What should I have ready before starting the DS-160?

The State Department lists: your passport; your travel itinerary, if you have already made travel arrangements; the dates of your last five visits to the United States if you have been there before (you may also be asked for your international travel history for the past five years); and a résumé or CV, since you may be required to provide current and previous education and work history. F, J and M applicants also need the SEVIS ID printed on the I-20 or DS-2019 plus the school or program address, and petition-based temporary workers should have a copy of the I-129.

Can I save a partly finished DS-160 and come back to it?

Yes. When you begin a new DS-160 you are issued a unique application ID after selecting and answering a security question, and you need that ID to return to the application. A partially completed application stays available on the site for 30 days; to access it after that, save it to your own computer or a disk using Save Application to File. The State Department warns that an application saved on a public or shared computer could be accessed by anyone who uses that device afterwards.

If my connection drops or the form times out, do I lose what I entered?

No. The State Department says all information is automatically saved when each page is completed, so the application will not be lost; you enter your application ID, answer the questions prompted, and the form resumes at the last page you completed, with earlier pages still editable. Note too that edits made from the review page's edit links only save if you navigate with the buttons at the bottom of each page rather than the browser's back and forward buttons.

I've filed a DS-160 before — can I reuse it?

You can reuse some of the information. The State Department gives two ways: save the earlier form to your hard drive and choose Option B, Upload a Previously Saved Application, on the Getting Started page; or, if the previous application was submitted after November 1, 2010, choose Option C, Retrieve Application, enter that application ID, and click Create a New Application so your personal information populates the form. It also warns you to check carefully that all previously submitted information is current and accurate.

What do I do if I find a mistake after submitting?

The State Department says failing to answer all questions accurately and completely may mean you have to correct your application and reschedule your visa interview appointment. If a post denied an application because the DS-160 contained errors or was incomplete, it should reopen a DS-160 submitted after April 1, 2010 and ask you to correct it — for applications submitted on or after November 1, 2010, you enter your application ID and answer the additional questions prompted to access and correct it. Whether you then need a new appointment is something to ask the embassy or consulate where you applied.

// DS-160 GUIDE · PRE-SUBMISSION CHECK

What to check before submitting DS-160

Direct answer: Before submitting DS-160, compare every answer with your current, true information and keep the confirmation page. The State Department says the form is used with the personal interview, and its FAQ says applicants should answer all questions accurately and completely.

Source: DS-160 overview · DS-160 FAQs

Start with what the DS-160 is used for

The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa application. The State Department says consular officers use the information in the form together with the personal interview when determining visa eligibility.

That makes the pre-submission task one of accuracy, completeness, and currency, not of writing a more favorable story.

Source: DS-160 overview

Check each answer for accuracy and completeness

The State Department's DS-160 FAQ says applicants must answer all questions accurately and completely. It also says that failing to answer all questions may require an applicant to correct the application and may require rescheduling the interview.

If information is no longer accurate, return to the official instructions and handle it truthfully. A practice checklist or template is not a substitute for checking the actual form.

Check whether each answer reflects current, true information.
Make sure you have not omitted applicable information merely to simplify an answer.
When you find an error, consult the official DS-160 guidance before taking action.

Source: DS-160 FAQs

Keep the confirmation page and prepare a consistent explanation

The State Department's DS-160 FAQ says applicants must bring the confirmation page. Keep it with your preparation materials and avoid letting a spoken explanation conflict with information already submitted.

This check cannot assess eligibility or predict an interview result. It only helps you return to current, true information before practice.

Source: DS-160 FAQs

A short final checklist

Base the final review on current facts. If your situation raises individual legal questions or needs professional advice, use official resources and seek an appropriate qualified professional.

Accurate: every answer is true.
Complete: no applicable answer has been skipped.
Current: no outdated or changed information has been carried over.
Retained: the DS-160 confirmation page is saved.

Source: DS-160 overview · DS-160 FAQs

Official sources

Updated 2026-07-20