Complete Guide to Form DS-260
A complete field-by-field guide to the Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application, with clear explanations, sample answers, common mistakes, and practical guidance before you submit.
Before You Start: Prepare Your Information
Keep your official records beside you. Most DS-260 fields are mandatory, and answers should match your real documents and immigration history.
Your DS-260 should accurately reflect your identity, family, addresses, immigration history, education, employment and other facts. All names and examples in this guide are fictional.
Getting Started
Important information before entering your immigrant visa application.
Who Completes Form DS-260?
Each qualified immigrant visa applicant normally completes a separate DS-260. This can include the principal applicant and qualified family members who are immigrating with the principal applicant.
Language Used in the Application
Answers must generally be entered in English using English characters, except where CEAC specifically asks for information in a native alphabet.
Save Your Application Frequently
CEAC may end an inactive session after approximately 20 minutes. Save your work before stepping away.
Personal Information 1
Your identity, names, sex, marital status and birth information.
Surnames
What should I enter?
Enter your surname or family name exactly as shown in your passport or travel document.
Given Names
Enter all given names exactly as shown in the passport. Do not omit additional given names.
Full Name in Native Alphabet
Where requested, enter your full name using the native alphabet applicable to your name.
Other Names Used
Sex
Choose the applicable option exactly as requested by the current CEAC form.
Current Marital Status
Date and Place of Birth
Enter your date of birth, city, state/province where applicable, and country/region of birth.
CITY: AMSTERDAM
COUNTRY: NETHERLANDS
Personal Information 2
Nationality and passport or travel-document information.
Country / Region of Origin — Nationality
Select your current nationality or citizenship. Nationality is not necessarily the same as your current country of residence.
Passport / Travel Document Type
Choose the type of travel document you are using for the immigrant visa process.
Passport / Travel Document Number
Copy the document number exactly from the passport or travel document.
Issuing Country or Authority
Enter the country or authority that issued the document.
Issuance and Expiration Dates
Copy the issuance and expiration dates directly from your passport or travel document.
Other Nationalities
Passport for Another Nationality
If you answered that you hold or held another nationality, CEAC may ask whether you also hold a passport from that country. If Yes, provide the requested passport details.
Present and Previous Address Information
Your current residence, previous addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and social media.
Present Address
Enter the address where you currently live, including street address, city, state/province where applicable, postal code and country/region.
CITY: AMSTERDAM
COUNTRY: NETHERLANDS
Started Living Here
Enter when you began living at your current address. Use your real residential history.
Have You Lived Anywhere Else Since Age 16?
Previous Address Details
For each previous address, provide the street, city, state/province where applicable, postal code, country, and dates you lived there.
Primary Phone Number
Enter the current telephone number where you can normally be reached.
Secondary and Work Phone Numbers
Provide additional numbers where they apply. Use Does Not Apply only when the form allows it and the number genuinely does not exist.
Other Phone Numbers Used During the Last Five Years
Email Address
Enter your current email address accurately.
Other Email Addresses Used During the Last Five Years
Social Media
Select each listed social media platform you used during the period requested and provide the username or handle requested by CEAC.
Other Social Media
CEAC can also ask whether you wish to provide information about other websites or applications used to create or share content. Answer according to the wording shown in your live application.
Mailing and Permanent Address Information
Is Your Mailing Address the Same as Your Present Address?
Do You Have an Address in the United States Where You Intend to Live?
Permanent Residence Card — Green Card Mailing Address
CEAC may ask whether the U.S. address you entered is where you want your Permanent Residence Card mailed. Answer according to your actual intended mailing arrangement.
Family Information: Parents
Father's Full Name
Provide your father's surname and given names as accurately as possible. Use Do Not Know only if you genuinely do not know the requested information.
Father's Date and Place of Birth
Enter the date of birth, city, state/province where applicable, and country/region of birth.
Is Your Father Still Living?
Mother's Full Name
Provide your mother's surname and given names accurately.
