{"id":4496,"date":"2024-11-18T12:44:50","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T12:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/ds-160\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T07:09:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T07:09:50","slug":"ds-160","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/ds-160\/","title":{"rendered":"DS-160 Form Online"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"vb2\">\n    <header>\n    <span class=\"eyebrow\">Visa Application \u00b7 Step 1<\/span>\n    <h1>Form DS-160: Fill Out Your U.S. Visa Application Online<\/h1>\n    <p class=\"lead\">The DS-160 is the mandatory online form for all applications for nonimmigrant visas to the United States (tourism, business, study, temporary work). This is the first step: without its confirmation number, you cannot pay the fee or schedule an appointment at the consulate. <\/p>\n    <p class=\"updated\">Information verified in September 2026.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"facts\">\n      <div class=\"fact\"><b>Free<\/b><span>on the State Department&#8217;s official website<\/span><\/div>\n      <div class=\"fact\"><b>60 to 90 min<\/b><span>to complete it, in English<\/span><\/div>\n      <div class=\"fact\"><b>20 min<\/b><span>of inactivity before logging out<\/span><\/div>\n      <div class=\"fact\"><b>Cannot be edited<\/b><span>once submitted<\/span><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/header>\n    <section>\n    <div class=\"box\">\n      <h2>The DS-160 form must be completed only at ceac.state.gov<\/h2>\n      <p>Access to the form is free. The only official fees are the <a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/fr\/frais-visa-b2-usa\/\">visa fees<\/a>, which are paid after submitting the form. <\/p>\n      <a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/ceac.state.gov\/genniv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Access the official DS-160<\/a>\n      <a class=\"btn ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/application-procedure-visa-b2\/\">View the entire process<\/a>\n      <small>Are you traveling for less than 90 days as a tourist with a European passport? You probably don&#8217;t need a visa or a DS-160: an <a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/esta-online-form\/\">ESTA<\/a> is usually sufficient. <\/small>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n    <nav class=\"toc\" aria-label=\"Sommaire\">\n    <strong>On this page<\/strong>\n    <ol>\n      <li><a href=\"#definition\">What is the DS-160?<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#documents\">Documents to Prepare<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#etapes\">Fill Out the DS-160 in 6 Steps<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#photo\">The passport photo<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#apres\">After submission<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#erreurs\">Mistakes to Avoid<\/a><\/li>\n      <li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n    <\/ol>\n  <\/nav>\n    <section id=\"definition\">\n    <h2>What is Form DS-160?<\/h2>\n    <p>The DS-160 (\u201cOnline Nonimmigrant Visa Application\u201d) is a detailed questionnaire about your identity, your trip, your work history, your family, and your background. The consulate uses it to prepare for your interview: the consular officer will have it in front of them and may ask you about each of your answers. A new DS-160 is required for each application, including renewals.  <\/p>\n    <div class=\"split\">\n      <div class=\"col yes\">\n        <h3>The DS-160 is required for<\/h3>\n        <ul>\n          <li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/visa-b2\/\">B2 visa<\/a> (tourism, family, medical treatment) and the <a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/us-b1-b2-visa\/\">B1\/B2 visa<\/a><\/li>\n          <li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/b1-us-visa\/\">B1 Visa<\/a> (Business Travel)<\/li>\n          <li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/transit-visa-usa\/\">C Transit Visa<\/a><\/li>\n          <li>Student and Exchange Visas (F, M, J)<\/li>\n          <li>Temporary work visas (H, L, O, etc.) and the K fianc\u00e9(e) visa<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"col non\">\n        <h3>It does not apply to<\/h3>\n        <ul>\n          <li>Travelers under <a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/esta-online-form\/\">the ESTA program<\/a> (stays of up to 90 days)<\/li>\n          <li>Immigrant Visas (Green Cards): This is Form DS-260<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n    <section id=\"documents\">\n    <h2>Documents to Prepare Before You Begin<\/h2>\n    <p>The form will log you out after 20 minutes of inactivity. Gather all the information you need before opening it so you don&#8217;t have to search for it later. <\/p>\n    <div class=\"cards3\">\n      <div class=\"card\">\n        <span class=\"num\">1<\/span>\n        <h3>Identity and Travel<\/h3>\n        <p><a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/passport-travel-to-the-usa\/\">Valid passport<\/a>, previous passports, planned travel dates, and address of your first place of stay in the United States.