How to fill out the DS-160 step by step for the fiance visa

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After receiving an I-129F approval from the NVC, who sends your case to the US Embassy, instructions say to fill out and submit the DS-160. 

This form is required by all K-1 and K-2 visa applicants before the K visa interview. And once completed and submitted, you bring the confirmation page to the interview. 

We’re going to discuss how to correctly fill out the form step-by-step. But first…

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What is the DS-160?

The DS-160 “Online Application for Non-immigrant” is a free online form submitted to the Department of State with your biographical data. 

As per 9 FAM 502.7-3(C)(3), all Fiance K-1 and K-2 visa applicants must fill out and submit the DS-160 online before their visa interview. (Please note: K visa applicants don’t use the DS-260 form for immigrant visas)

And the US Embassy wants the DS-160 for two reasons: 

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• – It’s used to schedule your K visa interview (with confirmation number)
• – It discloses important biographical information

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Once you complete and submit this form, bring a printout of the confirmation page to your interview. 

This data helps the officer understand your background, eligibility, education, travel history, criminal history, personal details, and any inadmissibilities.

Keep in mind: the DS-160 form is done entirely online, nothing is on paper.

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Who can fill out the form?

All fiance K-1 and K-2 visa applicants must complete a DS-160. However, the form itself may be filled out by:

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• • ◾ The US petitioner on the behalf of the K-1 or K-2 visa beneficiary (as long as the beneficiary clicks the “submit” button)
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  • ◾ The K-1 beneficiary
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  • ◾ If the K-2 visa child is too young, anyone can fill out and submit it

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As a tip: many couples get on a video call (Facetime, Skype, Whatsapp) to fill out the form together. 

In terms of when to file it, I generally recommend that you fill out the DS-160 after you get a notice from the NVC that your I-129F is approved (I-797). To me, that’s the best time because it’s close enough to the interview date and your details aren’t likely to change while you wait for processing.

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What’s required before starting?

To fill out your DS-160, I recommend using Internet Explorer as your web browser.  In addition, here’s the checklist of documents you need before starting

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• ◾ Computer or laptop (I don’t recommend using a smartphone or tablet)
• ◾ Passport (not expiring in 6 months after arrival in the US)
• ◾ USCIS receipt #
• ◾ Birth Certificate
• ◾ Passport style photo to digitally upload
• ◾ Biographic information, address, parent’s information, education, work history, social media handles, emails, etc.
• ◾ All travel documents if you ever traveled to the US: visa numbers, stay durations, visa refusals, denial of entry, criminal history in US, etc.
• ◾ Beneficiary’s divorce information: ex-spouse’s name, DOB, place of birth, date of marriage/divorce, and nationality
• ◾ Records of travel or residence in other countries, perhaps if working overseas
• ◾ Among other documents as they apply to your situation

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This list applies to both K-1 and K-2 applicants. 

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How to fill out the DS-160 step by step

There are 14 sections which ask for personal details, travel history, family history, education, work and so on. In the end, you also upload a passport style photo. 

Your application ID number (starts with “AA”) becomes your confirmation number. 

The computer screen will be divided into three segments. The menu is on the left, the form is in the middle, and the instructions / tips are on the right hand. Be sure to actively work the CEAC website otherwise it will timeout and you will have to log in again.

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PLEASE NOTE: This step-by-step guide is for your information only as a sample of a finished form. This is not legal advice or a suggestion on how to answer government forms. Please consult USCIS instructions for details.

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Step 1 – create a new application or retrieve a previous one

Go to https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/, select the Location of an Embassy, and create an application ID. The location of your Embassy is in your NVC approval letter…

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Start a new application or “retrieve” an existing one. If you want to retrieve an existing DS-160, use the application ID number from before. If you’ve lost it, you can request the website to send you an email to recover it.

Keep this number safe because it eventually becomes your Confirmation # once you complete and submit your DS-160.

The entire process is guided somewhat by the website. It’s relatively easy and straightforward. Use the “translation” feature to assist in understanding the questions.

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Step 2 – Personal Information

Personal information (1) 

Complete this section using your passport details. Provide your first name, surname (some are blank), past names, date of birth, place of birth, telecode, and marital status. All these are according to passport details or official documents. 

