DS-160 US Visa Application in 2026: How to Fill It Out Step by Step Without Mistakes
The DS-160 is the online form for any US nonimmigrant visa: B1/B2 tourist, student, work. Below are all sections in order, what to enter and where Ukrainians most often go wrong. As of 10/25/2026.
⚡ In short
- It is free and filed only at ceac.state.gov, in English, in Latin letters.
- First write down your Application ID and security answer: without them you cannot reopen an unfinished form.
- The session times out after ~20 minutes of inactivity: click Save after every page.
- The interview location in the form must match where you book. For Ukrainian citizens this is usually Warsaw or Kraków.
- After Submit you cannot edit it, only file a new one. Your answers must match what you tell the consul.
🎬 How to fill out the DS-160 for a B1/B2 visa: video
⚠️ Recorded July 10, 2025. Fees, dates and rules may have changed since then: the current figures are in the text of this page (updated 26 Oct 2026).
⏱ In this video (timestamps) (10)
- 0:00Intro: how to fill out the DS-160
- 0:38Opening the site and saving your application ID
- 2:21Personal details and citizenship
- 5:38Trip purpose, itinerary and U.S. address
- 8:40Previous U.S. travel and visa refusals
- 11:08Contacts, social media and passport
- 14:46U.S. contact and family details
- 18:26Work, income and education
- 24:19Languages, travel history, organizations, security
- 28:59Photo, review and submission
📝 Video summary
- How to open the DS-160 site, choose the interview location, and save the application ID and the security question answer so you can resume the form.
- How to enter personal details, previous surnames, marital status, date and place of birth, and citizenship.
- How to fill in the purpose of the trip: category B2 is chosen for visiting relatives, plus the travel plan, the U.S. address and who pays for the trip.
- How to answer questions about previous U.S. travel, visas and refusals: all refusals must be listed with an explanation of where and when they happened.
- How to enter contacts, social media, passport details, relatives' information, and work, income as one total amount in national currency, and education.
- How to answer questions about languages, travel in the last five years, organizations and security, and what the photo requirements are.
- How to review, sign and submit the form, and save the confirmation page before the interview.
🚀 Before you start
🌐Where do I fill out the DS-160 and how much does it cost?+
Only on the official site ceac.state.gov/genniv. The form is free. Sites charging to “register your form” are middlemen. Only optional preparation help is paid, if you order it.
🧾What should I prepare?+
- Passport (valid at least 6 months beyond your trip).
- A digital photo meeting US requirements.
- Dates and numbers of previous US visas and trips.
- Employer or school: address, phone, position, income.
- Your parents’ and spouse’s details.
- A US address (hotel or friends) and an approximate travel date.
- Social media handles used in the last 5 years.
🆔What is the Application ID and why write it down?+
It is the form number like AA00XXXXXX shown in the top corner of the first page. Together with the security question it lets you return to an unfinished form. Without it you start over. Save it right away.
⏱️How long does it take and can I save it?+
Usually 1–2 hours. The session ends after about 20 minutes of inactivity, so click Save on every page. Unfinished forms are kept for about 30 days.
📍Which interview location do I choose on the first page?+
The embassy or consulate where you will book. Since 09/06/2025 applicants interview in their country of nationality or residence; Ukrainian citizens are designated to Warsaw and Kraków. If you legally live in another country, you can choose it. More: where Ukrainians interview.
🧩 Form sections: what to enter
👤Personal: name, native alphabet, other names+
- Surnames / Given Names: exactly as in your passport.
- Full Name in Native Alphabet: your name in Ukrainian.
- Other Names Used: maiden name or other spellings, if any.
- National Identification Number: Ukrainians usually enter their taxpayer number (RNOKPP). If unsure, ask us.
🛂Passport: number, dates, lost passports+
Data from your passport bio page. If a passport was ever lost or stolen, answer “Yes” and give what you know. Do not hide it: the consul sees previous applications.
✈️Travel: purpose, dates, US address, who pays+
- Purpose of Trip: B (business/tourism), then B1/B2.
- Use real dates and length of stay; approximate is fine.
- US address: hotel or the people you will stay with.
- Person Paying: yourself, employer or another person, as it really is.
🇺🇸Previous U.S. Travel: trips, visas, refusals+
List all previous US trips, visas and refusals, even old ones. A 214(b) refusal does not bar you from applying again, but hiding it is a serious problem. After a refusal: 214(b) refusal.
📞Address, Phone, Social Media+
Home address, phones and email for the last 5 years. The social media section is mandatory: choose each platform and enter your handle (never a password) for the last 5 years. No accounts – None.
👨👩👧Family: parents, spouse, relatives in the US+
Parents’ names and dates of birth, spouse details. For relatives in the US, list all immediate relatives, including those in the US under U4U, TPS or with an asylum case. How to explain ties to home: US visa interview.
💼Work / Education / Training+
- Present Occupation: real position, employer, address, monthly income in local currency.
- Self-employed: describe your business.
- Previous jobs for 5 years and education from secondary school.
- Military service, if any.
🛡️Security and Background: yes/no questions+
Several pages about health, criminal history and immigration violations. For most people all answers are “No”. If even one is “Yes” (for example, a past overstay in the US), do not submit blindly: get a consultation first.
📷Photo: DS-160 photo requirements+
- Square, 600×600 to 1200×1200 pixels, JPEG, up to 240 KB.
- Taken within the last 6 months, light background, no glasses.
- Face straight on, neutral expression.
The site checks the photo on upload. The same rules apply to the lottery photo: free photo checker.
✅ After you submit
🧾What do I do with the confirmation page?+
After Sign and Submit you get a Confirmation Page with a barcode. Save the PDF and print it: you need it to book and at the interview.
💵Next: paying the fee and booking the interview+
- Register in the embassy appointment system (link on the US Embassy in Poland site).
- Pay the $185 consular fee for B1/B2. Other visas: US visa cost.
- Choose an interview date.
- Prepare for the consul’s questions: 30 interview questions.
✏️I found a mistake after submitting. What now?+
A submitted form cannot be changed. Create a new DS-160 (you can copy data from the old one via Retrieve), submit it and use the new number for your appointment, or bring the new confirmation page to the interview.
🔁Do I need a new DS-160 after a refusal?+
Yes. Every new attempt needs a new form and a new fee. Before reapplying, deal with the reason for the refusal, otherwise the result will be the same.
⚠️ Common DS-160 mistakes
❌Name not as in the passport+
A different transliteration (Olexandr / Oleksandr) is the most common technical mistake. Copy it letter by letter from your passport.
❌Hidden refusals and relatives+
The consul sees your old forms and often knows about relatives in the US. A contradiction between the form and the interview almost guarantees a refusal.
❌Unrealistic purpose or trip plan+
“Tourism for 6 months” with no job or income looks like intent to stay. Length and budget must fit your situation.
❌Someone else filled it out and you never read it+
The consul asks about exactly what is in the form. Read it fully before submitting, even if professionals helped.
💡 In short: what helps and what to avoid
✅ What helps
3
- Write down the Application ID and security answer at once.
- Click Save on every page.
- Re-read the form before Submit and save the confirmation PDF.
⛔ What to avoid
3
- Paying to “register the form” on third-party sites.
- Hiding refusals, relatives or violations.
- Stating a purpose and plan you cannot explain at the interview.
We will fill out the DS-160 with you and prepare you for the interview
We check documents, fill out the form, book the interview and rehearse the consul’s questions. B1/B2 visa support from $299. Only the consul issues visas, so we do not guarantee the result.
This page is for information only and is not legal advice. We are not lawyers and are not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. Department of State.
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