Stricter US Visa Rules: DS-160 Must Be Completed Before Booking Appointments

The US visa application process has become more stringent, 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙎-160 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩. The US Department of State’s latest directive aims to reduce appointment hoarding, prevent errors, and improve processing efficiency.

Previously, applicants could schedule an interview before completing the form, but this has changed. The 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗦-𝟭𝟲𝟬 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 the numbers used when booking the appointment. If they don’t match, rescheduling will be necessary, as 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲.

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨--
-- If you booked an appointment 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗦-𝟭𝟲𝟬, you'll need to reschedule.
-- Those seeking 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 must ensure all details are correct before booking.
-- 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 should double-check submissions to avoid delays.

Although visa wait times still vary, this policy is expected to 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝘀 in the long run.

𝙀𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙎𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙐𝙎 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙖 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣-
To navigate these changes, applicants should:
✅ 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗗𝗦-𝟭𝟲𝟬 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 before submission to avoid costly mistakes.
✅ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 from the confirmation page when booking an appointment.
✅ 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲—even minor errors can delay approvals.

At 𝗡𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗡𝗲𝘁, 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 with the latest regulations, making the process smoother for applicants. Our experts provide 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 to help applicants navigate the stricter requirements with confidence.