Past names are requested (variation of spelling, alias, religious names, etc.) so the Embassy can perform background checks.

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Personal Information (2)

This section inquires about your current and previous nationalities. For most applicants, you only select your current nationality unless you were a citizen of another nation before.

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The National Identification Number is provided by some governments to its citizens. Most times it “does not apply”, but for some nations it does. For example, Mexico has one called CURP. 

You must check this online. In general, if you don’t know or can’t find out, don’t worry. Select “Does not apply” and inform the Embassy of the details later in your interview. 

Your Social Security Number or Taxpayer ID is only applicable if you were ever assigned one in the US (if applicable). Otherwise, it “does not apply”.

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Step 3 – Travel Information

This section deals with your visa type. Since you’re applying for a K-1 fiance visa, select it and fill out the details. You need your USCIS receipt #.  This is the same receipt number found on your I-797C or I-797 (I-129F Approval letter).

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Continue below to describe your travel plans. Have you made any? 

It really doesn’t matter. Provide an estimate of when you think you’re going to depart to the US. The address that you’re staying while in the US will probably be the petitioners. Be prepared to answer why during the interview if you write a different address. Finally, indicate who is paying the visa fee for your case.

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Step 4 – Travel Companions

Indicate if you’re traveling with someone or part of a “group”. Perhaps you’re filing for a child’s K-2 visa. Will they travel with you? 

Select the appropriate responses based on your situation. You’re not required to declare if you’re traveling in a group, it’s up to you. Although it helps with coordination purposes.

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Step 5 – Previous US travel

This is an important step. Gather ALL your previous US travel documents. Have you been to the US before?

You need to know when you were in the US, how long, and under what visa(s). If you’ve ever been refused a visa or entry, collect that information. Be sure to answer everything honestly. The embassy will check your responses with their records.

Remember, you’re required to bring these documents to the K-1 visa interview. If you’ve never been to the US, select “no” for the responses and move to the next step.

If you have been to the US previously (your last 5 trips to the US, anytime in the past) indicate the duration of stays. If you travel frequently, input only the last 5 instances. Notice, this doesn’t ask if you were ever here legally. Illegal or out-of-status stay in the US is a leading cause of “ineligibility” for a visa. 

The next set of questions ask about your previous visas. You can check the CBP website for your I-94 form and history. ESTA doesn’t count as a visa.

If you had a previous visa to the US and traveled with it, indicate the visa number and date of use. Were any visas revoked or canceled? Write the explanations below. Having revocations, cancellations, deportations, etc. is a major hurdle in your K-1 visa process. It’s an immigration ineligibility. Consult a professional for possible waivers.

If you’ve applied or got refused for a prior visa, indicate that in the appropriate field. Explain what you applied for, when, and the outcome. Being refused a visa is not seen as an immigration “red flag” unless other red flags are involved, too. For example, if you had an unsuccessful attempt at a student visa in the distant past, you are probably not going to be scrutinized for it much. 

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Step 6 – Address and Phone

This section asks about your current home and mailing address. Your home address is where you currently reside while your mailing address may be different. For beneficiaries living overseas (not in their home country), carefully include the proper “home address” and “mailing address”. 

Next, provide your contact details such as Phone Number and email address in order to be contacted if there’s any problems. You will also receive your confirmation # in the provided email address.

Provide your phone number for the last 5 years (if different) so the consulate can perform background checks.

Provide any and all email addresses you have used in the last 5 years.

Provide your social media handles that you may have used in the last 5 years. This includes all popular platforms like FaceBook, Twitter, etc.

Provide any additional website, services, platforms, etc. that you’re part of that you’d liked to disclose.

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Step 7 – Passport information

This section requires you to input information from your passport.  All passports have a Passport Number. The Passport Book number (“inventory number”) may or may not apply to you depending on the issuing country. Confirm with your country’s passport office. For applicants, most of the time, it “does not apply”. You can search this online.

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Your passport cannot be expiring 6 months after your intended travel to the US. If your passport is about to expire, you must renew it. Most passport offices allow you to renew it several months before the expiration date.

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Step 8 – US Point of Contact

This asks who your point of contact is in the US. Typically for other visas, it’s the company, school, or person who sponsors you. 

