DS-160 Form: Complete Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport — including spelling, order, and any middle names. Do not abbreviate. If your passport has a single-name field (some Indian passports list "FNU" for "First Name Unknown"), enter it as shown.

For the "Other Names Used" field: include nicknames, previous married names, or names used in earlier passports.

Enter your full residential address in India — not a relative's or friend's address. Use your permanent home address.

Select Temporary Visitor — Student (F) as your visa type.

For the intended date of arrival: use your program start date from your I-20 minus 30 days (F1 students can enter up to 30 days before program start). For length of stay, enter "Duration of Status (D/S)" — do not put a specific number of days.

For US address: enter your university's address or campus housing address from your I-20. If you don't yet have a specific dorm assignment, the university's main address is acceptable.

For US contact: enter your university's international student office contact information.

If you are traveling alone, select "No" for traveling with a group or organization. Do not mention family members who may visit separately.

If traveling with a spouse or dependent who is also applying for a visa, list them here and ensure their applications are linked.

List all previous US visits with exact entry and exit dates. Include visits on any visa type — tourist, business, student. If you cannot recall exact dates, use the month and year. Inaccurate travel history is one of the most common reasons for additional scrutiny.

If you have previously held a US visa, provide the visa number (found on the visa sticker in your passport), type, and issue date. If a previous visa was denied or revoked, you must disclose this — there is a specific field for it, and concealing it is considered misrepresentation.

Enter the name, address, and phone number of your university's international student services office (also called the DSO office or OIS — Office of International Students). This information is typically available on your university's website.

Do not put a relative's contact information here unless they are your official sponsor and listed in your financial documents.

Enter your parents' full names, dates of birth, nationalities, and whether they are US citizens or permanent residents. If you do not know a parent's date of birth, enter "Unknown."

Marital status must match your passport and other documents. If you have siblings in the US, do not include them here — this section is for immediate family (parents, spouse, children).

List your current and past employment for the last 5 years. If you are a student with no work experience, select "Student" and enter your most recent educational institution. If you have internship experience, include it under "Previous Employment."

For primary occupation, select "Student" if you are currently enrolled in college or have just graduated and are applying for graduate school.

For education history: list all institutions from undergraduate through your current level. Include school names, addresses, dates attended, and fields of study exactly as they appear on your academic documents.

This section contains a series of "have you ever" questions about criminal history, terrorist activity, controlled substances, and related topics. Answer all questions honestly. For nearly all genuine student applicants, the answer to all these questions is "No."

If you have ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of any offense — no matter how minor — you must consult with a US immigration attorney before completing this section. Misrepresentation here is grounds for a permanent visa bar.

Before submitting, review every section carefully. Pay special attention to: your name spelling, passport number, address, travel history, and the visa type selected.

Once you click Submit, you cannot make changes. Print the confirmation page immediately — it contains the barcode needed at your interview. Store it with your other interview documents.