What is the DS-160 and who has to complete it?
The DS-160 is the electronic application for US nonimmigrant visas: B1/B2 business and tourist visas, student and exchange visas and temporary work visas. According to the State Department, applicants submit it over an encrypted internet connection and then print a confirmation page with a barcode. The consular officer uses that barcode to pull up your form and relies on your answers to decide whether you qualify for the visa.
The Department’s official estimate is that the form takes an average of 90 minutes. Having your documents ready before you start makes it quicker; starting with gaps makes it slower.
What should you prepare before starting the DS-160?
- Your valid passport, plus any old passports containing previous US visas.
- Your travel plan: expected arrival date, length of stay and your address in the US.
- Work or school details: the name, address and phone number of your employer or school, and your role.
- Dates of previous trips to the US and, if you were ever refused a visa, when.
- Names and dates of birth of your parents and, if married, your spouse.
- The platforms and usernames of the social media accounts you have used in recent years.
- A recent digital photo that meets the photo requirements.
How do you fill out the DS-160 step by step?
- Open the CEAC website and select the post where you will be interviewed: in Turkey, the Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate General in Istanbul.
- Start a new application, write down the Application ID shown on screen and choose a security question.
- Personal information: enter your name as in your passport, any other names you have used (such as a maiden name), marital status, date and place of birth, nationality and Turkish ID number.
- Address and contact details: add your home address, phone numbers, email address and social media accounts.
- Passport: give the passport number, issue and expiry dates, and any passport you have lost or had stolen.
- Travel: choose the purpose of travel (B for business and tourism), your planned dates, your US address and who is paying; then add anyone travelling with you.
- Previous US travel: list earlier visits, previous visas and any refusals in full.
- US point of contact: if you do not know anyone, give the hotel where you will stay or the organisation you will visit.
- Family, work and education: complete your family details, current and previous jobs, education, languages and countries visited in recent years.
- Security and background: read each yes/no question carefully and answer truthfully.
- Upload your photo, review every answer, then sign electronically and submit.
- Save the barcoded confirmation page as a PDF and print it.
Answers must be in English. If the form does not accept Turkish characters, type your name as it appears in the machine-readable lines at the bottom of your passport’s photo page (c for ç, s for ş and so on).
What are the DS-160 photo rules?
Under the regulations you upload a digital photo as part of the online application, and it must meet the State Department’s specifications. The photo counts as signed when you sign the form; if a post ever needs a paper photo, it will tell you.
- Taken within the last 6 months.
- No glasses, facing the camera, with a neutral expression.
- A plain, light background with no shadows, filters or retouching.
How do you return to an unfinished DS-160?
You do not have to finish in one sitting, but the session ends after a period of inactivity, so save after every section. To return, use the option to retrieve an application on the CEAC home page and enter your Application ID and security answer. If you lose these details you may have to start again.
What are the most common DS-160 mistakes?
- Inconsistent dates: previous travel or job start dates that do not match your documents.
- Missing history: leaving out earlier visa applications or refusals.
- Unsuitable photo: glasses, shadows, an old photo or low resolution.
- Wrong location: choosing a post other than the one where you will interview.
- Template answers: describing your trip or job in stock phrases that do not reflect your situation.
The consular officer works from the information in your DS-160. Accurate, complete answers that match your documents are the basis of a smooth interview.
How do you complete the DS-160 for children and family members?
Each person who needs a visa, babies included, needs their own DS-160 and gets their own confirmation page. A parent can complete a child’s form; in the work section you show that the child is a student or not employed. List the relatives you are travelling with in the travel companions section, and make sure shared details such as dates and addresses are identical on every form.
What happens after you submit the DS-160?
With the confirmation page you pay the application fee (185 USD) in the official appointment system and book your interview using your confirmation number. If your visa is issued, a 250 USD visa integrity fee per person is also due; see our visa integrity fee guide.
Use the calculator below to see the total for your group:
Should you get professional help with the DS-160?
The form is designed to be completed by applicants themselves, but inconsistent dates, missing disclosures and the wrong location can cause problems at the interview. Preparing and checking the DS-160 is included in all of our US visa packages, Standard, Premium and Elite; Premium and Elite add a mock interview with a licensed US visa attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee for the DS-160?
No. The form is free and is completed only on the official CEAC website. What you pay is the 185 USD application fee, after the form is submitted.
How long does the DS-160 take?
The State Department’s official estimate is 90 minutes on average. It can be quicker if you gather your information first.
I found a mistake in a submitted DS-160. What should I do?
A submitted form cannot be corrected. Complete and submit a new DS-160 and update your appointment with the new confirmation number.
Can I fill out the DS-160 in Turkish?
No. Answers must be in English. Type your name and address in Latin letters, spelled as in your passport.
I am applying with my family. Is one form enough?
No. Each person who needs a visa, children included, needs a separate DS-160, and an application fee is paid for each person.
Can someone else fill out the form for me?
A relative or adviser can help you complete it, but you remain responsible for the answers and you sign and submit the form yourself.
Sources
- Federal Register 2022-18324 — 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160), full text — accessed:
- Federal Register 2023-04405 — Visas: Procedures for Issuing Visas (digital photographs, 22 CFR 41.105), full text — accessed:
- Federal Register 2026-11513 — Schedule of Fees for Consular Services: Visa and Citizenship Services Fee Changes (9 June 2026), full text — accessed:
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Lincoln Visa Group is not an official authority; the visa decision rests solely with the competent authority of the country concerned.
