DS-160 Online Application Form

Applicants must complete the new DS-160 interactive online application form, available at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv.  
 
Check Your Answers Carefully

Once an on-line application has been submitted, there are no quick and easy ways to correct or add information at the visa interview. 

Applicants must take special care to identify the correct visa category when completing the online application form.  Visa type is determined by the purpose of travel (e.g. tourism). If you are uncertain how to correctly answer the question “Purpose of your trip,” visit the chart below to establish which visa category you should apply for.  Additional detailed information on each visa category is available at here. When booking interview appointments through the call center,   applicants should explain their purpose of travel and verify the appropriate visa category.  Selecting the wrong visa category on the DS-160 online application can significantly delay the visa process.

Significant errors in your application, or information incorrectly marked as "Not Applicable," "Nil," or "Don't Know," may result in your application being rejected at the time of your interview. This would require you to resubmit the entire application and to reschedule your interview appointment.

Hit "save" often

While you complete form DS-160, please hit ‘save' often.  We recommend that you also save a copy to your hard drive as a backup. 

Do-It Yourself Photo System

Applicants must upload a photo in order to submit the DS-160 online application.  For photo requirements, click here  

Applicants are expected to make every effort to upload a photo that meets the designated requirements.  If the photo upload is not accepted as suitable by the DS-160 system, applicants will be given the option to continue without a photo.  However, whether a photo is successfully uploaded or not, applicants must ALWAYS bring a printed photo meeting the above requirements to the interview.

Bring the Confirmation Page to the Visa Interview

After completing the DS-160 online application, be sure to print the confirmation page generated by the online system and bring that page to the visa interview.  You are welcome to print the entire application form for your own records, but you must bring the confirmation page to your visa interview.  Applicants who arrive at the Embassy without this confirmation page cannot be interviewed.

Problems with the DS-160 form?

Click here for frequently asked questions on how to fill out the online DS-160 application.  

What else to Bring to the Visa Interview

The DS-160 application form does not replace the following supplemental forms, which must be completed and brought to the interview, depending on the visa category indicated:

• Students (F visa): Form I-20 and SEVIS Receipt
• Exchange Visitors (J visa): DS-2019 and SEVIS Receipt
• Temporary Workers, Artists, Athletes, etc. (H, O or P visas): Form I-797
• Blanket L1 Applicants: Form I-129S and Form I-797, in triplicate
• Diplomats and Officials (A, G or NATO visas): Diplomatic Note
• Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor (E visa): Form DS-156E
• Ship/airline personnel (C1/D visa), journalists (I visa): a personnel letter verifying details of employment

Other Documents

During the interview, the consular officer may request additional documentation in support of your application. This may include, but is not limited to, documents supporting claims of employment, student status, place of residence, financial status, intended itinerary, purpose of travel, etc. There is no formula: applicants should bring appropriate and persuasive documentary evidence to the interview to support claims made in the application. Applicants who do not have documentation requested by the consular officer may be asked to return at another date with the requested information.