The DS-160 asks many detailed questions, and some pages time out if you stop for too long. Collecting everything before you start saves hours and prevents mistakes.
Your checklist
| What | Why the form needs it |
|---|---|
| Passport | Number, issue and expiry dates, place of issue. It should usually be valid at least six months after you arrive in the US |
| Travel plans | Expected arrival date, length of stay, address where you will stay (flights do not need to be booked) |
| Person or organisation in the US | Name, address and phone of someone you will visit, or the hotel, school, company or event |
| Previous US travel | Dates and length of your last five visits, previous visas, any refusals |
| Addresses and phones | Home address, phone numbers and email addresses used recently |
| Social media | Platforms and usernames you used in the last five years |
| Family | Parents' names and dates of birth, spouse details, relatives in the US |
| Work and education | Current employer or school, address, start date, monthly income, duties; previous two employers; education after primary school |
| Travel history | Countries you visited in the last five years |
| Photo | A recent digital photo that meets the rules (next lesson) |
| Students and exchange visitors | SEVIS ID and school details from your I-20 or DS-2019 |
| Petition-based workers | Petition receipt number (13 characters, starting with three letters) from your employer's petition |
Names exactly as in your passport
Write your surname and given names exactly as printed in your passport, including spelling and order. If your passport shows only one name, the form treats it as your surname and you enter "FNU" (first name unknown) for the given name.
Social media: list everything
The form asks which social media platforms you used in the last five years and your username (handle) on each. You never give passwords. List every account honestly, including old or inactive ones: leaving one out can be treated as a false answer. Since 2025, applicants for student and exchange visas (F, M, J), and later some work visas, have been told to make their social media profiles public for review.
Consistency is everything
The officer compares your DS-160 with your passport, your documents and what you say at the interview.
If your job title, income or travel dates differ between them, the officer may doubt your whole application, even when the difference is an innocent mistake. Use your collected document so every answer matches.
Things you might not know yet
- No travel plans yet? You can answer "No" to "specific travel plans" and give your expected arrival date and length of stay instead.
- Do not know an exact date? Give your best estimate where the form allows it; never invent details you could easily check.
- A question does not apply to you? Tick "Does Not Apply". Most questions are mandatory and cannot be left blank.
Practice task (40 min)
- Create one document on your computer called "My DS-160 answers".
- Fill in every item from the lesson's checklist: passport, travel plans, US contact, previous travel, addresses, phones, emails, social media, family, work, education and countries visited.
- Mark anything you still need to ask a family member or find in old papers.
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