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DS-160 vs DS-260: Which Form Do You Need?
The short answer: the DS-160 is for a temporary visit; the DS-260 is for moving to the United States permanently. Filing the wrong one wastes weeks, because they run through entirely different systems.
At a glance
| DS-160 | DS-260 | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Nonimmigrant (temporary) visa | Immigrant (permanent) visa |
| Typical applicant | Tourist, business visitor, student, exchange visitor, temporary worker | Family- or employment-sponsored immigrant, diversity visa selectee |
| Common visa classes | B-1/B-2, F-1, M-1, J-1, H-1B, L-1, O-1 | IR/CR, F1–F4, EB-1 to EB-5, DV |
| Prerequisite | None for most; a petition for some classes | An approved petition (I-130, I-140, etc.) |
| Where you file | CEAC nonimmigrant site | CEAC immigrant visa site, after NVC invites you |
| Form fee | Free to submit | Free to submit |
| Separate fee | MRV application fee, typically $185 for B/F/M/J | NVC immigrant visa processing fee plus affidavit-of-support fee |
| Who you deal with | The embassy or consulate directly | National Visa Center (NVC) first, then the consulate |
| Result | A visa for a defined temporary stay | An immigrant visa leading to a green card on entry |
How to tell which one applies to you
Ask what you intend to do in the United States:
- Visiting, studying, or working temporarily and then returning home → DS-160. Even multi-year visas like H-1B and F-1 are nonimmigrant categories. See the DS-160 form guide.
- Moving permanently, with a family member or employer sponsoring you → DS-260, and only after USCIS approves the underlying petition and the NVC opens your case.
A useful test: did someone file a petition for you and get it approved? If yes and the goal is permanent residence, you are on the DS-260 track. If you are simply applying for a visa yourself, it is the DS-160.
Why people mix them up
- Both are free to submit and both live on CEAC, so the names look interchangeable.
- K-1 fiancé(e) applicants use the DS-160, not the DS-260, even though the purpose is to settle in the U.S. — the K-1 is technically a nonimmigrant visa.
- Some people file both over time: a student on an F-1 (DS-160) who later marries a U.S. citizen files a DS-260 for the immigrant visa. They are sequential, not alternatives.
- The DS-260 cannot be started on your own. It only becomes available once the NVC invites you, which is why searching for it and finding nothing is common.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file a DS-260 without an approved petition?
No. The DS-260 only opens after USCIS approves the underlying petition and the National Visa Center creates your case. There is no way to file it independently.
Does a DS-160 lead to a green card?
Not directly. It produces a temporary visa. Changing to permanent residence later means either adjusting status inside the U.S. or consular processing with a DS-260.
Do I pay a fee for the form itself?
Neither form charges a submission fee. The costs come afterwards: the MRV application fee for nonimmigrant cases (see the fee guides), or NVC processing and affidavit-of-support fees for immigrant cases.
I am applying for a K-1 fiancé(e) visa. Which form?
The DS-160. K visas are nonimmigrant classifications, so they use the nonimmigrant application even though the intent is to settle permanently.
I filed the wrong form. What now?
Nothing is lost beyond time — the two systems are separate, so an unused form simply sits there. Start the correct one. If the issue is an error within a submitted DS-160, see how to fix DS-160 mistakes.
Related guides
Filing the DS-160?
If the nonimmigrant form is the one you need, start with what the DS-160 form is.