DS-160 Form

Form DS-160, “Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa,” is the mandatory online application form required of all international students applying for F-1, J-1, or M-1 visas at U.S. embassies and consulates. Submitted through the State Department’s CEAC (Consular Electronic Application Center) portal at ceac.state.gov, the DS-160 collects biographical, travel, financial, and educational information about the applicant. Completion typically takes 20–40 minutes, and applicants receive a confirmation number and barcode that must be brought to their visa interview appointment. The DS-160 is distinct from the visa itself; a properly completed and submitted DS-160 is a prerequisite for scheduling and attending a consular interview.

Key facts

Attribute	Details
Issuing Authority	U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Consular Affairs)
Application method	Online only, at ceac.state.gov
Application language	Available in multiple languages; English version used for F-1/J-1/M-1
Cost	No fee; submission is free
Completion time	Typically 20–40 minutes
Submission timing	Must be completed before scheduling consular interview; can be completed immediately after visa appointment scheduling, but before the interview date
Confirmation	Digital confirmation page with barcode; must be printed and brought to interview
Validity duration	Confirmation valid for 30 days; if interview not scheduled within 30 days, form must be resubmitted
Changes post-submission	Form can be edited and resubmitted if errors are discovered; a new confirmation number is generated
Interview requirement	Confirmation page (printed) is mandatory at consular interview

Eligibility / Prerequisites

Must be applying for a nonimmigrant visa (F-1, J-1, M-1, or other nonimmigrant category)
Acceptance letter or Form I-20 (for F-1/M-1) or DS-2019 (for J-1) must be on hand before completing DS-160 to provide school name, program dates, and SEVIS information
Valid passport (or acceptable alternative travel document; passport number entered on the form)
Internet access and email address to receive confirmation
Ability to provide biographical information (full name as it appears in passport, date of birth, country of citizenship, etc.)
Knowledge of appointment scheduling details if form is completed after appointment is booked (consulate location, appointment date/time)
Photograph in digital format (passport-style, recent, 2×2 inches or larger; uploaded during form completion)

Required documents / Information (for completing DS-160)

Valid passport: Passport number required
I-20 (F-1/M-1) or DS-2019 (J-1): School name, SEVIS record number, program dates, program level, and cost of attendance (from these documents)
Biographical information: Full name (as in passport), date of birth, country of citizenship, place of birth, gender, passport number
Contact information: Email address, phone number(s), mailing address (both home country and U.S. if applicable)
Employment history: Previous employers, job titles, dates of employment (if applicable)
Travel history: Previous visits to the United States, dates, and visa types (if applicable); also travel to other countries in past five years
Family information: Full names and dates of birth of spouse, parents, and siblings
Financial information: Estimated cost of attendance, name of financial sponsor (from I-20 or school records), financial sponsor’s relationship to applicant
Address in the U.S.: Where applicant will reside (school address, dormitory, host family address, or temporary address)
Photograph: Digital photo meeting U.S. visa photo requirements (passport-style, 2×2 inches, taken within 6 months, white or off-white background; formats: .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .png)
Consulate information: Country and city where visa application will be submitted (if appointment already scheduled)

DS-160 Completion Steps

Navigate to CEAC website at ceac.state.gov. Select the appropriate country, city, and visa type (Nonimmigrant Visa, F-1/J-1/M-1 category).
Start a new application by clicking “Start New Application.” The system generates a temporary application ID.
Fill out biographical information: Full name (exactly as in passport), date of birth, place of birth, country of citizenship, passport number, passport issue and expiration dates, gender, marital status.
Provide contact information: Email address (confirmation will be sent here), phone number(s), home address (country of residence), and U.S. address (where you will reside).
Enter employment and education history: Previous employers (if applicable), current or most recent job title and dates. List educational institutions attended, including dates and degree(s) earned.
Describe your travel history: Previous visits to the United States (country, dates, visa type, length of stay). Also list travel to other countries in the past five years (including brief visits).
Provide family information: Full names and dates of birth of spouse (if married), parents, and siblings. List whether any family members are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Enter financial sponsorship details: Name and relationship of financial sponsor (typically parent, yourself, or scholarship organization). Include sponsor’s occupation and employer. Sponsorship amount (estimated annual cost of attendance from I-20 or school documentation).
Upload passport photograph: Digital color photograph meeting U.S. specifications (2×2 inches, passport-style, taken within 6 months, white or off-white background). Allowed formats: .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .png. File size typically 240 KB–600 KB.
Enter school and visa details: School name (from I-20), SEVIS record number, program start and end dates, program level (e.g., Bachelor’s, Master’s, etc.), major field of study, estimated cost of attendance.
Answer supplemental questions: Security-related questions (any prior visa rejections? involvement in activities of concern? criminal history? health conditions requiring quarantine? etc.). Answer honestly; inconsistencies between DS-160 and the interview can result in refusal.
Review entire form for accuracy. CEAC provides a summary review page before final submission.
Submit the application. Upon submission, the system generates a confirmation page with a unique barcode and application ID.
Print confirmation page immediately. The confirmation is valid for 30 days; if you do not schedule an interview within 30 days, you must resubmit the form.
Schedule or attend consular interview: Bring the printed confirmation page with barcode to your visa appointment. The consular officer will scan the barcode to verify the submitted information.

