DS 160 Form for US Visa From India: Sample, Fees & Validity

The DS 160 form is an online nonimmigrant visa application for foreign candidates seeking temporary travel to the United States for studies, business, or travel. For international students, the first step to obtain a US student visa is to fill out a DS-160 application form. It takes approximately 90 minutes to complete DS 160, the official student visa application form for international students. On submission of the DS 160 form for F-1 visas, students can proceed with the scheduling of F1 student visa interview.

This Story also Contains

1. What is DS 160 Full Form?
2. What is the DS 160 Form?
3. Who can Apply for the DS 160 Form?
4. How to Fill DS 160 Form?
5. Documents Required for DS 160 Form
6. DS 160 Form Fees
7. DS-160 Application Form Processing Time
8. Do's and Don'ts Before Filing the DS-160 Application Form
9. System Recommendations for Optimal Performance
10. Pre-Application Preparation for DS-160 Form
11. DS 160 Form Application Timeline
12. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them?
13. Tips for filling the DS 160 form successfully

The DS-160 form processing fee is USD 185 for international students. This fee is separate from the SEVIS fee of USD 350 paid for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. In this article, we have covered the necessary aspects to know how to fill a DS-160 for an F-1 visa, the relevant cost of DS-160 form submission for international students and the documents required. Give these DS-160 F-1 visa details a further read to understand everything you need to know before filling out the DS-160 visa application.

What is DS 160 Full Form?

DS-160 full form is 'DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application'. It is an online form that applicants need to submit to the US Department of State while applying for a nonimmigrant visa. Anyone who is applying for a nonimmigrant visa for US whether F-1 or J-1 needs to apply for DS 160 form. Apart from this, those applying for K (fiancé(e)) visas also need to submit the DS-160 form. The US Department of State has developed this online application to simplify the application process for applicants.

What is the DS 160 Form?

The DS-160 application form is an online nonimmigrant form for student candidates looking to obtain an F, J or M visa in the USA. Submission of the filled out DS160 form is the first step of the US student visa process. It is crucial to accurately fill out DS-160 for temporary visas in USA as it validates your identity, personal information, professional and educational background, as well as your ability to manage your funds in the country. Without completing DS 160 form, students are not offered the US visa. Also, students must remember the application number on DS 160 online nonimmigrant visa form and prints the form's confirmation page while attending the visa interview.

What is the full meaning of DS-160?

Individuals who are applying for a nonimmigrant visa need to submit the nonimmigrant visa application form known as the DS-160 nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, online. The US Department of State has developed this online application to streamline the application process for applicants.

Who can Apply for the DS 160 Form?

The majority of DS 160 forms are filled out by nonimmigrants who want to work and study in the US. Hence, we have provided below a detailed overview of the different types of visas that have to be filled out in the DS 160 form.

• Applicants who are planning to stay in the USA for travel, educational, and business purposes should submit this after the DS 160 form login.

• People seeking a temporary visa for training, internship, and other work-related purposes in the US can opt for the DS 160 form.

• The visitor visa holders such as B-1, and B-2 have to fill out the D 160 form to get a US visa for travelling, or business.

• Other visas like K (immediate family members of US citizens), F-1 (higher education), J-1 (cultural programmes), and much more have to submit form D 160 to acquire a US visa.

How to Fill DS 160 Form?

The process of filling DS 160 form is easy and only takes approximately 90 minutes to submit. It is the first step a candidate takes in acquiring a nonimmigrant visa to USA and hence, should understand the application process thoroughly as mentioned below:

• Login into CEAC (Consular Electronic Application Centre) as it provides the DS 160 form which is issued by the Department of State.

• Initiate the new application option and an application ID will be reflected that needs to be noted down as it is quite important in the further procedure of submitting the DS 160 form.

• One needs to select a security question and fill in all the personal information that is mentioned in sections 1 and 2 of the form.

• More information such as travel, past visas, living arrangements, and future itineraries needs to be provided to proceed with the filling of the DS 160 application.

• Personal credentials related to a permanent address, phone number, etc are also necessary for further processing.

• Then comes the passport section in the DS 160 form which also provides the point of contact for identity validation to the embassy.

• Add current or past work experiences and educational background thoroughly while also providing information related to the immediate family.

