Free · No sign-up

Find a completed DS-160 example similar to yours

Each example follows one fictional applicant through the whole form. Pick the visa and situation closest to yours, see what the DS-160 will ask, then start your own.

Every question, in orderFictional applicants, real questionsA free PDF of each example
Start my DS-160 for freeFree for individuals. You answer, DS160.io fills in the official form.
This is a fictional example for educational purposes, not an official or pre-approved application. Your DS-160 answers must reflect your own circumstances. Do not copy the sample answers unless they are independently true for you.

Parents visiting family

B1/B2 DS-160 (India)

About this applicant

  • B1/B2 visitor visa, applying in Hyderabad, India
  • A mother visiting her son, who works in Texas on an H-1B, for about four months
  • Her son pays for the trip and is her U.S. point of contact
  • Travelling with her husband
Est. time
~35 min
Best for
B1/B2 visits to family

First-time tourist visitor

B1/B2 DS-160 (Belarus)

About this applicant

  • B1/B2 visitor visa, applying in Warsaw, outside her home country
  • Widowed: the form asks about her late husband
  • First trip to the U.S., with no earlier visa
  • Visiting her son in Florida for three weeks; he pays and is her U.S. contact
Est. time
~30 min
Best for
B1/B2 tourist visas

Reapplying after a refusal

B1/B2 DS-160 after a refusal (Philippines)

About this applicant

  • B1/B2 visitor visa, applying in Manila
  • Refused a B1/B2 visa under section 214(b) about two years ago, and never issued a U.S. visa
  • A two-week trip to visit her sister in California
  • Her sister, a U.S. permanent resident, is her U.S. contact
Est. time
~30 min
Best for
B1/B2 after a 214(b) refusal

Child travelling with parents

B1/B2 DS-160 for a child (Brazil)

About this applicant

  • B1/B2 visitor visa for a child, applying in São Paulo
  • 10 years old, on a two-week family holiday in Florida with both parents
  • His father pays for the trip and filled in the form for him
  • A primary school student, with no income
Est. time
~25 min
Best for
DS-160s for children

Divorced, travelling as a tourist

B1/B2 DS-160 (Montenegro)

About this applicant

  • B1/B2 visitor visa, applying in Podgorica
  • Divorced: the form asks about her former husband and how the marriage ended
  • Lists the surname she used while married as another name
  • A two-week holiday in New York, paying for it herself and travelling alone
Est. time
~30 min
Best for
Divorced B1/B2 applicants

International student

F-1 DS-160 (Nigeria)

About this applicant

  • F-1 student visa, applying in Lagos
  • Starting a two-year master's in data science in Texas
  • Her father pays for her studies
  • Working as a data analyst in Lagos, with a computer science degree
Est. time
~40 min
Best for
F-1 & student visas

Exchange visitor, work and travel

J-1 DS-160 (Turkey)

About this applicant

  • J-1 exchange visitor visa (Summer Work Travel), applying in Istanbul
  • A university student working at a resort in Wisconsin for four months
  • Paying for the trip herself
  • Her U.S. employer is her point of contact
Est. time
~35 min
Best for
J-1 & exchange visas

Work and Travel summer

J-1 DS-160 (Romania)

About this applicant

  • J-1 exchange visitor visa (Summer Work Travel), applying in Bucharest
  • A university student working at a restaurant in Ocean City, Maryland, for four months
  • Paying for the trip himself
  • His U.S. employer is his point of contact
Est. time
~35 min
Best for
J-1 Work and Travel

Specialty-occupation worker

H-1B DS-160 (India)

About this applicant

  • H-1B specialty-occupation visa, applying in Hyderabad
  • A backend engineer already living and working in Texas
  • Renewing: his earlier visa was an H-1B too, issued at a different post
  • Studied for a master's degree in the U.S. before his H-1B
Est. time
~45 min
Best for
H-1B & work visas

Spouse of an H-1B worker

H-4 DS-160 (India)

About this applicant

  • H-4 dependent visa, applying in Hyderabad
  • Wife of an H-1B worker living in Texas, renewing her visa with him
  • Gives her husband's name and his H-1B petition number
  • A homemaker in the U.S., previously an IT analyst in India
Est. time
~35 min
Best for
H-4 & dependent visas

Specialty-occupation worker

H-1B DS-160 (China)

About this applicant

  • H-1B specialty-occupation visa, applying in Guangzhou
  • Already working in Seattle, renewing a visa of the same type
  • Her name in Chinese characters, and a passport book number
  • Several earlier stays in the U.S., including a U.S. master's degree
Est. time
~45 min
Best for
H-1B & work visas

Intracompany transferee

L-1 DS-160 (India)

About this applicant

  • L-1 intracompany transferee visa, applying in Mumbai
  • An engineering manager moving from Pune to his company's U.S. subsidiary in New Jersey for three years
  • The U.S. company pays for the trip and is his point of contact
  • Travelling with his wife and son
Est. time
~45 min
Best for
L-1 & transfer visas

USMCA professional worker

TN DS-160 (Mexico)

About this applicant

  • TN professional visa under USMCA, applying in Monterrey
  • A systems analyst joining a company in Seattle for about three years
  • Travelling with his wife
  • Had a B1/B2 visa before, lost with his passport
Est. time
~55 min
Best for
TN & USMCA work visas

Seafarer joining a ship

C1/D DS-160 (Philippines)

About this applicant

  • C1/D crew visa, applying in Manila
  • An able seaman flying to Long Beach to join a container ship, staying two days
  • Hired through a manning agency in Manila for a ship manager in Singapore
  • His employer pays for the trip, and the ship's agent is his U.S. contact
Est. time
~35 min
Best for
C1/D crew visas

Australian specialty-occupation worker

E-3 DS-160 (Australia)

About this applicant

  • E-3 specialty-occupation visa for Australians, applying in Sydney
  • A software engineer going to work in Los Angeles for a year
  • Paying for the trip himself
  • Single, with no family in the U.S.
Est. time
~30 min
Best for
E-3 visas for Australians

Treaty trader

E-1 DS-160 (Romania)

About this applicant

  • E-1 treaty trader visa, applying in Bucharest
  • Co-owns and will run a seafood trading company in California
  • Every E-Visa page filled in: ownership, finances, trade and staff
  • Travelling with her husband and daughter
Est. time
~75 min
Best for
E-1 & E-2 treaty visas

Treaty investor

E-2 DS-160 (Mexico)

About this applicant

  • E-2 treaty investor visa, applying in Guadalajara
  • Bought a food distributor in Austin, Texas, and will run it as CEO
  • Every E-Visa page filled in: investment, source of funds, ownership and staff
  • Travelling with his wife and three children
Est. time
~75 min
Best for
E-2 & E-1 treaty visas

Every follow-up question opened

Every follow-up (F-1 & H-1B, China)

About this applicant

  • F-1 student and H-1B worker purposes on one form, applying in Beijing
  • Answers Yes to every security and background question, to show each explanation box
  • Earlier names, other nationalities and lost passports
  • Earlier U.S. visits, a lost visa and a refused entry
Est. time
~75 min
Best for
Seeing every section

Ready to fill in your own?

Answer the questions in plain language and save as you go. DS160.io then fills in your DS-160 on the official site for you. Filing is free for individuals.

Start my DS-160 for free

Already submitted your DS-160?

Found a mistake, or did something change? Check whether you need a new one. It takes about a minute and it's free.

Do I need a new DS-160? →