Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
All non-immigrant visa applicants, as well as applicants for K visas, must submit the DS-160 Non-Immigrant Petition. It is required for travelers who want to enter the United States temporarily
The application is completed online and afterwards you will be required to book an appointment and attend a visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate closest to you.
The DS-160 is used for:
- B1 Business Visa
- B2 Tourist Visa
- B1/B2 Tourism & Business Visa
- C1 Transit Visa
Who Needs To Complete a DS-160?
Form DS-160 has to be filled out and submitted by anybody who intends to enter the United States on a temporary visa or who will be going to the United States on a K-1 visa in order to be married. Citizens of Mexico who want to apply for a TN visa are also required to fill out and submit Form DS-160 (Canadian citizens applying for a TN visa do not need to file a non-immigrant petition).
All travellers, including children, are required to have their own non-immigrant petition. If the applicant is 16 years old or younger or if they are physically unable to fill out the form on their own, they are allowed to get assistance from a third party. On the last page of the Form, labelled “Sign and Submit,” you are required to provide the name of that individual.
It is important the information entered on your petition matches your passport and travel information as any discrepencies could cause complications with your visa decision.
Documents Required For A DS-160
You may be asked to produce the following documents in order to complete your non-immigrant petition:
Your travel document
Digital copy of your photograph
If you've already decided where you'll stay, what you'll do, and when you'll fly to the United States, include it in your trip schedule.
If you've travelled to the United States before, please provide the dates of your last five travels. You may also be asked to supply information about your travel
If relevant, provide a resume and curriculum vitae. You may also be required to provide information about your previous education and work history.
If you're visiting the United States for business, you may be asked to supply your employers details.
DS-160 For B1/B2 Visas
Non-immigrants are the only people who may apply for a B-1 or B-2 visa and as such are required to complete the DS-160 Non-immigrant Petition. The holder of this visa is authorised to travel to the United States for either business or leisure purposes.
B visas are available for almost all occasions that call for short-term travel. The trip of students is an exception to this rule. These requirements are met by F-1 visas. Travel for business purposes requires a B-1 visa. Whereas the B-2 visa is for tourism-related activities, such as visiting friends and family or going on vacation. The majority of applicants are processed as a single combination B1/B2 visa. As a result, rather of limiting you to just one reason for travelling, this enables you to go for either work or pleasure.
The B1/B2 visa is valid for ten years from the date of issue. You will be able to stay in the United States for up to six months at a time with this visa. Your visa will remain legitimate even if you get a new passport during this time period.
Requirements For Other Visa Types
When filling out a non-immigrant petition, visa applicants may be required to provide additional papers or information. The following is a list of these requirements:
- Visitors who are students or on exchange (F, J and M visas).
- These visas often require the applicants SEVIS ID, which can be found on their I-20 or DS-2019.
- Temporary workers hired as a result of a petition (H-1B, H-2, H-3, CW1, L, P, R, E-2C visas).
- Applicants who completed a Form I-129 should keep it on hand when filling out the non-immigrant petition.
- Temporary Workers (Petition-based) (H-1B, H-2, H-3, CW1, L, O, P, R, E2C): You will need a copy of your Form I-797 approval notice (if already approved by USCIS), Form I-129, or Form I-129S is required (Blanket L-1).
If you do not fit into one of the aforementioned categories, you may be asked questions about your employers, such as the nature of their work, their name and address.
DS-160 Application Requirements
The non-immigrant petition requires your passport, travel itinerary, national ID number from your home country, and Social Security Number or U.S. Taxpayer ID. You will also need your travel and career histories, with family and travel partner bios.
If you are going to the U.S. to study, you will need a copy of your SEVIS ID and the school or colleges address. Temporary employees should have their I-129 available.
You will also need a current picture that fits U.S. government criteria stored digitally on your computer. You don’t need all these docs. You may start your application while gathering the necessary documentation.
USA Visa Types
A DS-160 non-immigrant petition is required for any foreign national wishing to apply for a non-immigrant visa for the United States. The petition can be used for the following visa types:
How to Fill Out Your Non-Immigrant Petition
Filling out the non-immigrant petition is a time-consuming exercise due to the number of required fields. However, with our assistance, you should be able to do the task without difficulty. Following are the procedures necessary to complete your DS-160 form:
At the start Of Your Application
You will be required to choose the nation from where you are applying for the visa, provide a captcha code, and submit a digital image of yourself.
Personal Data
You are required to give your details. This section comprises your name, gender, marital status, maiden name (if applicable), location, and date of birth, followed by the “Personal 2” section. Here, you must submit your taxpayer identification number, nationality, any other nationalities you may have obtained, and Social Security Number. You should also indicate whether you are a permanent resident of a nation other than your place of birth.
Contact Particulars
You will then be sent to a page titled “Address and Phone,” where you must provide your postal address, home address, and phone number. For the latter, you may provide your main and secondary phone numbers as well as your office number. In addition, your email address will be required.
Passport Specifics
You will be required to give your passport details. This will contain the document’s kind, passport book number, and document number. Additionally, you must identify the nation where the travel document was issued.
You will also be required to provide the passport’s expiry date, insurance date, and information on whether it has ever been reported misplaced.
Travel Specifics
You must indicate the objective of your journey to the United States, if you have made particular travel arrangements, and whether someone else is paying for your trip. In addition, you will be asked whether you are traveling with others and will be required to answer questions detailing your connection to these individuals.
US Contact
You must include information about your company or US contact (if applicable), as well as their connection to you. You must also include their address.
Family
You will be asked to provide information about your family, including your parents’ names, dates of birth, and US residency status. Additionally, you will be asked if you have additional relatives in the United States.
Employment, Education, and Training
You will be asked specific questions regarding your education and present position. The information will contain your employment start date, your work description, and your monthly pay. Previous job history must also be disclosed.
Background and Security
You will be required to discuss if you have health issues or have misused drugs in the past. Concurrently, you will be asked whether you have ever experienced legal issues, such as being arrested for a crime or anything similar.
People Also Asked...
While completing your non-immigrant petition, you should have the following documents on hand:
– Passport
– If you have already made travel reservations, create a trip itinerary.
– If you have previously visited or travelled to the United States, please provide the dates of your last five visits or excursions. You may also be asked about your five-year overseas travel history.
– You may be asked to submit information about your present and prior schooling and job background in your résumé or curriculum vitae.
– Additional Information – Depending on the planned purpose of travel, some applicants may be asked to give additional information when filling out the petition.
No, the DS-156, DS-157, DS-158, and DS-3032 have been superseded by the online DS-160 application. NOTE: Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor visa applicants must additionally fill out an additional form in addition to the petition.
Yes. There is an option to establish a family or group application. When you choose this option, relevant data from your application, such as the destination, will be immediately imported and shown in a new application. Please keep in mind that if you choose this option, you will need to establish a separate application for each family member or individual inside the group.
The DS-160 confirmation number is a barcode that must be used to schedule an interview, it is required to enable you to book an interview once you have submitted your non-immigrant petition. This will be provided to you once your form has been processed.
The confirmation page alone suffices for the interview. The interviewer will not consider your whole application.
In general, the DS-160 should be valid so long as the submitted information is accurate and has not been altered.
Yes, the majority of fields on the application must be filled out. Otherwise, you will receive an error. However, the fields marked “Optional” may be left blank. In addition, if some fields do not apply to you, you may be presented with the option “Does not apply.”