DS-160 online form: A detailed explanation | GyanDhan
Published date: 16 Dec 2020
Updated on: 16 Dec 2020
Your US education has several steps starting from searching and exploring universities to scheduling a visa interview appointment. One of the final and crucial steps is filling out the DS-160 application form online. But do you know everything there is to know about the form?
Well, if you are unsure about the process, read on along -
What is the DS-160 form?
The DS-160 is an Online Nonimmigrant Visa application form. It is required for temporary travel to the US and also for a K (fiance) visa. The form has to be submitted to the Department of State online. The information provided on the form is used by the Consular officers to process visa applications. For a successful application submission, the form must be filled completely without any error and then submitted.
The information provided on this form must be as true as possible as it will form the basis of your visa interview. Applicants need to fill the form with relevant details as per their passport.
Who needs to complete the form DS-160?
The form has to be filled by every individual who has plans to travel to the US on a nonimmigrant visa. If you are traveling to the US temporarily, you will need to fill this form. Any dependent or child will also need to fill their own DS-160 form.
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What are the documents required to complete the DS-160 form online?
To complete the form, you will need the following documents -
Passport
Travel itinerary, if you have already made travel arrangements
Dates of your last five visits or trips to the US - if you have traveled to the US in the past. You will also be asked for the international travel history of the last five years.
Resume - You will need to provide information about your past or current education and work history.
Other details - Depending on the nature of your travel, you might be asked to submit some additional information and documents.
The fifth point relates to applicants applying for a student visa, temporary work visa, or petition-based temporary work visa. The documents required are -
Students and Exchange Visitors (F, M, and J visa applicants) - If you are applying for any of the student visas, then you will be required to submit your SEVIS ID. This ID is printed on your I-20 or DS-2019. This is an important point to complete the DS-160 form. You will also need to provide the name of the school/university which you will be attending. This information will be mentioned on your I-20 or DS-2019 form.
Petition-based Temporary workers - This applies to people applying for H-1B, H-2, H-3, CW1, L, O, P, R, E2C visas. They should have their I-129 with them while completing the DS-160 form.
Other temporary workers - They will need to submit information regarding their employer such as the name of their employer, employer’s address, etc. while completing the DS-160 form.
How to fill the DS-160 form?
The form has to be completed and submitted online. There is no paper version. The form is long and time-consuming as there are several fields to be filled. However, you will be able to fill the form with a little guidance. You can also download the detailed PDF provided by the U.S Department of State on the website. Or you can follow the below-mentioned steps to fill the form smoothly.
What are the steps after completing the DS-160 form?
Once you have successfully signed and submitted your application, you can either print out the entire application or the barcode page of the application. Next, schedule a visa interview appointment and pay the visa application fee. When you appear for the interview, remember to bring your DS-160 form with you along with other essential documents.
What is the cost of filling the DS-160 form?
The DS-160 form does not require any fee to be submitted. However, to complete the process, you will need to schedule a visa interview appointment for which you will have to make payment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I answer the questions on the form in my native language?
Ans. No, the answers cannot be made in your native language. All the questions are to be answered in English.
How long is the DS-160 valid?
Ans. The application is valid for as long as the information mentioned in the application is current and unchanged. If you have received a new I-20 or your university name has changed, you will have to submit the application again.
My session timed out. Is my application lost?
Ans. If your application has timed-out, you can retrieve the application after entering the application ID and answering the security question.
How long does it take to fill the application form?
Ans. It can take anywhere from 60 minutes to 90 minutes to complete the application form. If you have all the information ready before you fill the form, the process will be faster.
Can I change the information in the form after submitting the form?
Ans. Once you submit the form electronically, you won’t be able to make any changes. However, you can retrieve the application form in less than 30 days before the access. You can change whatever information you need to correct.
What should I do if the photo area of the confirmation page has a big X?
Ans. The big X in the place of your photo means that the photo did not upload correctly. Once you get a digital photo, follow the photo requirements to successfully upload it.
Are all questions on the form mandatory?
Ans. No. Depending on your purpose of the US visit, some questions/fields will be optional for you.
Are there more forms that I have to fill to complete the process?
Ans. No. DS-160 has replaced forms like DS-156, DS-157, DS-158, and DS-3032. All you have to do once you have signed and submitted the application is to print the application barcode and schedule a visa interview appointment.
How can I save my application?
Ans. After filling in information on a particular page, you can save the application. This is helpful in the case the session times out or you don’t have the complete information at present.
Can I save my partially-completed application and return to it later?
Ans. Yes, you can. To return to a previous application, enter the application ID, and answer the security question chosen by you. However, you have 30 days to return to your partially filled application.
I lost internet connection/received an error message? Is my application lost?
Ans. No. Each page is automatically saved once you move on to the next page. To get back to your application, enter your application ID, and answer the security question. The application will open on the last page you were filling. You can also edit the previous pages if required.
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I could not complete my application in one go. Do I need to save my application?
Ans. The system will time out after 20-minutes of inactivity and you will lose all information. To avoid the loss of information, save your application frequently. Or you can retrieve your application if you have noted down the application ID.
My visa application got denied because the DS-160 form contained errors/was incomplete. What should I do next?
Ans. You can retrieve your application and correct the errors or complete the application. Once you have corrected the information, contact the embassy/consulate where you applied for specific information.
Do I have to bring the entire DS-160 application with me to the visa interview appointment?
Ans. No, you do not need to bring the entire application. Only the confirmation page is necessary for the interview. This confirmation page should contain your application ID so that the application can be retrieved during the interview. This is an important document without which your visa will not be processed.
I lost the confirmation page of the DS-160 form. What should I do now?
Ans. You can retrieve your confirmation page if you have already submitted your application. Go to the Consular Electronic Application Center website, select the embassy/consulate where you are applying, enter your application ID, and hit on Option-C ‘Retrieve application’.
How can GyanDhan help with your visa application?
The next step after successfully submitting the application is to schedule a visa interview. The visa interview is the final checkpoint that you need to cross to successfully travel to the US and study. Acing this interview should be a top priority. To help you in this endeavor, GyanDhan has cherry-picked experts that have worked in this field for over several decades and know the in-and-out of these interviews. These experts will help you with mock interviews, prep your profile, and help you in slot booking. Visa counseling, which is otherwise a costly affair, will be provided to you at discounted prices through GyanDhan. So fill your DS-160 form online, and contact us to prepare for your visa interview.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.gyandhan.com/blogs/ds-160-form