• In the next section of the DS 160 form, some confidential questions are asked that act as a background verification factor for applicants.

• Furthermore, the option to choose a specific visa type is granted to applicants like F visa, J visa, B1 visa, M visa, and much more.

• The final step of filling up the DS 160 form includes uploading a clear and professional photograph for facial recognition and verification.

• At last one needs to submit the DS 160 form with a digital signature and will receive a confirmation page that needs to be screenshotted for future use and needs to be showcased during the visa interview. This page also includes the DS 160 form status that is either provided or not.

Documents Required for DS 160 Form

To make it easier for applicants planning to pursue their higher education, work, or travel in the USA, we have created a checklist for the documents required for filling out the DS 160 form below. Having access to these documents will ensure the submission of your DS 160 form to the visa embassy without any hassle.

• Passport

• Travel Itinerary

• Travel history of last five visits to the US

• Resume

• DS 160 form fee payment India Receipt

• Statement of Purpose

• Sevis ID (In case of students and exchange visitors)

DS 160 Form Fees

The DS 160 form fee is around USD 185, which is non-refundable and necessary to submit while applying. Moreover, a DS 160 form fee payment India can be made to the Embassy through a demand draft associated with a foreign bank or even a visa and master card.

It is only after an applicant has uploaded all the required documents and filled in personal details that the last step of submission of the DS 160 form requires payment of USD 185. However, petition-based visas like H, L, P, Q, and R have to pay USD 205.

DS-160 Application Form Processing Time

After the submission of the DS-160 form online as a part of completing the student visa process on the official website of the US, students will see the confirmation page with the barcode. They are required to print out that DS-160 confirmation page. It is crucial for student applicants to take this printed barcode and confirmation page with them while visiting for the US visa application interview appointment.

Hence, there is no such processing time for DS-160 application form. Candidates are instantly offered the confirmation page on the successful submission of DS-160 form. The actual US student visa processing time is the period after your interview and the US administrative review as per the nearby US embassy or consulate.

Do's and Don'ts Before Filing the DS-160 Application Form

Check the following pointers before you fill up the DS-application form.

• You should only access the DS-160 form on chrome or firefox.
• Don't use Microsoft Edge or Safari to fill the application.
• The photograph used on the form must be clear and align with the specifications given.
• Keep a check on which questions are optional and mandatory.
• Once you submit the DS-160 form, you don't need to pay any fee.
• Once the form is submitted, take a printout of the confirmation page.
• Answer all the questions and fill up the details in English.

System Recommendations for Optimal Performance

Following are some of the system recommendations to follow for ensuring an optimal performance:

• Having a stable internet connection
• Not allowing pop-up blockers
• Clearing the browser cache
• Taking adequate time to fill up the DS-160 form
• Using a computer rather than mobile devices for better compatibility

Pre-Application Preparation for DS-160 Form

Gather essential documents before applying for DS-160 form. These include:

• Valid passport (must be valid for at least six months beyond intended stay)
• Previous passports, if applicable
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if married)
• Divorce decree (if divorced)
• Current employer's name, address, and contact information
• Job title and description
• Start date of current employment
• Monthly salary information
• Previous employment history (last five employers)
• Schools attended (high school and beyond)
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees or certificates obtained
• Fields of study
• Spouse's personal details (if married)
• Parents' names, birth dates, and birthplaces
• Information about any relatives in the United States

DS 160 Form Application Timeline

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them?

These are the mistakes that applicants mostly make while filling the DS 160 form. Here's how to avoid them.

• Information accuracy errors: Make sure your passport matches the information you enter in your form. Verify all dates and other data and double-check the contact details.
• Technical issues: Save the data entered frequently and be prepared to re-enter information if disconnected. Always use a recommended browser and ensure your photo meets all technical specifications before you upload it.
• Content-related mistakes: Fill all the mandatory fields, be honest, and be accurate of the content you enter.

Tips for filling the DS 160 form successfully

• Be honest and accurate while filling up the form
• Keep saving whatever you enter in the form so that you do not lose it
• Do not rush and take your time in filling up the form
• Keep print outs handy, in case you require them later
• If you are unsure about any of the section, consulting a professional is recommended