Mother's Date and Place of Birth
Enter the requested birth information accurately.
Is Your Mother Still Living?
Family Information: Current Spouse
This section appears when your marital status requires current spouse information.
Spouse's Full Name
Enter your spouse's legal surname and given names.
Spouse's Date and Place of Birth
Enter your spouse's date of birth, city, state/province where applicable and country/region of birth.
Spouse's Address
Select the appropriate same-address option where applicable, or provide your spouse's actual current address.
Spouse's Occupation
Choose the category that accurately describes your spouse's current occupation.
Date and Place of Marriage
Enter the legal date and location of your current marriage.
Is Your Spouse Immigrating to the United States With You?
Family Information: Previous Spouse
Do You Have Any Previous Spouses?
Previous Spouse Details
For each applicable previous spouse, provide the name, date of birth, date of marriage, date the marriage ended, and other information requested.
How Was the Marriage Terminated?
Family Information: Children
Do You Have Any Children?
Child's Full Name
Provide each child's surname and given names.
Child's Date and Place of Birth
Enter the child's date of birth and requested birthplace information.
Does This Child Live With You?
Is This Child Immigrating to the United States With You?
Previous U.S. Travel Information
Have You Ever Been in the United States?
Have You Ever Been Issued a U.S. Visa?
Have You Ever Been Refused a U.S. Visa, Refused Admission, or Withdrawn an Application for Admission?
Present Work / Education / Training Information
Fields vary depending on your primary occupation and age.
Primary Occupation
Select the category that truthfully describes your main current activity. CEAC may show different follow-up fields depending on your selection.
Employer / School Name
Where applicable, enter the full official name of your current employer, business, school or institution.
Employer / School Address
Enter the requested address and contact information accurately.
Start Date
Enter when your current employment, education or principal activity began.
Job Title and Duties
Provide a factual job title and concise description of your duties where requested.
COORDINATE PROJECT SCHEDULES, CLIENT COMMUNICATION AND REPORTING.
Previous Work / Education / Training Information
Were You Previously Employed?
Previous Employer Information
CEAC may request employer name, address, telephone, job title, supervisor names and employment dates.
Have You Attended Educational Institutions at Secondary Level or Above?
Education Details
For each applicable institution, enter the school name, address, course of study, degree or diploma, and attendance dates.
Additional Work / Education / Training Information
Clan or Tribe
Answer according to whether the concept described by CEAC applies to you. If Yes, provide the requested information.
Languages Spoken
List the languages you actually speak. Use Add Another where necessary.
Travel to Other Countries / Regions
Where this question appears, provide countries or regions visited during the period requested by CEAC.
Professional, Social or Charitable Organizations
Answer based on your actual membership, contribution or involvement as described by the live CEAC question.
Specialized Skills or Training
Read the current CEAC wording and examples carefully. Answer according to your actual training or experience.
Military Service
Paramilitary / Rebel / Insurgent / Guerrilla / Vigilante Organizations
Answer according to your actual history and the exact current wording of CEAC.
Petitioner Information
Information about the individual or organization that filed the immigrant petition.
Petitioner Is My...
Select the relationship between you and the petitioner, such as a qualifying relative, employer, prospective employer, self-petitioner or another option displayed by CEAC.
Petitioner's Name
Enter the petitioner's surnames and given names exactly as applicable.
Petitioner's Address
Provide the street address, city, state/province, postal code and country/region requested.
Petitioner's Telephone and Email
Enter the petitioner's current telephone, mobile telephone and email information where requested.
Security and Background — Part 1
Health-related eligibility questions.
Communicable Disease of Public Health Significance
Read the live CEAC wording and answer according to your actual circumstances.
Vaccination Documentation
CEAC may ask whether you have documentation establishing that you received vaccinations required under U.S. law. Answer based on your real records.
Physical or Mental Disorder and Harmful Behavior
Read the precise CEAC wording carefully. The question is more specific than simply asking whether you have ever had any medical condition.
