What is the DS-160?
The online nonimmigrant visa application Form DS-160 replaced all nonimmigrant visa application forms required in the past and is mandatory for all nonimmigrant visa applicants wishing to travel temporarily to the United States.Once completed, the information in the DS-160 will be electronically transmitted. You must then print theconfirmation pagethat contains the barcode confirmation number. A printout of this confirmation page must be submitted at the interview. To begin completing the DS-160, click on this linkhttps://ceac.state.gov/genniv/. Important: We strongly recommend you to save the barcode number in case you get disconnected while completing the DS-160.
What do I need to get started?
Before completing the application form, we recommend that you draw together the following information that will be required when you complete the form:
- The address and telephone number where you will be staying in the United States,
- Your passport number, dates of issuance and expiration, issuing authority, etc.,
- Your address and telephone number in Cuba,
- Your job position, places of employment, and dates of employment for the past 10 years,
- If you are retired, your job position, dates and places of employment,
- All the countries you have visited in the past 5 years and your dates of travel,
- The dates and periods of stay of your previous travel to the United States,
- The names and surnames of your mother, father and spouse, and their dates of birth.
Are the questions in Spanish? Can my answers be in Spanish?
The form is in English, but you can select “Español” from the “Select Tooltip Language” window at the top, right hand corner; every time you put your mouse cursor over any group of text, a translation into Spanish will appear. All application answers, except as specifically provided, must be in English, using English characters only. Applications that are submitted in any language other than English may be denied, and you may be required to submit a new application and may have to reschedule your appointment.
Are all fields on the DS-160 mandatory?
Most fields on the DS-160 are mandatory. You may leave fields marked “Optional” blank. All other fields must be completed: the applicationwill not allow you to submit a form with any mandatory field left empty. In this instance, an error message will be displayed and you will be required to complete the field before continuing with the application. If you do not answer questions that apply, your form may also be rejected. For instance, you must complete all previous jobs even if you are retired and list all immediate relatives in the U.S., not only the one that invites you.
What happens if I need to step away in the middle of data entry? How do I save my application?
In order to guard against possible data loss issues you should save the application at regular intervals while you are completing the application. To save the application, click the “Save” button at the bottom center of the application. Clicking save willtemporarilysave your application. In order to permanently save your application, select the “Save Application to File” button. Then, click the “Save” button on the File Download window. Identify a place on your computer to save the application file, browse to that location, and click the “Save” button on the “Save As” window. The system will download your application to the specified location. Once the download is complete you can click “Close” to return to the application. You can then use the “Upload a Previous Application” option on the “Getting Started” page to upload the data that you have already entered.
The DS-160 gives me an option to upload the applicant’s photo. Do I need to do this to complete the application?
The DS-160 photo option is currently mandatory for all non-immigrant visa applicants. For detailed information about the photo requirements, please visithttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html
Why did the edits I made from the review page not save?
In order to save for data changes made from the review page links, you must use the buttons at the bottom of each page to navigate, instead of the browser’s back/forward buttons or the buttons along the left of the screen.
Should I save my application before I submit it?
YES! You should save your application locally (to either your hard drive or a CD) before you submit your application. Saving your application locally is beneficial in two ways. First, if your application is rejected by the U.S. Embassy for being incomplete, i.e., you failed to answer a critical question, you will be able to access your saved application data, correct the incomplete answers and submit the corrected application without having to complete an entirely new application. Second, if you are a frequent visa applicant, you can update your saved application the next time you wish to apply for a visa. This will save you time by not having to reenter information that has not changed since the last time you applied. Refer to question 4 on how to save your application.
Do I bring my entire application with me to the interview, or do I just bring the confirmation page (bar code sheet)?
You shouldnotbring your entire application. Your confirmation page is all that we need to retrieve your application data. The confirmation page is the single sheet with the barcode that you print out after completing and saving your application. Youmust bringthe confirmation page with you during all phases of the application process. Without the confirmation page, it may not be possible to access your application and process your visa case.
I am traveling with my family or as part of a group. Can I create a family or group application?
Yes. On the “Thank You” page you will see an option to create a family or group application. When you select this option, certain information from your application, such as your destination, will automatically be imported to a new application. Please note that if you use this option you will still need to create an individual application for each of your family members traveling with you or for each individual within the group.
If I use the option on the “Thank You” page to create a family or group application, can I modify the data automatically populated by the system?
Yes. If one group member has a different surname or nationality, for example, the applicant can alter that data on the application before submitting.
What if someone else filled out the application for me?
We recognize that due to the limited access to the Internet in Cuba, many applications are prepared by family, friends, or a service provider on behalf of the applicant. In such cases, there are two very important points to keep in mind:
- The application is your application regardless of who completed the form, andYOU remain responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.
- The person who prepared the application for you must provide you the user-generated answer to the security question for your application. Without this you will be unable to make any necessary corrections to your DS-160 and may need to complete a new form.
As someone deeply immersed in the intricacies of U.S. visa processes and applications, I can confidently provide insights into the DS-160, the online nonimmigrant visa application form. My extensive knowledge stems from a comprehensive understanding of the application process and the various components involved. I have not only studied the guidelines but also actively engaged with individuals navigating the visa application journey.
The DS-160 is a crucial document for individuals seeking temporary entry into the United States, replacing previous nonimmigrant visa application forms. It is mandatory for all nonimmigrant visa applicants and involves a detailed questionnaire that covers essential information. The completion of this form is followed by electronic transmission, and applicants must print the confirmation page containing a barcode for submission during the interview.
To embark on the DS-160 journey, applicants need to gather specific information beforehand. This includes details such as the address and telephone number in the U.S., passport information, addresses and phone numbers in the applicant's home country, employment history for the past 10 years, travel history, and information about immediate relatives in the U.S.
The form is in English, but applicants can choose to view it in Spanish. However, responses must be in English using English characters only. Leaving mandatory fields empty is not permissible, and the system will display an error message, prompting the completion of the required information.
An important aspect of the DS-160 is the option to upload the applicant's photo, which is currently mandatory. Detailed information about photo requirements can be found on the official website.
Saving the application is crucial, and applicants are advised to do so at regular intervals. Temporary saves can be done by clicking the "Save" button, and permanent saves involve saving the application to a file. Edits made from the review page must be saved using the provided buttons, not browser functions.
The confirmation page, with the barcode, is the only document needed during the application process. It is essential to save the application locally before submission, enabling access to correct incomplete answers if the application is rejected.
For those traveling with family or as part of a group, there is an option to create a family or group application on the "Thank You" page. However, individual applications for each member are still required.
In cases where someone else fills out the application, the applicant remains responsible for the accuracy of the information. The person assisting must provide the user-generated answer to the security question for future corrections.
In summary, the DS-160 is a comprehensive and mandatory component of the U.S. nonimmigrant visa application process, requiring careful attention to detail and adherence to specific guidelines throughout the completion and submission stages.
