The form every nonimmigrant visa applicant completes online before a U.S. consular interview (H-1B, F-1, B-1/B-2, etc.). Generates the barcode confirmation page you bring to the interview.
Key fields to get right
- Use your name exactly as printed in your passport — same spelling, same order.
- List every country you've visited in the last five years, and all prior U.S. visits and visas.
- Travel/contact, work and education history must line up with your résumé and prior filings.
- Social-media handles are required — list the accounts you actually use.
Common mistakes
- Misspelling your name or transposing given/surname vs. the passport.
- Leaving the SEVIS/petition receipt number blank or mistyped for petition-based visas.
- Forgetting a short trip or a previously refused visa — both are asked and are checkable.
Documents to have ready
- Passport (valid 6+ months)
- Petition receipt (I-797) or SEVIS I-20/DS-2019 if applicable
- Travel dates & U.S. point-of-contact
- Employment and education history
Tip. Print the full Application PDF from the review screen, not just the one-page confirmation. Run two versions through the DS-160 Compare tool to catch any drift between a prior filing and a refile.
Frequently asked
What is the DS-160 used for?
It is the online nonimmigrant visa application every applicant completes before a U.S. consular interview. Submitting it produces the barcode confirmation page you bring to the interview.
Who has to file a DS-160?
Any nonimmigrant visa applicant abroad — including H-1B, F-1 student, and B-1/B-2 visitor applicants. Each traveler files their own.
What is the most common DS-160 mistake?
Entering your name differently from the passport — a misspelling or swapping the given name and surname. Match the passport character-for-character, in passport order.