DS-160 Explained: Everything You Need to Know About the U.S. Visa Application Form

The DS‑160 form is the United States government’s standard online application for people seeking temporary—or nonimmigrant—visas, used by tourists, students, workers, exchange visitors and others seeking short stays.

"Applicants should approach the DS-160 with the understanding that it is the most important single document in their visa application, and they should allocate sufficient time to completing it accurately,"  Morgan Bailey, a partner at Mayer Brown and a former senior official at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), told Newsweek. "The Form DS‑160 application is a sworn statement, so even minor discrepancies can have an impact on an applicant’s eligibility for a benefit request."