How do I start, update, and fix errors in my DS-160 form for the F1 visa?

Why the DS-160 form deserves more attention than most students give it

Over the last four years I have worked with thousands of students on their US visa journey, many of them coming to me after a prior rejection. One pattern I see constantly is that students treat the DS-160 as a formality — something to fill out quickly so they can move on to interview prep. That is a mistake. In many interviews, the visa officer is not even looking at the person sitting in front of them. They are looking at their screen, scanning your DS-160. This form is both one of the first steps in your visa process and one of the most important ones.

How to start your DS-160 form correctly so it does not expire

Starting the form correctly is something many applicants get wrong, and the consequences can be serious. Here is how to do it properly: select your location, enter the CAPTCHA code, and click 'Start Application'. The very next page will show you your application ID and ask you to choose a security question and answer. Save this information immediately. Without your application ID or your security question answer, you cannot log back in to continue the form.

Once you have your application ID saved, do not stop there. Go to the next page — you will land on the personal information section — and fill in at least a few details like your name. Save the form and navigate between a couple of pages. This step is what actually activates the form properly. If you stop after getting the application ID without entering any information, the form can expire. And if you have already used that DS-160 number to book your visa appointment, an expired form means your appointment is no longer valid.

You do not need to submit the form before booking your appointment — but the form must remain active. To keep it active, log in every three to four days, toggle between the pages, and update some information. Once everything is correct and you are ready, then go ahead and submit.

Save your form before you submit — you cannot retrieve the information later

Once you submit your DS-160, there is no way to retrieve the information from it. This is why saving the form as a PDF before submission is so important. Many students who come to me for interview preparation have completely forgotten what they wrote in their form. That creates real problems, because your interview answers need to align precisely with what is on file.

Before you hit submit, go to the review section. Check all the information carefully, save each page as a PDF, and only then submit. Keep that saved PDF somewhere accessible — you will need it during interview preparation.

Can you fill a new DS-160 after submitting? Yes — if your biometrics have not been done yet

I hear a lot of rumours that once you submit the DS-160 you cannot change it. As of 1st May 2025, that is not true. If you have already submitted your form, used it to book your appointment, and then realised there are mistakes or things you want to improve — and your biometrics appointment has not happened yet — you can fill a completely new DS-160.

Here is what you do: fill the new form, make all your corrections and improvements, and submit it. You will now have two confirmation pages — the original one you used to book the appointment, and the new one. Bring both to your biometrics appointment. Show the coordinator both pages and ask them to update the number in their system. Once they update it, the visa officer will only see your new, corrected form. It is a simple process and it happens routinely.

One critical point: once your biometrics are done, you cannot change any information on the form. A change of university, an update to your work or education profile — none of that can happen after biometrics. This is why I strongly recommend doing a thorough review of your DS-160 before your biometrics date, not after.