Get instant loan offer suitable to your profile !
On this Page:
What is DS-160 form? Know about DS-160 form application process, documents required, fees, validity and more.
Key takeaways from the blog
For more in-depth insights, dive into the full blog!
The DS-160 form is a crucial step in getting a student visa for studying in the US. Through the DS-160 form, students are seeking permission for a temporary travel visa to the US, which is why it is also known as a Non-immigrant Visa Application. This form is used for getting an F1 visa to the US.
The US department of state announced in Feb 2023, that prospective students can apply for an F1 visa 365 days before the academic term begins. You can fill the DS-160 form online for the visa interview to be scheduled.
Latest Update: A new announcement from the US Department of State has revealed that the fee for US student visas will increase from $160 to $185 starting May 30, 2023.
DS 160 is a form to assess visitors to the US and getting study and work visas in the US. The form collects the applicant’s extensive personal, academic, professional, and contact details. One has to fill out the DS-160 application form before their interview with a US consular general or at the Embassy. Any discrepancy in the application can lead to the rejection of the visa application.
Mentioned below are some functions of the DS 160 form:
The DS 160 Form filling is perhaps one of the lengthiest forms one can fill out, and there are so many answers to be filled in. If someone thinks they need more time to fill or need more documents to complete the form, they can save it as a DS 160 form pdf and start filling it out again.
So, let’s see the long list of documents that one needs to fill out the form:
Dimensions | Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 x 600 pixels. Maximum acceptable dimensions are 1200 x 1200 pixels |
---|---|
Color |
Must be in color (24 bits per pixel) in sRGB color space |
File Format |
The image must be in JPEG file format |
File Size |
The image must be less than or equal to 240 kB (kilobytes) |
Compression |
The compression ratio should be less than or equal to 20:1. |
Check Your Education Loan Eligibility for Free
Read Also
- Documents For US Student Visa
- Types of US Visas and Its Importance
- Proof of Funds for the Visa Interview
- How To Prepare For a US Student Visa Interview
- All About OFC Appointment for a US Student Visa
- Common Pitfalls Of The US Student Visa Interview
Children under 16 years and people with disabilities can take help from parents/local guardians/anyone else. If a third party is involved in submitting the form, it must be documented in the “Sign and Submit” part. The third-party can sign and submit on behalf of the applicant.
Check Your Education Loan Eligibility for Free
When traveling to the US with family or friends, a family/group application saves the applicants from filling out the same details in all the applications. The data will be imported automatically to the applications. Note that every member must apply individually.
Select “Email Confirmation” on the confirmation page. There will be a redirection to the “Thank You” page. On the “Thank You” page, there will be the option to create a family/group application.
Once the DS 160 form is submitted, the applicant is expected to make an appointment at the consulate or the embassy (in New Delhi) at the earliest. Sometimes the visa officials might ask for additional information, so scheduling an early appointment gives the time to rectify any error or submit additional documents if required.
One can choose to take the interview in English or in one of the regional languages offered by the consulates. The final step in the study abroad application journey can be stressful, given the high US visa rejection rates. Increase your visa approval chances and sign up for US visa application assistance.
After the completion of the interview, it takes around 3-5 weeks to get the confirmation on the student visa finally. If the information is correct and there are no issues with the visa application, then the chances are high that the applicant will get the F1 visa. After the formal approval, the US visa is delivered in the next two to three working days. There is always confusion about the location where the interview will be conducted, and it must be kept in mind that the interview location can be changed to a different consulate or to the New Delhi embassy than the one mentioned in the DS 160 form.
Check Your Education Loan Eligibility for Free
Once you fill out a DS 160 form, you can edit the form when you want to visit the US later. This form will be there in the consulate’s system. While filling once you get your application ID, the DS 160 is valid for 30 days. You can access it in the draft section.
Know more on: How to change university after visa appointment booking?
You may fill out the DS-160 form online by following the steps given below:
Follow the instructions given below to change DS-160 after booking a visa interview:
Take a printout of the new confirmation page and bring it with you for the visa interview.
Yes, applicants must submit a photo for DS-160 digitally. Follow the instructions regarding the photo, some of which are provided here:
You must sign the DS-160 form for your application to be considered valuable. You can sign the DS-160 form electronically by clicking on the “Sign Application” button at the end of the DS-160 form.
Should I bring the entire application form for the US visa interview?
Check Your Education Loan Eligibility
Ask from a community of 10K+ peers, alumni and experts
Trending Blogs
Similar Blogs
Network with a community of curious students, just like you
Join our community to make connections, find answers and future roommates.. Join our CommunityCountry-Wise Loans
Best Lenders for Education Loan
ICICI Bank
Axis Bank
Union Bank
Prodigy
Auxilo
HDFC Credila
IDFC
InCred
MPower
Avanse
SBI
BOB