For site management, information is collected for statistical purposes. The Department of State Web Site uses software programs to create summary statistics for such purposes as assessing what information is of most and least interest or identifying system performance or problem areas. The following is the type of information collected about your visit to the web site: the name of the Internet domain from which you access State Department web sites (for example, «aol.com» if you are connecting from America Online) and the date and time you access our site.
For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, the State Department uses software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986. Information also may be used for authorized law enforcement investigations. Except for the above purposes, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits.
Unauthorized attempts to upload information and/or change information on these web sites are strictly prohibited and are subject to prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and Title 18 U.S.C. Sec.1001 and 1030.
Furthermore, the Department of State assures that it will not
• obtain personal identifying information about you through your use of this system, unless you choose to provide such information
• share any information it receives with any outside parties, except where permitted by Section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or, where applicable, the Privacy Act.
If there are technical issues with the system, or you want to complete your application some other time, you can save your work and later, start where you left off. In order to access your application later, however, you will need: (1) your Application ID, and (2) the answer to the security question that you will choose on this page.
To choose a security question, pick the one you like the best from the dropdown list, type your answer to that question in the box below, and click “Continue.” Remember: In order to access your application later, you will need to know the answer exactly as you wrote it on this page.
You can also use your Application ID and security question to retrieve your Confirmation Page after you have submitted your application, or to use your previously provided application information to complete a new application at a later date.
Note: Electronically submitting your DS-160 online application is the FIRST STEP in the visa application process. The next step is to review the internet page of the embassy or consulate where you plan to apply for your visa. Most visa applicants will need to schedule a visa interview, though some applicants may qualify for visa renewal. The embassy or consulate information may include specific local instructions about scheduling interviews, submitting your visa application, and other frequently asked questions.
Please complete your DS-160 in a timely manner, applications which have not been updated for sixty (60) days or submitted will be removed from the systems and users will be required to start a new application.
