The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa application form for the United States. Every Indian applying for a US B1/B2 tourist visa must complete it online. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough.
What is the DS-160?
DS-160 is the US Department of State’s online visa application form. It replaces paper forms and must be completed at ceac.state.gov before you can schedule a visa interview. It takes 60–90 minutes to complete carefully.
Before You Start: What You’ll Need
- Indian passport (current + old passports for visa history)
- US point of contact or hotel address in the US
- Your employment history (last 5 years)
- Education history
- Travel history (countries visited in last 5 years)
- Digital photograph (5cm x 5cm, white background, taken within 6 months)
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Step-by-Step DS-160 Completion Guide
- Go to ceac.state.gov → Click “Start an Application” → Select India as your country
- Note your Application ID — save it immediately. If your session times out, this ID lets you resume.
- Fill Personal Information: Name exactly as in passport, date of birth, gender, marital status
- Travel Information: Purpose of trip (B-2 Tourism), intended arrival date, US address, point of contact in USA
- Travel Companions: List any family members travelling with you
- Previous US Travel: List any prior US visas or visits
- Address and Phone Information: Current Indian address and phone number
- Passport Information: Passport number, issue date, expiry date, issuing authority
- US Contact: Hotel name and address where you’ll stay (or a US-based contact person)
- Family Information: Parents’ names, nationalities, whether they’re US citizens
- Work/Education: Current and past employers, education history
- Security Questions: Answer truthfully — all “no” for most applicants
- Upload Photo: Upload your digital photo following CEAC’s photo requirements
- Review and Submit: Review every section carefully before submitting
- Print Confirmation Page: Print the DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode — you’ll need it at the interview
Common DS-160 Mistakes Indians Make
- Name not matching passport exactly (middle names, initials)
- Missing prior travel countries
- Incorrect passport number or dates
- Photo not meeting the 5cm x 5cm white background requirements
- Not saving the Application ID — leading to lost progress
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