What does it mean?

Your legal family name or last name.

What should I enter?

Copy all surnames exactly as shown in your passport.

What should I enter?

Enter every given name exactly as shown in your passport, including additional given names.

Enter your full legal name using your native alphabet where applicable. This is the main exception to the DS-160's English-character rule.

A telecode is a four-digit numerical representation used for characters in certain non-Roman alphabets.

Passport showing X or another marker?

Under current Department of State instructions, the DS-160 sex field should reflect sex at birth.

Enter your date of birth as shown in your passport.

Enter the actual place where you were born. Use the current name of the place where requested.

Select your current nationality or citizenship.

This asks whether a country other than your country of nationality has granted you permanent resident status.

Enter the unique national identification number issued to you by your government, where applicable.

Enter the address where you actually live: street address, city, state/province where applicable, postal code and country.

Enter the phone number where you are most likely to be reached. It may be a mobile or landline number.

Enter additional current phone numbers where applicable. Use Does Not Apply when CEAC provides that option and the field genuinely does not apply.

Enter your current email address accurately.

Select each platform requested by the DS-160 that you have used during the relevant period and enter the identifier or handle requested.

Select the document type that corresponds to the passport or travel document you will use for the visa application.

Copy the number exactly from your passport.

Some countries issue a separate passport book number. If your passport does not contain one, use Does Not Apply where the form allows it.

Enter the country or authority that issued the passport and the requested city, state/province and country information.

Copy these dates directly from the travel document.

Select the category and visa classification that corresponds to the real purpose of your trip.

Enter the hotel, residence, school accommodation, friend's home or other address where you genuinely expect to stay.

If the form asks whether you are traveling as part of a group, answer based on the actual arrangement. A tour group, organized delegation or similar group may qualify.

Enter an individual or organization in the United States connected with your trip and capable of identifying or verifying the purpose of your visit where appropriate.

Choose the relationship that truthfully describes how the contact or organization is connected to you.

Enter the U.S. street address, city, state, postal code, phone number and email information requested.

Provide your father's surname, given names and date of birth as accurately as you know them.

Provide your mother's surname, given names and date of birth as accurately as you know them.

This generally covers immediate relatives such as fiancé(e), spouse, children or siblings, excluding parents where the form has already asked about them separately.

Enter your spouse's surname and given names accurately.

Enter the requested date of birth, city and country/region information.

Select your spouse's actual nationality.

If the spouse's address is the same as yours, use the appropriate option. Otherwise provide the actual address requested.

Select the category that accurately describes your main current activity, such as employment, study, business, retirement, unemployment or another category presented by CEAC.

If employed or studying, enter the full official name of the employer, school or institution requested.

Enter accurate current contact information.

Enter when your current employment, study or activity began, according to the form.

Where CEAC displays this field, enter your actual monthly income in the format/currency requested by the form.

Write a short, factual description of what you actually do. Use clear job-related language rather than advertising language.

Provide employer name, address, telephone, job title, supervisor information where requested, employment dates and duties.

Where this section appears, provide each requested school or institution, its location, course of study and attendance dates.

Answer according to whether this concept applies to you and provide the requested name if applicable.

List the languages you actually speak. Use the Add Another option where available.

List countries or regions you visited during the period requested by CEAC, where this question applies.

Answer whether you have belonged to, contributed to, or worked for organizations covered by the question, and provide the requested details when applicable.

Answer according to the specific examples and wording shown by CEAC, which may refer to specialized areas such as firearms, explosives, nuclear, biological or chemical experience.

Answer exactly according to your actual history. If Yes, provide complete details when CEAC requests them.

Read the current CEAC definition and answer Yes or No according to your actual medical circumstances.

The question is not simply asking whether you have ever had any medical or mental-health condition. Read the specific live wording and answer according to whether the condition described applies to you.

Answer the CEAC question truthfully according to your history. If Yes, provide any explanation requested.

Read the exact CEAC wording carefully. The question may apply even when an arrest did not result in conviction.

Answer based on your actual history and provide details when requested.

Answer the live question according to whether the circumstances described apply to your history.

Answer truthfully and provide explanation if required.

The DS-160 contains questions relating to trafficking activity, knowing assistance or association described in the live form. Answer each separate question accurately.

Answer whether you intend to engage in activities described by the live CEAC question.

CEAC asks several separate questions in this area, including participation, support, representation or other relationships described in the application.

Answer every question according to whether you ordered, incited, assisted, participated in or were responsible for conduct described in the live application.

Answer according to your actual history.

Where applicable, answer whether conduct described by CEAC applies to you.

Answer according to whether you have ever sought to obtain or assisted another person to obtain a U.S. visa, entry or immigration benefit through fraud or willful misrepresentation as described by CEAC.

Answer the separate questions shown by CEAC concerning removal, deportation or related immigration proceedings.

Read the specific live CEAC question carefully. If you have had an overstay, status violation or other U.S. immigration issue, do not guess how it should be characterized.

Where displayed, answer each question according to your actual history and the precise circumstances described by CEAC.

Answer truthfully according to your actual history.

This question applies only if the specific circumstances described by CEAC actually occurred.

Copy the SEVIS ID from your Form I-20 or DS-2019, depending on the visa category.

Enter the school or program name and address corresponding to the information on your I-20 or DS-2019.

Enter the course, major or program information requested by CEAC, using your official student/exchange documentation.

F, M and J applicants may be asked for additional contact persons in their country of residence who can verify information about them. Follow the exact CEAC instructions about who may or may not be used.

Enter the USCIS petition or application receipt number requested by CEAC.

Enter the employer name, address and other employment information requested by the visa-specific section.

The form may request information about the U.S. business, its legal structure, ownership, establishment and operations.

Where applicable, provide information concerning the foreign parent or related enterprise.

E-1 applicants may see detailed questions concerning trade, financial activity and the nature/volume of qualifying trade.

E-2 applicants may see detailed questions concerning the investment, source and amount of funds, business ownership and the U.S. enterprise.

Applicable E applicants can be asked for information concerning personnel in the U.S., nationality, immigration status, positions and related staffing information.

Crew and applicable transit applicants can receive questions about the vessel or airline, position, employer, arrival/departure and other crew-related details.

K applicants can receive additional family, petitioner, fiance, spouse or children-related questions depending on the K classification and prior answers.

When CEAC displays a children section, provide each child's requested identity and relationship information accurately.

Applicable A, G, NATO or similar applicants may receive visa-specific questions related to official position, organization, purpose of travel and assignment.

The DS-160 process includes the electronic photo step. Use a recent photo that meets current Department of State visa photo requirements.

CEAC gives you an opportunity to review the information entered. Use the Edit links where necessary and navigate using the buttons inside the DS-160 rather than relying on your browser's back/forward controls.

By electronically signing the DS-160, you certify the application according to the declarations shown by CEAC. Normally the applicant must electronically sign and submit their own application unless an applicable exception exists.

If CEAC asks whether another person assisted you, answer accurately and provide the preparer/assistant information requested. Receiving help does not mean you should hide the assistance.

After successful submission, save and print or otherwise retain the DS-160 barcode confirmation page according to the instructions for your embassy or consulate.

Submitting the DS-160 is only one part of the visa process. Follow the instructions of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will apply regarding fees, interview scheduling and required documents.