How to Fill the DS-160 Form for a Student Visa: Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for a U.S. visa could be challenging, especially when filling D-160 form. Filling out the D-160 form is the first and crucial step in applying for a U.S. F-1 student visa. For many students, filling out this form is challenging, but worry not, we have got you covered.

D-160 is an online application form that collects your personal, academic travel information. This blog will guide you through the step-by-step process of how to fill out a D-160 form, its importance, along the documents that are needed for the same.

What is the DS-160 Form

• The DS-160 is an online application form that all non-immigrant visa applicants to the US must fill out. The applicants, including those applying for

  • F-1(student) visa, 

  • B-1/B-2(tourist/business), 

  • J-1(exchange visitor), 

  • and other visa categories. 

• The DS-160 form collects personal, educational, and travel information and connects directly to your visa application. This acts as the official record of the immigrant's intent to travel to the United States for temporary non-immigrant purposes such as study, visits, etc.
• This is connected directly to your SEVIS(Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)record, which tracks international students in the US. This generally becomes a part of your visa profile throughout your journey.
• Filling out this form is not just mandatory, but also the first step in your student visa process. The information that you provide in this form is used to determine your eligibility for a US visa.

Why is the D-160 Form Important for an F1 Visa

• The DS-160 form is important for an F-1 visa because it is the official application that allows students to schedule a US visa interview. It is not possible to proceed with the F-1 visa process without submitting this form.
• This form gives the US embassy all the important details about your identity, academic plans, and travel purpose. It is connected directly to your SEVIS ID and Form I-20, helping the US government track the student's status and university admission.
• Generally, visa officers mostly rely upon this information to decide whether you qualify for a student visa; any mistakes or mismatches can affect your visa approval. For this reason, students need to fill out the D-160 accurately and completely to avoid visa delays and rejection.

Documents Required for D-160 Form Filling

Before you fill out the DS-160 form, it is recommended to keep all the required documents and other details with the applicant. Documents related to personal, academic, travel, and other information. It is extremely important to stay accurate with all your academic and other official records.

Here’s the basic list of documents that are required for filling D-160 form

1. Valid Passport

A passport is mandatory to fill out the DS-160 form. It is important to make sure that the passport is valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay in the United States.

2. Form I-20

This form contains your SEVIS ID, university address, and the programme details issued by the university that you are applying to. 

3. SEVIS Fee Receipt

Receipts as proof of payment that you have made the SEVIS fee(USD 350 or INR 29,300 approx.). You are required to provide the confirmation number on the DS-160 Form.

4. Visa Application Fee(MRV) Receipt

Keep the receipts of your visa application fee payment (USD 185 or INR 15,500 approx). This is required when scheduling your visa interview. 

5. Photograph(As per US Visa guidelines)

The photo must meet the US visa specifications. It must be a recent, color photo with a white background.,2*2 inches in size. 

6. Academic History

Name and addresses of all the schools, colleges, and universities that you have attended. Add start and end dates, qualifications earned, and the major subjects.

7. Work Experience(If applicable)

If you have worked previously, keep ready with the information of job titles, employer's name, location, and dates of employment.

8. Family Details

You are required to provide the names, dates of birth, and nationality of your parents. Even if they don't live with you.

9. US Contact Information

This includes a US-based contact person or the international office of your university(as mentioned on your I-20).

10. Financial Information

You may be asked to provide documents that prove your financial ability to support yourself while studying in the US. This could be bank statements, scholarship proofs, or a letter from a sponsor, etc.

How to Fill D-160 Form

Now that you know what documents are required to apply for the D-160 form. Let us now understand how to fill D-160.

Step 1: Visit the Consular Electronic Application Center Website to start applying for your D-160 Form.

Step 2: Once you find the Apply for a Non-immigrant page, select the location and enter the given captcha. Select Start an application if you start your new application. Or select Retrieve an application if you already have an application number.

Step 3: The first section is to fill in the security question.  The security question is the same for everyone, i.e, the name of your mother’s mother.

Step 4: The next two pages are to fill in your personal details. This includes your name, address, and phone number, date of birth, gender, marital status, etc.

Step 5: Next section, you are required to provide your passport details, which include your passport number, the country that issued your passport, etc. It is recommended to double-check your passport information to stay accurate.

Step 6: Later, you are required to provide information about your family. This includes your family members' names, date of birth, occupation, etc.

Step 7: Fill in your education details, which include the name and details of the educational institutions that you have studied.

Step 8: In this step, you will answer the security questions, which could be about your background, travel history, and criminal history, etc.

Step 9: Fill in the F-1 visa details. For student visas, you are required to provide additional information about your intended program of study. This includes the name and location of the university and any other information as required.

Step 10:This is the crucial step. Before submitting your DS-160, take the time to review all the information that you have entered is accurate, complete, and truthful. Make changes if required. Once you are satisfied, click Sign and submit.

Conclusion

Filling out the D-160 Form is quite challenging at first, but with proper guidance, students can easily fill out the form. In this blog, we have provided a clear step-by-step process of how to fill out a D-160 Form, along with the documents that are required. A double check can always help students avoid mistakes and rejections.