Form DS-160

Application ID

10-character code generated when you start. The system uses this + security answer to let you resume.

Common mistake: Closing the browser without recording the Application ID. The system has no way to email it later — if lost, you start over.

Security question

Pick one and write down BOTH your question choice AND your answer. Answers are case-sensitive.

Match your passport exactly

Name spelling must match the passport machine-readable zone (MRZ). Apostrophes, hyphens, accents — replicate carefully.

Common mistake: Adding a middle name that's on your birth certificate but not your passport. Use ONLY what's on the passport.

Native alphabet name

Required if your home country uses non-Latin script (Chinese, Arabic, Cyrillic, Korean, etc.). Use the form on the screen — they have keyboard input options.

Social media

List handles for platforms you actively use. Required since 2019. If you don't use a platform, leave blank — don't make up handles.

Tip: Honesty here matters. DOS does check publicly available social media. Account-wiping right before applying often raises more flags than the original content.

Email

Your active email. DOS sends interview confirmation and follow-up requests here. Keep monitoring through the interview.

Passport number

Copy character-by-character from the biographic page. Some countries include letters and slashes.

Lost or stolen prior passports

REQUIRED disclosure. Include any prior US passport books too if applicable.

Visa class

Use the IRS form your trip purpose maps to. Tourism + business = B1/B2. Student degree program = F-1. Exchange = J-1. Specialty worker = H-1B. The form lists them all.

Length of stay

Realistic, not 'maximum allowed.' A B-1/B-2 visitor saying 'six months' for a one-week trip raises immigrant-intent flags.

Paying for trip

Self/other person/other. If 'other person,' you'll provide that person's details on a later page.

Group travel

Tour groups: 'Yes' for traveling as part of a group, then the group name.

Prior trips

Be accurate. If you're unsure of an exact date, give a best estimate — DOS can verify against entry records.

Common mistake: Omitting short trips. ALL US entries count, even one-day shopping or transit. Omission discovered at interview is a serious credibility issue.

Prior visa denials

Disclose all prior US visa refusals or visa-application denials. Failure to disclose is a permanent black mark.

Address and phone

Their US address and active phone number. DOS may call to verify your story.

Family in the US

List any blood relatives currently in the US, regardless of immigration status, and their relationship to you.

Employment history

Last 5 years of employers — name, address, supervisor's name and contact, dates, monthly salary, brief duties.

Education history

Secondary school and above. Name, address, dates, course of study.

Languages

Languages you speak (basic to native). Helps consular officer prepare for the interview.

Honest disclosure

Even minor offenses generally don't bar a visa, but lying about them does. If you answered 'yes' to something, explain truthfully in the additional information box.

Common mistake: Saying 'no' to a minor incident because you think it disqualifies you. DOS systems often catch these via shared databases — non-disclosure is a permanent ban risk.

Photo specs

Square-ish (35mm wide x 45mm tall = roughly 600x675 pixels at 300 DPI), white/off-white background, no glasses, no headwear (religious exceptions allowed), neutral expression, taken within last 6 months.

Confirmation page

After submit, you get a confirmation page with a barcode. Print it — you bring it to the interview.

Common mistake: Closing the confirmation page without printing. You can re-retrieve it via your Application ID + security answer at ceac.state.gov, but losing both means starting over.