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"card\">\n        <span class=\"num\">2<\/span>\n        <h3>Personal Journey<\/h3>\n        <p>Employment and education (including addresses and dates), names and dates of birth of parents and spouse, and trips to the United States over the past 5 years.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"card\">\n        <span class=\"num\">3<\/span>\n        <h3>Digital<\/h3>\n        <p>A valid digital ID photo, email addresses, phone numbers, and social media usernames used over the past 5 years.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n    <section id=\"etapes\">\n    <h2>How to Fill Out the DS-160 in 6 Steps<\/h2>\n    <ol class=\"steps\">\n      <li>\n        <h3>Choose the location for the interview<\/h3>\n        <p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/ceac.state.gov\/genniv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ceac.state.gov\/genniv<\/a>, select the embassy or consulate where you will have your interview. It must be located in the country of your nationality or residence. For Belgium: Brussels. For France: Paris.   <\/p>\n      <\/li>\n      <li>\n        <h3>Write down the Application ID<\/h3>\n        <p>The site assigns an identifier (Application ID) and asks you to provide a security question. Make a note of both: without them, you won&#8217;t be able to resume a form you&#8217;ve left incomplete. A saved draft is retained for 30 days.  <\/p>\n      <\/li>\n      <li>\n        <h3>Answer the questions in English<\/h3>\n        <p>All answers must be entered in English using the Latin alphabet, without accents. Save your work regularly using the \u201cSave\u201d button. If you\u2019re unsure about a question, choose the correct answer rather than the one that seems most favorable.  <\/p>\n      <\/li>\n      <li>\n        <h3>Download the photo<\/h3>\n        <p>The form automatically checks the photo. If it is rejected, correct it before continuing (see the criteria below). <\/p>\n      <\/li>\n      <li>\n        <h3>Review and sign electronically<\/h3>\n        <p>The review page summarizes all your answers. Be sure to double-check your passport number, dates, and the spelling of names: once you&#8217;ve signed, no further corrections are possible. <\/p>\n      <\/li>\n      <li>\n        <h3>Print the confirmation page<\/h3>\n        <p>Print the page with the barcode and confirmation number (beginning with &#8220;AA&#8221;). This is the only DS-160 document you need to bring to<a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/visa-appointment-us-embassy\/\">your interview at the embassy<\/a>. <\/p>\n      <\/li>\n    <\/ol>\n  <\/section>\n    <section id=\"photo\">\n    <h2>The passport photo for the DS-160<\/h2>\n    <p>A rejected photo is one of the most common reasons for being blocked. It must meet the following criteria: <\/p>\n    <table class=\"tbl\">\n      <thead><tr><th>Criterion<\/th><th>Requirement<\/th><th>Accuracy<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n      <tbody>\n        <tr><td>Format<\/td><td>Square JPEG<\/td><td>Between 600 \u00d7 600 and 1200 \u00d7 1200 pixels<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Weight<\/td><td>240 KB max.<\/td><td>Reduce compression if the file is too large<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Length of Service<\/td><td>6 months max.<\/td><td>Current appearance (beard, haircut)<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Background<\/td><td>White or off-white<\/td><td>Solid, without shading or patterns<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Glasses<\/td><td>Prohibited<\/td><td>Unless required for medical reasons and supported by a doctor&#8217;s note<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><td>Face<\/td><td>Front view, neutral expression<\/td><td>Eyes open, no head covering (unless for religious reasons)<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n    <\/table>\n    <p class=\"note\">Official reference: <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/us-visas\/visa-information-resources\/photos.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Department of State photo requirements<\/a>, with an online cropping tool.<\/p>\n  <\/section>\n    <section id=\"apres\">\n    <h2>What should I do after submitting the DS-160?<\/h2>\n    <p>The DS-160 form doesn&#8217;t trigger anything on its own: you are the one who continues the process, in this order.