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I get asked this question very, very often. The answer is yes — you can correct mistakes in your DS-160 even after you have submitted it and booked your appointment. Here is exactly how to do it.
Step 1 — Go to the Department of State website and retrieve your application
Start by going to the Department of State DS-160 website. Once you are there, click on the 'Get Started' tab, select your location — this must be the same location you selected when you originally filled out the form — and enter the captcha code. You will then see three options: Start, Upload, and Retrieve. Since your DS-160 is already submitted, click on 'Retrieve Application'.
Step 2 — Enter your Application ID and answer your security questions
The retrieve page will ask for your Application ID. This is the ID you received when you first submitted your DS-160. If you do not remember it, check the confirmation page you received after your original submission — your Application ID is printed right there. Enter it, then click 'Retrieve Application'. Next, you will be asked to answer the security questions you set up when you filled the form the first time. Answer them the same way you did originally, then click 'Retrieve Application' again.
Step 3 — Make your corrections, re-sign, and resubmit
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Book a Mock InterviewOnce you retrieve the form, your submitted DS-160 will open and you can navigate through every page, correct whatever needs fixing — your date of birth, passport number, or anything else — and double-check the rest of your answers while you are at it. When you are satisfied that everything is accurate, follow the same process as before: e-sign the form and submit it.
Two important things to know after you resubmit
First, once you resubmit your corrected DS-160, you will receive a brand-new confirmation page with a new barcode and a new Application ID. Make a note of this new ID — your old Application ID is no longer valid from that point on.
Second, this retrieval and correction process is only available for 30 days after your original submission. If more than 30 days have passed since you first submitted your DS-160, you will not be able to retrieve the old form — you would need to fill out a completely new DS-160 instead.
Need help filling the DS-160 accurately in the first place?
If you want to avoid these situations altogether, I have put together a DS-160 Toolkit that walks you through the form step by step. It includes templates to help you prepare your answers and a 60-minute video guide that works like having a personal coach beside you. You can find the link to the toolkit on this site. And if you have questions about your specific situation, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram at @shachi.mall or book a one-to-one consultation session with me.
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