What is the DS-160 form?

Form DS-160 is also known as the Online Non-immigrant Visa Application. It is an online application form through which you can apply for temporary U.S. visas, this includes B-1/B-2 visitor visas, and also for K fiancé visas. The electronic form collects personal information such as educational, professional details, and also your passport number.

Filling the DS-160 form is an important part of the visa application process because it gives all the necessary information to the U.S. Department of State to determine whether the applicant is eligible or not for a non-immigrant visa. It is important that it is completed correctly.
 

Who needs to complete Form DS-160?

Each visitor, including a child, needs their own DS-160. If the age of an applicant is less than 16, or is unable to fill the form, they can be supported by another person. That person must “Sign and Submit” at the end of the DS-160 form.

Individuals who are seeking to visit the United States on a temporary visa, including the B-1/B-2 visitor visas, and also for K fiancé visas, must complete Form DS-160. Those citizens of Mexican who are applying for a TN visa also need to fill out and submit Form DS-160. 

* Canadian citizens do not need to file the DS-160 if they have applied for a TN visa.

Each visitor, including a child, requires their own DS-160 form. For applicants who are under the age of 16 or younger, or physically unable to fill out the DS-160 form by themselves, they can be helped by a third party. They have to just sign at the end of the form and submit the page.

 

Documents required for Form DS-160

The documents required in order to complete Form DS-160 are as follows:

• Passport
• A photograph that meets U.S. government guidelines
• Travel itinerary
• Social Security number (U.S. Taxpayer ID if you have)
• The national ID number that is issued by your home country
• A photograph that meets U.S. government guidelines

You will also need to get your employment history and travel history, biographical information about your travel companions, and your family members.

If you are travelling to the United States to study, you will need a copy of your SEVIS ID, which you can find on your I-20 or DS-2019. You should also provide the address of the school or college you’ll be attending. Temporary workers visiting the US should have a copy of their I-129 in hand if they have one.

You should have a recent photograph that meets U.S. government guidelines saved digitally on the computer; you have to use this to complete your DS-160 Form.
 

How to fill CEAC DS-160?

The Form DS-160 must be filled out online and filed on the Consular Electronic Application Centre (CEAC) website. CEAC is a Department of State online application centre where applicants can submit DS-160 forms, pay the fees, and submit the necessary documents. Form DS-160 cannot be filled through paper, it must still be completed online. You can also view a sample DS-160 form on the website that will help you prepare. It is estimated to take 90 minutes to complete the form.

Once you complete the DS-160 form, you can save your progress and return to it later to complete the process within 30 days.  You can also save your DS-160 form to your computer’s hard drive and upload it again when required.

If you are filling out many DS-160 forms for your family members, then you can create a family application that will automatically fill in some details of your family members that is repeated. You will receive the option to create a family application on the “Thank You” that follows the confirmation page.

 

Steps to fill DS-160 form online

Firstly, begin by choosing the location where you’re applying for your visa. Now, let’s go through Form DS-160 section by section.

• Section 1: Personal Information

You need to provide personal information like your name, date of birth, and marital status. Also, you should fill in details like nationality, your passport number, and your U.S. social security number or taxpayer ID number (If you have them).

• Section 2: Travel Information

Here you should explain your travel plans, the purpose of your trip to the United States, dates of arrival and departure, and the U.S. address where you will stay. Provide estimated dates if you don’t have specific plans.

• Section 3: Travel Companions

Fill in the details of the companion who is traveling with you. Your companion might be your friends, family members, or members of an organised tour group. Make sure that every companion who is travelling with you needs has their own Form DS-160.

• Section 4: Previous U.S. Travel

Next, you will be asked if you have ever visited the United States before. If you have, you’ll need to provide dates and details. You’ll also need to indicate if you’ve ever been denied a U.S. visa or if you’ve ever filed an immigrant petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

In this section, mention if you have ever visited the United States before. Provide the dates and details of your visit. Also mention if you’ve ever been denied a U.S. visa, or if you’ve ever filed an immigrant petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

• Section 5: Address and Phone Number

Enter your current address, phone number, and email address. Enter the details of all the social profiles you’ve used over the past 5 years, their names or user IDs on sites like Twitter and Facebook. This is a new addition to the DS-160 form, with USCIS officials now required to check your social media activity while reviewing your application.

• Section 6: Passport Information

Give your passport information here. Enter your “Passport Number,” sometimes also called an “inventory control number.” If you don’t have that, then select option “Does not apply.”

• Section 6: U.S. Point Of Contact

Write the name of the person you know in the United States who can verify your identity. If you don’t know anyone, then you can submit the name of any business you intend to visit during your trip.

• Section 7: Relatives

Next, you will provide basic details about your father and mother. You may also be asked to provide details of any family members currently in the United States.

If you are married, you will also be asked for your spouse’s name, date of birth, nationality, and home address.
 

DS-160 fee

• For non-petition-based non-immigrant visas, such as tourist visas, business visas, or TN visas, the fee is $185.
• For petition-based visas, the fee is typically $190.
   

DS-160 processing time

The DS-160 form does not have a processing time. Once you’re done with filling the form online, you will receive the confirmation page. You can print the confirmation page and you can take that along with you to your visa interview.

If the application is approved during the interview, then the average processing time is 7-10 working days for Tourism and Visitor visas.
 

DS-160 Form Filling Instructions

Completing a DS-160 online application form is very easy. Follow the simple steps listed below and pay attention to your answers so as to fill the DS 160 form online correctly.

• Go to the Consular Electronic Application Centre (CEAC) website.
• Log in to your account.
• Complete the security question.
• Answer all the questions.
• Upload DS-160 Form Photo.
• Submit the Form.
• Print DS-160 Barcode Page.

What is the DS-160 confirmation number?

The DS 160 confirmation number is the number you will receive once you complete filling out the DS-160 form, sign, and submit it. This number is a confirmation that you have completed this step.
 

DS 160 Validity

The validity of the DS-160 form is 30 days from the day you have completed it and received confirmation. If you complete the DS-160 form on January 1, it will expire on January 31. Complete the form on time, or you will need to fill the form again.