DS-160 Online Form

We encourage you to be sure to record your Application ID number, which is required to retrieve your application, to save your application frequently, and to review all sections of the form to make sure every question is answered.  Additional information that could be helpful in completing specific DS-160 sections is included below.

Retrieving an Application without the Application ID (Barcode Number):  You must have your Application ID number to retrieve and continue your application.  

Retrieving an Application if Surname Contains Fewer than Five Characters:  You can retrieve your DS-160 submission by entering up to the first five letters of your surname, even if your surname is less than five letters.  You must have your Applicant IDs to do so.

Page Error Messages:  Some errors are the result of special characters and formatting related to your computer settings.  You should enter only numbers (no punctuation) in the salary and date fields before clicking “next” or “save.”

The DS-160 form may time out after a certain period of inactivity.  If approximately 20 minutes pass without you saving any information, the page will time out.  At the beginning of your application, you will receive an alpha-numeric application ID number.  Please write down this number and do not lose it. You will also be asked a personal security question.  If your application shuts down due to inactivity, or you choose to finish your application at a later date, you will need your application ID number and your security question to retrieve the information you have already provided.

Your application will automatically save each time you click the “Next” button. If you need to stop completing your application before submitting it, you should record the Application ID displayed on the top right-hand corner. You will need this Application ID to continue your application at a later date. You will be able to retrieve your unsubmitted application for the next 30 days.  To complete your application after 30 days, you can permanently save the application to a disk or to your hard drive.  To do this, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the last page you have completed and follow the instructions to save the application data to a file. To retrieve an application that has not been completed, simply return to the DS-160 form.  Click “start application” at the bottom, and then click “retrieve incomplete application” at the bottom of the following page.  Next, you will be asked to enter your Application ID number.  The system will then prompt you for the first five letters of your last name, the year of your birth, and finally ask you the security question that you chose at the beginning of your application.  From this point onward, you will be able to retrieve the information that you previously saved and continue working on your application.

All applicants for non-immigrant visas (except those for K visas) should complete the DS-160 on-line.  Once it is complete, the information contained in the DS-160 is transmitted electronically to our database for important pre-processing prior to the date of interview.

Changing the language on the page: In the top right corner of the form, there is a menu where you can choose the language you desire.

You can then hover your cursor over the question or text in order to see an immediate translation into Spanish, or the language you prefer.  See the below illustration.

Please also refer to the right side of the application form for help screens, which provide useful guidance about how to answer many of the questions.

Remember that the DS-160 form times out, or expires due to inactivity, after several minutes without saving the form.  If your DS-160 form times out, you will need to return to the beginning of the DS-160 form, click the “retrieve incomplete information” button and use your Application ID to retrieve your application.

Once the application has been completed successfully, the applicant only needs to print the confirmation page, which contains the barcode, and must use that number to make their appointment, and bring the confirmation page to the interview appointment.  Remember:  It is not necessary to print your whole application!

Note – When you complete the DS-160, please save a copy to your computer and remember to save your information continually to avoid losing it.

Errors
Substantial errors, selecting the wrong visa class (specially for non B1/B2 visa applicants), voluntarily omitting information or marking some answers as not applicable (N/A), none, etc., can result in the refusal of your application during the interview, so it is very important to answer all questions completely and correctly.

Common mistakes:

• Monthly salary does apply if you are employed; don’t be thrown off by mention of local currency.
• Names and dates of birth of parents
• Other names used (if a married woman, maiden name)
• A marital status of single means that you have never been married.  If you have been divorced please indicate so in you status.
• National ID means cedula number for Panamanians
• Contact phone numbers are essential should the U.S. Embassy need to contact you.

Please use the opportunity provided to review your answers before you submit the application.

For more information on how to fill out the DS-160, please click here.

If your question was not answered, or for more information about visas to the U.S., the visa process and the U.S. Department of State, please click here.