The same applies for the fiance visa. You should input your US petitioner’s information because they petitioned the I-129F for you. You may select “do not know” for organization. Select “US Petitioner” under relation.

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Step 9 – Family

Family Information: Relatives

Provide information on your parents or adoptive parents. List their names, birthdates, and known address. If any of this information is not available, click “do not know”. Otherwise provide accurate information or a best guess.

You must also indicate if your parents are living in the US. Then select the status under which they are there (whether they’re Citizens, residents, non-immigrant, etc.)

Finally, indicate if you have any other immediate relatives in the US. Immediate relatives include parents, siblings, spouse, fiance, or children. 

Your friends or other relatives do not count as “immediate relatives” and don’t have to be listed. 

Since in a K-1 visa, you most likely have a fiance living in the US, list their information here again. Note, it’s not necessary for your US fiance to be actually living in the US at the time of this filing. So, respond to this as necessary.

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Family Information: Fiance / Fiancee

Input your sponsoring US fiance(e)’s information in this section. Simply provide the name, birth date, address and occupation. This name, birth date and address information must be according to official documents (passports, etc.).  

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Family Information: Former Spouse

If you were previously married and now divorced, provide names and dates. If this section does not apply to the beneficiary, respond “no” and move to the next step.

Any and all previous marriages must be listed in this step. Provide the names, dates of birth, nationalities and dates of marriage/divorce in the field provided. You must type in the response to “how the marriage ended”. Examples of what you can say are: “divorce”, “annulment”, “death”, or etc. as it applies. 

Be sure the information matches the I-129F petition.

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Family Information: Children

This section deals with the beneficiary’s children. If he/she doesn’t have any children, select “no” and move to the next step.

If the beneficiary has children, list them regardless of whether or not you provided their information in the I-129F. 

Also, list all children regardless of age. Be sure to include the ones applying for a K-2 visa with you. Indicate if they’re traveling with or after you to the US (K-2 follow to join).

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Step 10 – Work / education / Training

Present Work / Education / Working Information

The beneficiary provides information about his/her work, education or training. 

Remember, this is “present”, so list your current status only. Are you working? a student? Retired? Or not employed? 

Depending on what selection you make, fill out the details. You are asked for address, income and brief description of your duties. The answers here should roughly match with the I-129F that you’ve filed.

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Previous Work / Education / Working Information

Similar to the section before, list your work, education and/or training history. List official employment for the past 5 years, your education experience (from high school and above) as well as any training you might have received. 

“Add” additional elements as necessary to fill the 5 year information. Remember, the information provided here should roughly match the I-129F (unless details have changed since).

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Additional Work / Education / Working Information

List miscellaneous information about your travel history to other countries (in the last 5 years for any purpose), residency in another country (for 6+ months since age 16, this is used for determining police clearance requirements), special military training, if you’re part of a clan, what languages you speak, any other skills or training, etc. as it pertains. This section is important for the beneficiaries who travel often, or who work overseas in another country.

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Step 11 – Security and Background

Security and Background: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The final section of your DS-160 deals with key questions about your background. These are important to answer because it determines whether or not you’re “inadmissible” due to a previous security violation, criminal history, bars from the US, medical conditions, or misuse of immigration.

Carefully read each and every question and answer as it is appropriate. 

Most likely, your responses will all be “no” with the possible exception of the vaccinations requirement. Nonetheless, most questions deal with 

• ◾ previous criminal history
• ◾ crimes of “moral turpitude”
• ◾ security violations
• ◾ Communicable disease
• ◾ Mental or physical disorders
• ◾ Past drug abuse
• ◾ aiding illegal activity
• ◾ previous US immigration violations, fraud, deportation, removal, bar from US
• ◾ criminal convictions while in the US
• ◾ Commercialized vices

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If any of these questions apply to you, answer honestly and completely. Bring ALL related documentation to the interview if you answer “yes”.

Again, the basis for asking these questions is for the US Department of State to determine if you’re “inadmissible” or “ineligible” for a visa.

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions (with the exception of the vaccinations in Part 1), seek help. Having some kind of security record or background may be overcome/waived with proper procedures or documents. 

