Key points
- The DS 160 is the online application for every US nonimmigrant visa, including B1/B2, F1, J1 and H1B. Fill it in only on ceac.state.gov; it is free.
- Write down your application ID and security answer. The form times out after 20 minutes without activity, and an unfinished form is kept for 30 days.
- Answer in English, honestly and the same way you will answer at the interview. List every social media name you used in the last 5 years.
- After you submit, print or save the confirmation page with the barcode. The barcode number must match the one you use to book your appointment.
- The form itself costs nothing. The USD 185 visa fee is paid separately when you book the interview. Sroky does not file US visas.
Contents
What is the DS 160?
The DS 160 is the US online nonimmigrant visa application. Every applicant, including children, needs their own form. The consular officer reads it before your interview, so it is the base of your whole case.
The only official place to fill it in is the Consular Electronic Application Center on ceac.state.gov. There is no fee for the form. Sites that charge you to "submit the DS 160" are private companies. If you are not sure which visa you need, read US visa types explained first.
What to have ready before you start
- Your passport, valid for at least 6 months after your stay, and any old passports with US visas.
- Your travel plan: dates, the address where you will stay, and who pays.
- Your address and phone history, email addresses and social media names from the last 5 years.
- Your work and education history, with employer names, addresses and dates.
- Details of past US visits, visas and any refusals.
- Names and birth dates of parents and spouse.
- For students and exchange visitors: the SEVIS ID from your I 20 or DS 2019. For work visas: the petition receipt number.
- A recent digital photo that meets the State Department rules.
How to fill in the DS 160, step by step
- 1
Open the official site and pick your embassy
Go to ceac.state.gov, choose the US embassy where you will be interviewed, for example Baku, and start a new application.
- 2
Save your application ID
The system gives you an ID such as AA00XXXXXX after you choose a security question. Write both down. You need them to return to the form.
- 3
Fill in the personal pages
Name exactly as in the passport, birth details, nationality, address, phone, email and social media. Use English letters only.
- 4
Travel, companions and past travel
Give your purpose, planned dates, US address, who pays and anyone travelling with you. Answer the questions on past US travel and refusals honestly.
- 5
Family, work and education
Add parents, spouse, current job and past jobs, and schools. For a student or work visa, add the SEVIS ID or petition number.
- 6
Security questions
Read each yes or no question carefully. A false answer can cause a permanent ban; a true yes answer can often be explained.
- 7
Upload the photo
Upload a colour photo taken in the last 6 months, plain white background, no glasses. If the tool rejects it, bring a printed photo to the interview.
- 8
Review, sign and submit
Check every page, type your passport number to sign electronically and submit. After that you cannot change the form.
- 9
Save the confirmation page
Print or save the page with the barcode. You need its number to book the interview and you bring it to the embassy.
Saving, timeouts and retrieving your form
| Situation | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 20 minutes without activity | The session ends and unsaved data is lost | Press Save on each page |
| You stop halfway | A started form is kept for 30 days | Return with the application ID and security answer |
| You need more than 30 days | The online copy expires | Save the file to your computer and upload it later |
| You submitted with a mistake | The submitted form is locked | Start a new DS 160 and use the new barcode for the appointment |
| Your appointment uses an old barcode | The embassy may not accept the form | Update the barcode in your appointment account before the interview |
Common DS 160 mistakes
- Choosing the wrong embassy. Pick the one where you will really attend the interview.
- Names that do not match the passport, or a missing second surname.
- Leaving out a past refusal or overstay. The officer can see them; hiding them is worse than the refusal.
- Missing social media accounts. Since 2025 F, M, J and H1B applicants are also asked to set profiles to public.
- A photo with glasses, shadows or a coloured background.
- Different answers on the form and at the interview, for example about who pays for the trip.
- Paying a website for the form. The DS 160 is free.
After you submit: fee and interview
With your barcode number you create an account on the official scheduling site linked from the US embassy page, pay the visa fee (USD 185 for B1/B2, F and J visas) and book the interview. People who live legally in Azerbaijan, including foreigners on a residence permit, can usually book in Baku; the State Department asks applicants to use their country of nationality or residence.
Some people renewing a B1/B2 within 12 months of its expiry can skip the interview, under the rules in force since 1 October 2025. Azerbaijanis can follow our US visa from Baku guide for the interview itself, and anyone refused should read visa refusal reasons.
Sroky does not file US visas. If you want help, use a person you trust, but sign the form only after you read every answer yourself: you are responsible for it.
All of this in your pocket
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Frequently asked questions
Is the DS 160 free?
Yes. The form on ceac.state.gov costs nothing. You pay the visa fee separately when you book the interview.
How long does the DS 160 take?
Usually 60 to 90 minutes if your papers are ready. Save often, because the session ends after 20 minutes without activity.
Can I edit the DS 160 after submitting?
No. Fill in a new form, which is quick if you start from the old one, and make sure your appointment uses the new barcode.
I lost my application ID. What now?
Without the ID and security answer you cannot reopen an unfinished form. Start a new DS 160. For a submitted form, the confirmation email shows the ID.
Can someone else fill in my DS 160?
Yes, a helper can type it, and the form asks whether someone helped you. You still sign it and you are responsible for every answer.
Which photo does the DS 160 need?
A colour photo from the last 6 months, on a plain white background, without glasses, showing the full face. The upload tool checks it.
Official sources
- US State Department: DS 160 online application
- US State Department: DS 160 frequently asked questions
- Consular Electronic Application Center
- US State Department: photo requirements
- US State Department: interview waiver update
- US Embassy in Azerbaijan: visas
Sroky is a private company and is not part of any government. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change: the official source always applies. Disclaimer