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"links\">\n      <a class=\"lk\" href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/fr\/frais-visa-b2-usa\/\"><span>1. Pay the<small>visa<\/small> fee of<small>$185 for a B1\/B2 visa<\/small><\/span><\/a>\n      <a class=\"lk\" href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/visa-appointment-us-embassy\/\"><span>2. Schedule an appointment<small>using the confirmation number<\/small><\/span><\/a>\n      <a class=\"lk\" href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/us-embassy\/\"><span>3. Attend<small>the interview at the embassy or consulate of your choice<\/small><\/span><\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"soft mt\">\n      <h3>What to Bring on the Day of the Interview<\/h3>\n      <p class=\"m0\">Passport, DS-160 confirmation page, fee payment receipt, appointment notice, and documentation supporting your circumstances (employment, financial resources, ties to your home country). Details on the process can be found on our <a href=\"https:\/\/usa-b2.com\/en\/application-procedure-visa-b2\/\">visa application procedure<\/a> page. <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n    <section id=\"erreurs\">\n    <h2>Mistakes to Avoid on the DS-160<\/h2>\n    <div class=\"split\">\n      <div class=\"col non\">\n        <h3>What a refusal might cost<\/h3>\n        <ul>\n          <li>Omitting a previous visa or ESTA denial<\/li>\n          <li>Hiding an overstay or an arrest, even one that happened a long time ago<\/li>\n          <li>Stating a reason for travel that does not reflect the actual circumstances<\/li>\n          <li>Forgetting Social Media Accounts<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"col yes\">\n        <h3>Good Habits<\/h3>\n        <ul>\n          <li>Provide the same answers in the interview and on the form<\/li>\n          <li>Record every 10 minutes<\/li>\n          <li>Fill out the form on a computer, not a phone<\/li>\n          <li>Save a PDF copy of all the answers<\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <p>A false statement can result in a permanent visa ban. An honest admission of a negative outcome (such as a previous refusal) is almost always less serious than an omission discovered by the consulate. <\/p>\n  <\/section>\n    <section id=\"faq\">\n    <h2>Frequently Asked Questions About the DS-160<\/h2>\n    <details>\n      <summary>Can you make changes to the DS-160 after submitting it?<\/summary>\n      <div><p>No. If you make a mistake, you must fill out a new DS-160, which will generate a new confirmation number. Notify the appointment center so they can update your file, and bring the new confirmation page to your interview.  <\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n    <details>\n      <summary>How long does it take to fill out the DS-160?<\/summary>\n      <div><p>Allow 60 to 90 minutes if all your documents are ready. You can save your progress and resume later using the ID App: a draft is saved for 30 days. <\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n    <details>\n      <summary>Is there a fee for the DS-160?<\/summary>\n      <div><p>No, the form is free at ceac.state.gov. The visa fee ($185 for a B1\/B2 visa) is paid separately after submission. Any website that charges for the DS-160 itself is not official.  <\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n    <details>\n      <summary>Does each person in a family need their own DS-160 form?<\/summary>\n      <div><p>Yes, every traveler, including children, must have their own DS-160. After submitting the first form, the website allows you to create a form for a family member by reusing the shared information (address, travel details). <\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n    <details>\n      <summary>Does filling out the DS-160 guarantee that you will receive a visa?<\/summary>\n      <div><p>No. The DS-160 is only the first step. The decision is made by the consular officer after the interview.  <\/p><\/div>\n    <\/details>\n  <\/section>\n    <aside class=\"disc\">\n  usa-b2.com is an independent news site with no affiliation with the U.S. government. We do not fill out the DS-160 for you, nor do we charge for any services. The official form is available only at <a href=\"https:\/\/ceac.state.gov\/genniv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ceac.state.gov<\/a>.  \n  <\/aside>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Visa Application \u00b7 Step 1 Form DS-160: Fill Out Your U.S. Visa Application Online The DS-160 is the mandatory online form for all applications for nonimmigrant visas to the United States (tourism, business, study, temporary work). This is the first step: without its confirmation number, you cannot pay the fee or schedule an appointment at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4496","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>DS-160 Form Online - USA B2<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Form DS-160: Documents to Prepare, Photo, Steps, and Mistakes to Avoid. 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