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Official form or feeF-1 · J-1DS-160 & visa interviewDS-160

Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application)

The DS-160 is the online application every F-1 and J-1 visa applicant completes and signs electronically on the State Department's CEAC website before the visa interview. For a student under 16, a parent or guardian may fill it in. You bring the DS-160 confirmation page to the interview.
Who issues / uses itCompleted by the student (or, for an applicant under 16, a parent or guardian) and submitted to the U.S. Department of State. Reviewed by the consular officer.
When in the processAfter you have the I-20 or DS-2019 (you need the SEVIS ID and school address) and usually after paying the SEVIS fee — before booking and attending the visa interview.
CostThere is no separate charge for the DS-160 form; the visa application (MRV) fee is paid separately.
Last checked2026-10-10

Official page ↗

Steps

  1. Open the official CEAC site (ceac.state.gov) and choose the embassy or consulate where you will apply.
  2. Write down the Application ID so you can come back to a saved application.
  3. Enter your passport details, travel plans, family, education and the SEVIS ID and school address from the I-20 or DS-2019.
  4. Upload a photo that meets U.S. visa photo requirements.
  5. Check every answer, sign electronically and submit.
  6. Print or save the confirmation page with the barcode and bring it to the interview.

Key points

  • Federal rules require every nonimmigrant visa applicant to file an electronic DS-160 and sign it by clicking "Sign Application".
  • An applicant under 16 may have the form completed by a parent or guardian.
  • At the interview your fingerprints are scanned; with them you confirm that your answers are true.

What to bring to the interview

Study in the States lists: the original signed I-20 (F-1) — or the DS-2019 (J-1) — your passport, the DS-160 confirmation page, the visa fee receipt if your embassy asks for payment beforehand, and a photo that meets the visa photo rules. Officers may also ask for school transcripts, test scores and proof of funds. Each embassy has its own local instructions.

Common mistakes

Questions

Can my agent fill in the DS-160 for me?

Someone may help you type it, but the answers are yours and you certify they are true. For applicants under 16, a parent or guardian may complete it.

Is there a paper version?

The rule requires the electronic DS-160; the older DS-156 is used only when a consular officer directs it.

Official sources

Information, not legal advice. We summarize public U.S. government sources in our own words; rules and fees change. Confirm with the school’s DSO (F-1), your sponsor’s Responsible Officer (J-1) or the U.S. embassy or consulate before you act.

Related documents

Related news & guides

Boarding schools — Schools that can issue an I-20 (F-1) → · Browse boarding schools → · All documents →

Cite as: USAnaru™ — https://usanaru.com/documents/ds-160-visa-application

USAnaru™ — Your crossing to the right U.S. school.
Reading time:
Views: 0
Others: 1
Read by AI & crawlers
Others1

Named by what the crawler says it is; look-alikes we detect are counted under Others. Google · Gemini includes Googlebot, Google’s search crawler, whose index Google also uses for its AI features; other search engines and bots are in Others.