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Step 12 – Upload Passport style photo

You must upload a passport style photo. Many consulates also ask you to bring a passport style photo during the biometrics or at the K visa interview. Follow the instructions as it applies to your situation. 

Passport sized photos must be in the correct proportions (2 inch x 2 inch) and the size is limited to approximately 1 MB. You can use the cropping tool to edit your photo.

If you cannot upload the photo successfully, bring the actual printed passport sized photos to the interview.

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Step 13 – Review

In this step, all the information you’ve typed in will be displayed line by line.

You should review it all and use the opportunity to edit and fix anything if there’s an error. When you’re all ready and have verified the data for a second time, move on to the next step.

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Step 14 – Sign and Submit

This is the final step before submitting your application online. The DS-160 is meant to be filled out by the beneficiary or someone else acting on their behalf. 

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In most situations the beneficiary must click the “submit” button to acknowledge their agreement and understanding of the DS-160 information. The only exceptions are if the beneficiary is illiterate, a minor or handicapped.

If someone helps in filling out the application, input their details. Put your passport details one last time in order to be able to finish up and “sign” the application. Your details will act as your “E-signature”.

After clicking “submit” you’re able to print out the confirmation page. You must bring this confirmation page to the interview. Your DS-160 is now complete and submitted.

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Steps after you submit the DS-160

Once finalized, the DS-160 form is stored in the US Dep’t of State’s servers. 

But, nothing really happens to it unless you “link” it with your K-1 visa interview. Until then, you’re free to submit as many DS-160 forms as you want without impacting your case. (e.g. if you make a mistake and need to re-submit). 

However, when you’re finally ready to schedule your interview, use the confirmation number of the latest and greatest DS-160. Once linked together, it locks the DS-160 with your information. This happens on UStraveldocs or ais.usvisa-info.

Following this, the Embassy performs background checks and reviews your information. 

All you have to do now is print out the confirmation page and take it along to the K visa interview. The Embassy staff will scan the barcode to retrieve your information.

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Common questions, concerns and problems

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What if I make a mistake on my DS-160? Can I fix it?

On occasions, severe mistakes in the DS-160 can lead to rejection or canceling of the Fiance visa interview if the officer deems it necessary to try again (denial 221(g)). That’s why it’s vital to complete the form accurately. 

Realize that once submitted, a DS-160 cannot be edited; It’s locked. You can only view the information but not replace anything.

So, if you spot an error, you can start a fresh DS-160. However, if you’ve scheduled your interview with it, there’s no way to edit it. Now, you must contact the consulate by email for further instructions. Sometimes it’s minor and they will not take up the issue. Other times, it’s bigger and they need you to resubmit.

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How long is the DS-160 valid?

The DS-160 is valid for as long as you haven’t had any changes regarding details. If you have a change in circumstance, you should submit a new form. 

For example, if you had job “x” when you filed, but you switched to job “y”, then that’s a change in circumstance. You should file a new DS-160 with the latest details.

However, as a rule of thumb, I think you should not have a DS-160 older than 60 days, although there’s no expiration date of a submitted DS-160.

Also, keep in mind that the Department of State stores the DS-160 information for 30 days. If you don’t retrieve it, actively work on it, or submit within 30 days, it will be deleted.

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What if I’m filing for K-2 children, do I repeat the information?

You can copy the DS-160 from the K-1 for your K-2 kids so you don’t have to repeat the entries.

When you’re done with your first DS-160, use the option to replicate it for a K-2 applicant. With that, you can go through the form quicker and verify the information. 

Obviously, you will need to update and change anything that’s different besides the biographical data.

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If I submit multiple DS-160 by mistake, what do I do? 

Ignore them. Realize that you can submit multiple DS-160 forms and they will be stored online for 30 days. However, until you actually “link” a confirmation number with your K visa interview, the rest will be ignored and deleted automatically.

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Is there a fee for the DS-160?

There’s no fee to fill out and submit the DS-160. However, don’t confuse this with the MRV fee ($265) required for the interview. See the discussion on the K-1 visa cost for more details. You can pay the visa fee on USTravelDocs or AIS-info.

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Can I download a blank DS-160 PDF to fill out?

No, you cannot download the DS-160 to fill it out. Everything must be done online through the CEAC website.

However, you can download your completed application to your computer for your records.

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