Important notes on completion

Accuracy is critical: Discrepancies between the DS-160 and the consular interview can be grounds for visa refusal. Double-check all information, especially passport number, SEVIS record number, and dates.
Honesty on sensitive questions: Questions about criminal history, visa overstays, previous visa rejections, involvement in terrorist activities, or health conditions must be answered truthfully. False statements on DS-160 can result in visa fraud charges and permanent ineligibility.
Household members in U.S.: If any close relatives (spouse, parents, siblings) are already in the U.S. on a visa or are permanent residents, disclose this. The consular officer will want to verify your intent to return home after studies.
Previous visa denials: If you have previously been denied a U.S. visa, disclose the reason and any new facts that address the original concern.
Language: Although CEAC offers multilingual forms, all responses to DS-160 questions should be clear and in proper English if you use the English version.

Common errors and how to avoid them

Passport number errors: Verify your passport number character-by-character before entering. A single digit error can cause serious delays or interview complications.
Name spelling: Match your passport exactly, including middle names, hyphens, and transliteration (if applicable). Name discrepancies between DS-160 and passport can result in visa refusal.
School name mismatch: Use the exact legal name of the institution as it appears on your I-20, not a nickname or abbreviation (e.g., “University of California, Davis,” not “UC Davis”).
Date errors: Program start and end dates must match the I-20. If dates are wrong, correct them with the school and request an updated I-20 before submitting DS-160.
Photo issues: Ensure the uploaded photo is recent (within 6 months), meets size specifications, has a white/off-white background, and shows your face clearly without sunglasses or head coverings (except for religious purposes).
Incomplete financial information: Provide the name and relationship of the financial sponsor. Blank sponsor information can delay interview processing.
Expired or soon-to-expire passport: Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay. If your passport expires soon, renew it before submitting DS-160.
Confirmation page not printed: The barcode on the confirmation page is scanned at the interview. Without it, the interview may be rescheduled.

Recent changes

2024 onwards: CEAC system added enhanced security questions regarding cryptocurrency holdings and ties to sanctioned countries or entities, reflecting updated State Department counterterrorism and anti-money-laundering protocols.

Photograph upload system upgrade (2023): CEAC improved photo validation to auto-reject images with incorrect backgrounds, inadequate lighting, or facial obscuration. System now provides immediate feedback to applicants if photo is rejected, allowing same-session resubmission.

DS-160 confirmation validity: Period extended from 14 days to 30 days in 2022, allowing applicants more time to schedule interviews after form submission.

Mobile device optimization (2024): CEAC website now fully optimized for mobile browsers, allowing completion on smartphones and tablets; desktop version remains standard.

F-1 Visa: The nonimmigrant student visa for which DS-160 is the first application step
J-1 Visa: Exchange visitor visa; also requires DS-160 completion
M-1 Visa: Vocational training visa; also requires DS-160 completion
Consular appointment scheduling: DS-160 confirmation enables interview scheduling at the consulate
Visa interview: The in-person meeting at the consulate, for which DS-160 confirmation is required
Visa stamping: If visa is approved, the consular officer affixes the visa to the applicant’s passport following DS-160 and interview verification

Primary sources

Last updated: 2026-04-18.