Is this the real DS-160?+
Yes. It's the same form, with the same questions. DS160.io is an independent service, not affiliated with the U.S. government: we enter your answers on the official U.S. government website, ceac.state.gov, and the application you get back is the official one.
Will I get a confirmation number?+
Yes. You get your Application ID, the official confirmation page you need to book your visa interview, and a PDF of every page that was filed.
Can I check my answers before anything is filed?+
Yes. You can read through every section on one page and change any answer before you file. Once you start filing, we enter every page and submit the form, with no captchas for you to enter, so check it first.
What if I enter something wrong?+
Missing answers, dates in the wrong order and characters the official site won't accept are flagged in the form, and filing can't start until they're fixed. The checks can't tell whether an answer is true, so read it through yourself, or have a visa specialist check it with an Expert review. See help options
I've already submitted my DS-160 and found a mistake. What now?+
A submitted DS-160 can't be edited, so a correction means filing a new one. If you filed with us, start the new form from your saved answers, change what was wrong and file again. Not sure what to change? An Expert review checks it before you file. See help options Check what applies to your situation.
What if the government site times out?+
You don't fill in the form on the government site, so there is no session to lose. Your answers save here as you go: stop whenever you like and come back days later.
Can I reuse my answers later?+
Yes. For your next visa, or for someone in your family, start the new form from one you've already filled in and change only what's different. Filed a DS-160 without DS160.io? Retrieve its answers free.
Can I file a DS-160 for more than one consulate?+
Yes. Choose the consulate when you file, then file the same answers again for another. Each filing gets its own confirmation page. Applicants watching several consulates for an interview slot do this so the DS-160 they bring names the post they attend. Filing for several consulates, explained.
Why is it free?+
Filing is free for yourself, your family and people you travel with, with no card and no limit. We earn from businesses that file with DS160.io and from optional help from a visa specialist. Your answers are encrypted and never sold.
Who can see my passport details and answers?+
You can. Your answers are encrypted at rest. Your answers go to the US Department of State when you file, and some providers handle specific tasks, such as translation. See exactly who, and how long we keep it.
What's the difference between free filing, Expert review and Full service?+
With free filing you answer the questions and we file them on the official site. With Expert review ($89), a visa specialist reads your answers and tells you what to change before you file. With Full service ($249), a specialist takes on your whole application: your DS-160, your documents, your interview appointment and your interview. Filing itself never costs anything. See help options
Does DS160.io pay the visa fee or book my interview?+
The visa fee is always paid to the U.S. government, separately from DS160.io. With free filing you book your interview yourself on the official appointment website, using your DS-160 confirmation. With Full service, your specialist books the appointment for you, at any U.S. embassy or consulate.