DS-160 Checklist: Everything to Prepare Before You Fill In the Visa Form

DS-160 Checklist: Prepare Before You Fill In the Form

The DS-160 is long, it logs you out after a period of inactivity and a mistake can mean starting over or delaying the interview. People who prepare every answer in advance finish in under an hour. The DS-160 Information Checklist lists what to collect, adapted to your visa type and family.

Section by section

Personal information. Full name exactly as in your passport, other names used, native-language name if it uses a different alphabet, date and place of birth, national ID number, home and mailing address, phone numbers, email addresses and, where the form asks, social media names.

Passport. Number, country and place of issue, issue and expiry dates, and details of any lost or stolen passport.

Travel plans. Purpose of the trip, planned dates, the address where you will stay, who is paying and details of earlier US visits and visas.

Contact in the United States. A person or an organization with an address and phone number.

Family. Parents' names and birth dates, spouse and children if any and relatives in the United States.

Work and education. Current and previous employers or schools with addresses, dates and duties, and the countries visited in the last five years.

Security questions. Questions about health, criminal history, immigration violations and similar matters. Answer honestly.

Items by visa type

Student applicants need the SEVIS ID and school name from the I-20 and proof of funds. Exchange visitors need the DS-2019 and sponsor details. Temporary workers need the petition receipt number and employer information. Fiancé(e) applicants need the petition receipt number and details of the US citizen. Visitors usually need none of these extras.

Using the checklist

Choose the visa type and say whether you are married, have children and have worked before; the list changes. Set the interview date to get reminders. Tick items as you find the information. The progress bar tells you how much is left, and the list is saved in your browser so you can return tomorrow. Print it if you want to work from paper.

A worked example

A student with an interview in six weeks, single and with a previous job, sees personal, passport, travel, contact, family, work, security and student-specific groups and about thirty items. The reminders suggest booking the appointment two weeks before the date, printing the confirmation page one week before and putting passport, photo, receipts and documents in a folder the day before.

Common mistakes

• Using a nickname instead of the passport name.
• Guessing dates and then giving different dates at the interview.
• Leaving out an earlier visa refusal. Disclose it.
• Not saving the application ID, which makes it hard to return to a saved form.

Before you pay and book

Check the embassy's website for the current visa fee, the way to pay, the documents to bring and the appointment system. Requirements differ by country. Answer every question truthfully; a false statement can lead to a permanent ban. This checklist is a preparation aid and not legal advice.

Quick questions

How long does the DS-160 take? An hour or two with the answers ready, much longer without them.

Do I need the photo during the form? Yes, the form asks you to upload one that meets the State Department rules, or the photo can be uploaded later at the appointment depending on the embassy.

What if I make a mistake after submitting? Do not guess. Follow the embassy's instructions, which usually mean completing a new form and using the new confirmation page.