Frequently Asked Questions - DS-160

Yes. If you are applying for a visa in any of the categories below, you should complete the DS-156, not the DS-160. You must also complete the DS-156K if you are applying for a K-1 visa.  If required, you should also complete the DS-157 and DS-158.

It depends. If you are a Treaty Investor (E-2) applicant, you need only complete the DS-160. If you are a Treaty Trader (E-1) or an Executive/Manager/Essential Employee (E-1 or E-2), you must complete the DS-160, and you or your employer must complete the paper DS-156E form.

Yes. If one of the dependents has a different surname or nationality, for example, you can alter that data before submitting the application.

Yes. On the “Thank You” page you will see an option to create a family or group application. When you select this option, certain information from your application, such as destination, will automatically be imported to and displayed on a new application. Please note that if you use this option you must create an individual application for each family member or for each individual within the group.

Yes, you can reprint the confirmation page of an application that has already been submitted. In order to do so, go into the Consular Electronic Application Center website and select the Embassy or Consulate at which you are applying. Hit “Option C-Retrieve Application” on the Getting Started page and enter your application ID number. From there you will be able to view and print your confirmation page.

You are not required to bring your entire application. For your interview, you are required to bring your confirmation page with your application ID number on it so we can retrieve your DS-160. You must bring the confirmation page with you during all phases of the application process. Without the confirmation page, we may not be able to process your visa case.

Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you applied for specific instructions.

Yes. To do so, you must save your DS-160 to your computer’s hard drive or a disk. You can then access it to update and resubmit your application.

In order for data changes made from the review page links to save, you must use the buttons at the bottom of each page to navigate, instead of the browser's back/forward buttons or the buttons along the side of the screen.

All information is automatically saved when each page is completed, so your application will not be lost. You will need to enter the application ID number, and answer other questions as prompted, to retrieve your application. Once your application has been retrieved, it will begin at the last page you completed. You will be able to edit previous pages, if needed.

Yes, but only for 30 days. You must enter your barcode or confirmation number into the Application ID field, and provide other information as prompted. To access your application after 30 days, you must save it to your computer hard drive or a disk.

If you, or your family, are applying for B-1, B-2, or B1/B2 visas, you are all considered principal applicants, and each of you should select that box.

If you do not know anyone personally in the United States, but you are traveling here to visit a particular store, company, or organization, you may provide the name of the store, company, or organization you intend to visit. Otherwise, you may select “Does not apply.”

You should provide at least one contact phone number, so that the U.S. Embassy or Consulate can contact you by phone, if necessary. If you have provided a mobile or cell phone number, you may enter “Does not apply” for home phone number.

Applicants, who have worked in the United States, as well as others, will have Social Security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers. If you do not have a Social Security number or a taxpayer identification number, select “Does not apply”.

If you are a citizen of a country that does not issue national identification numbers, select “Does not apply.”

No. All answers must be in English, using English characters only, except when you are asked to provide your full name in your native alphabet. Applications submitted in any language other than English will be denied, and you may be required to submit a new application. While you must answer all questions in English, translations of questions are available in many languages from the drop-down menu in the right upper corner of the application. These translations should assist you in completing the form in English.

Access the DS-160, by clicking: Consular Electronic Application Center website. We recommend that you use Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers to access the DS-160.

Watch the Video on this FAQ: Status and unlawful presence questions in the form DS-160

Video Transcript