Introducing the

CEAC DS-160
What is CEAC?
Consular Electronic
Application Center
 Background and Features
• New non-immigrant application form that replace the
DS-156, DS-157, and DS-158 forms.
• 81 posts in 44 countries already have used the DS-160
• Expand worldwide by April 30, 2010
• SMART Form: DS-160 requires you to fill in a
significant amount of information, such as name, date
of birth, address of your U.S. destination, U.S. contacts,
etc. and captures your information and transmits it
electronically for processing.
• Applicants move through the screens based on their
responses
 Application Process
Step 1 Only the application
Complete Form form has changed.
Other parts of the
process remain the
Step 2 same.
Pay Fee
Step 3
Make
Appointment Fingerprint Mail or
Interview TA Pick Up
As of March 29, 2010,

all non-immigrant visa

applicants must
complete Form DS-160
 Completing the DS-160
Step 1:
Accessing the
Application
• Go to
https://ceac.state.gov/genniv

• Read the instructions

and press “Start
Application”
• View the translation by
positioning your
mouse cursor over the
text, but need to enter
in English.
 Completing the DS-160
Step 2 ：
Choose the Embassy
• Choose the Embassy
or Consulate where
you will apply.
IF THE CHOSEN
SELECTION IS WRONG ,
THE INFORMATION IN THE
DS-160 WILL BE SENT TO A
DIFFERENT DATABASE.
 Completing the DS-160
Step 3
Upload Photo
• Browse to your photo
and press “Upload
Selected Photo”
• If your photo meets the
quality standards, you
can press “Continue
Using This Photo”
• If your photo does not
pass, press “Continue
Without A Photo”
 Completing the DS-160
Step 4
Fill In The Form
• Complete all questions
carefully and accurately

• Inserting wrong
information or leaving
required items blank
will only delay your
application
 Completing the DS-160
THE INFORMATION PRINTED
ON THE VISA
• Name (Exactly as listed in Passport);
• Nationality;
• Gender;
• Passport Number;
• Purpose of Travel/Visa Class Selection

Note: If the nationality, gender, and

visa class are not correct, your
application will not be accepted and
you will then be asked to complete a
new Online NIV Application
 Completing the DS-160
Example 1): If you say you are a 29-year
old male, you will be led to screen that
equate to the DS 157.
Example 2): If you say you need a student
visa, you will be asked questions about
your I 20 and SEVIS.

CORRECT AND THOROUGH

COMPLETION OF AN APPLICATION
IS VERY IMPORTANT
 Completing the DS-160
If a question does not
apply to you, you must
check the “Does Not
Apply” box.

Answer fully and include

as much detail as you can.

Be especially careful with

the yes/no questions near
the end – misrepresenting
the facts can make you
ineligible to receive a visa.
 Save Your Application
Saving an Application
• If you can not finish in one
sitting, you can save the
application to your hard
drive and continue later
• Press “Save” at the
bottom of any data entry
page
• Press “Save Application
to File”
• Press “Save” and
navigate to the place you
want to save your
application
 Save Your Application
Retrieving a Saved
Application
• Browse to a saved
application file

• Press “Upload Data”

 Review Your Application
Step 5
Reviewing Your
Application
• You have an opportunity
to review and edit all your
answers before
submitting your
application.

• Check carefully to ensure

that everything is correct
– it is impossible to make
changes later.
 Completing the DS-160
Step 6
Submitting Your
Application
Click the “Sign and Submit”
button
Pressing “Sign and Submit
Application” constitutes
your electronic signature,
certifying that all the
answers on the
application are true.
Once you submit your
application, you can not
change it.
 Confirmation Page
Step 7 (1)
Printing Your
Confirmation Page
• Print the confirmation page
and bring the printed
confirmation sheet to the
interview.
• You can print the entire
application for your own
records if you wish.
• You can e-mail the
confirmation to someone.
 Confirmation Page
Step 7 (2)
Printing Your
Confirmation Page
Sample of the confirmation
page if your photo was not
Uploaded (documents will be
shown based on the visa
category you are applying for.
You also need to check the
Embassy website for other
documents).
You will need to bring a
photo with you to the
interview.
 Notes
The DS-160 replaces only the application forms.
Other items are still required:

• Students: I-20

• Exchange Visitors: DS-2019

• Diplomats and Officials: Diplomatic Note

And most applicants still need evidence of ties to their

place of residence
 Key Changes
Before After
Only hard copy Online application

Up to three forms One form

Print form and Upload a photo electronically

confirmation pages

Print confirmation page only

 CEAC site:
https://ceac.state.gov/genni
v
Questions?