CEAC, then print the barcode confirmation page.
- Upload a compliant photo, or check yours first with the free photo tool.
- Pay the visa application fee through your country’s authorized service.
- Schedule the interview once the fee receipt activates.
- Attend the interview with your passport, confirmation page, and receipts.
Is there a DS-160 login?
No. The DS-160 has no account, no username and no password. When you begin on CEAC the system issues a 10-character Application ID starting with AA. That ID, together with the answer to the security question you chose and your surname and year of birth, is the only way back into a form you have not yet submitted. Write it down before you go further, because CEAC cannot email it to you, and an unsubmitted form is deleted after 30 days without activity. How to retrieve a saved DS-160 →
What you need before you start
- Your passport, with its number, issue and expiry dates, and the city that issued it.
- A photo that meets the DS-160 specifications, or one you can check before uploading.
- Your travel dates, your U.S. address or hotel, and who is paying for the trip.
- Five years of employment history, and your education after secondary school.
- Your last five visits to the United States, any previous U.S. visas, and any refusals.
- Social media usernames for the past five years, for each platform on the CEAC list.
DS-160 Resources
Go straight to the part of your application you need help with.
Photo Requirements
Understand the official file, framing, lighting, and appearance rules.
Open guide →Fee Payment
Learn when fees apply and where to confirm current payment instructions.
Open guide →Embassy Locator
Find the embassy or consulate instructions relevant to your application.
Open guide →About DS-160
Understand who completes the form, what it asks, and how it is used.
Open guide →Retrieve a Saved DS-160
Recover a saved application, beat the 30-day expiry, and handle a lost Application ID.
Open guide →Fix DS-160 Mistakes
What to do about errors before and after you submit the form.
Open guide →DS-160 for F-1 Students
SEVIS ID, I-20 details, the SEVIS fee, and student-specific answers.
Open guide →Visa Interview Questions
What consular officers ask, why they ask it, and how to prepare.
Open guide →Confirmation Page
Save, print, retrieve, and use your DS-160 confirmation page.
Open guide →How Much a U.S. Visa Costs
The $185 MRV fee, the SEVIS fee, reciprocity and the 2025 Visa Integrity Fee, added up per visa type.
Open guide →214(b) Refusal
What a 214(b) refusal means, what the officer saw, and how to reapply with a stronger case.
Open guide →2026 Visa Rule Changes
Every rule that changed this year, dated and linked to the Federal Register or the FAM.
Open guide →Visa Bond Program
Which countries face a $5,000 to $15,000 bond, how it is paid, and when it is returned.
Open guide →Free DS-160 Photo Maker
Private, on-device checks for format, framing, face position, background, and lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DS-160 free?
Yes. Completing and submitting the DS-160 costs nothing. What people call the DS-160 fee is the separate visa application fee, also called the MRV fee, which in 2026 is $185 for visitor, student and exchange visas and $205 for petition-based work visas. You pay it after submitting the form and before booking an interview.
Do I need an account or a password?
No. There is no DS-160 account. CEAC gives you a 10-character Application ID when you start, and you return to an unsubmitted form using that ID, your security question answer, your surname and your year of birth.
How long does the DS-160 form take to complete?
Most applicants take 1-2 hours to complete the form, depending on their preparation.
Can I save my DS-160 application and finish it later?
Yes, you can save your application at any time by clicking the "Save" button and noting your application ID.
What happens if I make a mistake on my DS-160?
If you've already submitted your DS-160, you can create a new application with correct information and bring both confirmation pages to your interview.
What happens after I submit the DS-160?
You receive a confirmation page with a barcode. Print it and keep it, because you need it at the interview. Then pay the visa application fee, wait for the payment to activate, and book your interview appointment. You can retrieve a submitted DS-160 from CEAC for 30 days, so save the PDF straight away.
How soon before my interview should I complete the DS-160?
It's recommended to complete your DS-160 before scheduling your interview, as you'll need the confirmation number.