Last updated: November 9, 2025.
If you’re planning to visit the United States on a temporary basis, whether for tourism, business, study, or a different purpose, one of the crucial steps in your visa application process will be completing Form DS-160, the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Form DS-160, from how to complete it to important requirements, deadlines, and more.
What is Form DS-160?
Form DS-160 is a mandatory online application used by the U.S. Department of State for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa to the United States.
A nonimmigrant visa is issued to individuals who plan to enter the U.S. temporarily for purposes (for example, K-1, K-2, or K-3 visa in the fiancé category, H-1B, L-1, L-2, or O-1 visa in the work category, B-1 or B-2 in the visitor category, and F-1 in the student category).
The DS-160 form collects personal information that will be used by U.S. consular officers to evaluate the applicant’s eligibility for a visa.
The form is filled out electronically and must be submitted online.
After submission, applicants will receive a confirmation page that must be printed and presented at their visa interview.
DS-160 Form Link
To begin your DS-160 application, you’ll need to visit the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website.
This is where you will fill out the form and submit it online. You can access the form here:
Once you’re on the site, use the dropdown menu to select the most convenient embassy or consulate location where you’ll be applying for a visa and enter the CAPTCHA code as shown on the screen.
Then, click on the “START AN APPLICATION” button.
Form DS-160 Fee
While there is no fee specifically for submitting the DS-160 form itself, you will still need to pay a nonimmigrant visa application processing or Machine Readable Visa (MSV) fee.
According to the Department of State (DOS) website, the visa application fee varies based on the type of visa you are applying for and can range between $185-$315.
Here’s the current breakdown of fees by category:
Non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa (except E): $185
- B – Visitor Visa: Business, Tourism, Medical Treatment
- C-1 – Transiting the United States
- D – Crewmembers: Airline, Ship
- F – Student, Academic
- J – Exchange Visitors
- M – Students, Vocational
Petition-based visa categories: $205
- H – Temporary Workers/Employment or Trainees
- L – Intracompany Transferees
- O – Persons with Extraordinary Ability
- P – Athletes, Artists, & Entertainers
- Q – International Cultural Exchange
- R – Religious Worker
E-1, E-2 – Treaty Trader/Investor, E-3 Australian Professional Specialty category visa: $315
K – Fiancé or Spouse of U.S. citizen category visa: $265
To pay your MSV fee:
- Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate: After submitting your DS-160 form online, you will be instructed to pay the visa application fee to the Embassy’s cashier on the day of your visa interview.
- Payment methods: Payment methods accepted will be specified on the embassy or consulate website. Typically, you may pay in cash or by certain credit cards, and other credit cards, debit cards, checks, or money orders are generally not accepted.
- Receipt: Once the payment is made, you will receive a receipt. This receipt is a key document for your visa interview, so make sure to keep it safe.
Note that the payment of the visa application fee does not guarantee visa approval. The fee is non-refundable, even if your visa application is denied.
Form DS-160 Photo Requirements
The photo for Form DS-160 must meet the DOS photo requirements for a U.S. visa.
All photos must adhere to the following specifications:
- In color
- Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image’s total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.
- Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance
- Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
- Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
- With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
- Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
- Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
- Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
- Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
- Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons; e.g., the applicant has recently had ocular surgery and the eyeglasses are necessary to protect the applicant’s eyes. A medical statement signed by a medical professional/health practitioner must be provided in these cases. If the eyeglasses are accepted for medical reasons:
- The frames of the eyeglasses must not cover the eye(s).
- There must not be glare on eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).
- There must not be shadows or refraction from the eyeglasses that obscures the eye(s).
- If you normally wear a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.
It can be beneficial to reference examples of visa photos if you’re unsure whether your photo meets the requirements or not.
Form DS-160 Expiration Date
If you do not complete Form DS-160 in a single sitting, you are welcome to save your progress and come back to it.
However, keep in mind that once you begin filling out the DS-160 form, you have a limited time to complete and submit it.
Your Form DS-160 progress remains valid for 30 days after it has been started. If you do not complete it within this timeframe, you will need to restart.
Form DS-160 Checklist
While you are not required to submit any supporting documents along with Form DS-160, it can be helpful to have these readily available for your reference when you’re completing it:
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- Passport: You’ll need a current valid passport to enter your passport number, issue date, expiration date, and other relevant details.
- Travel plans: Be prepared to provide details about your planned travel, including the intended date of arrival and departure from the U.S. (if known).
- Dates of your last five visits to the U.S. (if applicable): This could include the dates, locations, and visa types of previous visits.
- Resume or CV: If you’re applying for a work or study visa, details of your education, work experience, and any U.S. contacts or employers may be required.
- Travel itinerary: For tourists, provide details about your travel dates, destination, and purpose of the trip.
- Family information: Be prepared to provide details about your immediate family, including names, dates of birth, and immigration status.
- Proof of strong ties to your home country: This could be a house deed, employment verification, financial documents, etc.
- Other documents: If you are applying for a visa related to study, work, or a specific event, you may need to submit additional supporting documents.
Always review your information and documents in advance to ensure they are up-to-date. This will help avoid any delays in the nonimmigrant visa application process.
Are All Questions on Form DS-160 Mandatory?
The DS-160 form is designed to collect essential information to determine your eligibility for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa, and most questions are mandatory.
It’s important to answer all mandatory questions accurately.
The system will not allow you to submit an application with incomplete mandatory questions.
If a question is marked with “optional”, then you may leave it blank.
If a question does not apply to you, answer with “Does Not Apply”.
Need Help?
Book a free consultation with our experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney who is happy to examine your immigration case and/or provide personalized assistance with Form DS-160.