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F-1 Student Visa is the most important document for studying in America. It is mandatory to fill DS-160 Form for this visa. This form is completely online and it is important to fill it correctly. Here we will give step-by-step information to fill DS-160 Form for Indian students.
The DS-160 Form is an online non-immigrant visa application form that is mandatory for F-1 USA Student Visa. It asks for all your personal, educational, and travel-related information. It is important to fill it correctly as the information in the form plays an important role in your visa approval.
The DS-160 Form is important for F-1 Visa because it is the basis of your visa application. Based on the information provided in it, the consular officer checks your eligibility, course of study, and financial stability. Incorrect or incomplete information may lead to visa rejection.
The DS-160 Form is mandatory for every person who wants to travel to the USA for a non-immigrant visa. Especially:
Note: There are different forms for H-1B, B1/B2 or other visa categories.
The “Course of Study” section is very important while filling the DS-160 form. This part is especially for those Indian students who apply for F1 Visa for higher education in the USA. In this, you have to tell in which stream you have done your previous studies and which course you want to study further in the USA. For example, if you have studied in Science stream in India and now want to do Engineering, Computer Science or Medical course in USA, then you have to fill your information accordingly. Similarly, students of Commerce stream can write Business, Finance or Management courses. Students of Arts stream can choose Humanities, Literature or Fine Arts courses.
It is very important to give honest and correct information in this section because the visa officer evaluates your entire academic background on this basis. If the information is wrong or incomplete, then the visa may also be rejected. Therefore, Indian students are advised to fill their course of study details carefully and mention the same course which is actually written in their USA admission letter. This step increases your chances of visa approval.
| Field | What to Fill | Example for Indian Students |
| Major Field of Study | Your main academic stream | Science, Commerce, Arts |
| Specific Course | Exact course name as per admission letter | Computer Science, MBA, Fine Arts |
| Previous Education | Course/stream completed in India | B.Sc. in Physics, B.Com, B.A. in English |
| Future Study in USA | Intended program of study | MS in Data Science, MBA, Masters in Economics |
| Accuracy Requirement | Must match with admission documents | Same as I-20 or university offer letter |
The DS-160 Form itself is free of cost. But you will have to pay a visa application fee for the F-1 visa application. Currently the F-1 Visa fee is around $185 USD. Make payment only through approved methods.
| Item | Cost / Fee | Description |
| DS-160 Form | Free | Online non-immigrant visa application form; no payment required to submit the form |
| F-1 Visa Application Fee | $185 USD | Required for scheduling the visa interview; payable via approved payment methods |
| SEVIS Fee (I-901) | $350 USD | Mandatory fee for SEVIS registration; must be paid before visa interview |
| Optional Courier / Document Delivery | Varies | Cost for delivering passport and visa to your address in India (if using courier service) |
Documents Required for DS-160 Form Filling
Keep the following documents ready to fill DS-160 Form:
How to Fill DS-160 Form?
Steps to fill DS-160 Form:
Below is an example table which is useful for the course of study section:
| Course of Study DS-160 | Master of Science in Computer Science |
| Course of Study DS-160 Example | Bachelor of Business Administration |
| Primary Occupation DS-160 | Student |
Note: This is just a reference; fill in your actual details in your form.
Conclusion
Filing the DS-160 Form is an important step for the F-1 USA Visa. Filling the form with correct information and documents makes your visa approval easy. If you need help in filling the DS-160 Form or the direct admission and visa process, we exclusively assist Indian students with 20+ years of experience.