Drug Abuse or Addiction
Answer according to your actual history and provide any explanation CEAC requests.
Security and Background — Part 2
Criminal history, controlled substances and related conduct.
Arrest or Conviction for Any Offense or Crime
Read the question literally. An arrest may need to be disclosed even when it did not lead to a conviction.
If you are uncertain about the legal meaning of your record, obtain individualized legal guidance before submitting.
Controlled Substance Violations
Answer truthfully according to your actual history.
Prostitution or Commercialized Vice
Answer each current CEAC question according to the specific conduct and time period described.
Money Laundering
Answer based on your actual history and the exact CEAC wording.
Human Trafficking
CEAC may contain several related questions concerning trafficking, assistance or associations described by the form. Treat each question separately.
Security and Background — Part 3
Security, terrorism, violence and related activity.
Espionage, Sabotage or Export-Control Violations
Answer according to whether the circumstances described by the live form apply.
Terrorist Activities or Organizations
CEAC contains multiple separate security questions in this area. Answer each one independently according to your actual history.
Genocide, Torture or Extrajudicial Killing
Answer according to the specific involvement described by CEAC.
Recruitment or Use of Child Soldiers
Answer according to your actual history.
Religious Freedom Violations
Answer based on the conduct and circumstances described by the current CEAC form.
Security and Background — Part 4
Immigration violations, misrepresentation and removal history.
Fraud or Misrepresentation for a U.S. Visa or Immigration Benefit
Answer according to whether you have ever engaged in conduct described by the current CEAC question.
Removal, Deportation or Exclusion
Answer based on the actual immigration event that occurred, not merely the terminology you personally use for it.
Unlawful Presence or Other Immigration Violations
Read the exact current wording carefully. If you had an overstay or status problem, do not guess about its legal classification.
Security and Background — Part 5
Additional statutory and eligibility questions.
Child Custody or International Child Abduction Questions
Where these questions appear, answer according to your actual history and the precise CEAC wording.
Voting in the United States in Violation of Law
Answer truthfully according to your actual history.
Renouncing U.S. Citizenship to Avoid Taxation
This applies only if the specific circumstances described by CEAC occurred.
A Yes answer is not a reason to change the truth to No. If a question involves a criminal record, immigration violation, security matter or another legally complex fact, obtain individualized legal guidance before submission.
Social Security Number Information
Have You Ever Applied for a Social Security Number?
Do You Want the Social Security Administration to Issue You a Number and Card?
Where CEAC offers this option, answer according to whether you want to request a Social Security Number/card through the immigrant visa process.
Consent to Disclosure to the Social Security Administration
Read the consent language displayed by CEAC carefully before selecting your answer.
Application Review
Review Every Section Before Signing
Before signing, review each section carefully and correct any inaccurate information.
Legal names and dates
Passport information
Address history
Parents, spouse and children
Previous U.S. travel
Work and education history
Petitioner information
Every security answer
Social Security Number answers
Sign and Submit
Electronic Signature
Read the certification displayed by CEAC carefully. By electronically signing and submitting the application, you certify your answers according to the declaration shown by the system.
After submission, you normally cannot edit the DS-260 yourself. It must be reopened by the appropriate government processing office or the embassy/consulate when required.
Did Anyone Assist You in Completing This Application?
If the application asks about assistance or a preparer, answer accurately and provide the requested information. Do not hide legitimate assistance.
DS-260 Confirmation Page
Save and Print the Confirmation Page
After successfully submitting the DS-260, save and print the confirmation page. You will need the confirmation page for the immigrant visa process and interview.
What Happens After the DS-260?
Submitting the DS-260 is one part of immigrant visa processing. Follow the instructions for civil documents, financial documents, medical examination, interview preparation and the immigrant visa interview.
Examples on this page only demonstrate how fields work. Your DS-260 must reflect your own identity, family, addresses, immigration history, education, employment and circumstances.