Q: Who do I list as my US point of contact on the DS-160?

You list whoever or wherever you are staying in the US. If visiting family or friends: list that person's name, address, phone, and email. If staying at a hotel: list the hotel name, address, and phone number. If on business: list the company contact or the event organizer. You do not need a contact who is a US citizen or resident — anyone present at your US destination qualifies.

Q: Can I list a hotel as my US contact instead of a person?

Yes — if your travel plans include a confirmed hotel reservation, list the hotel as your US contact. Enter the hotel name as the 'Organization,' the street address as the address, and the hotel phone number. You do not need a personal contact if you are staying at a hotel. This is a common and acceptable approach for tourist visa applicants.

Q: I'm visiting my US citizen boyfriend/girlfriend — who do I list as contact?

List your partner's name and address. However, be careful about how you describe the purpose of your trip in the Travel Information section. If you describe your purpose as 'visiting my US citizen girlfriend' while your stated intent is tourist visa, this creates an inconsistency. State the travel purpose clearly and consistently — if you are visiting a romantic partner, that is a valid purpose, but be honest about it.

Q: I'm attending a conference or business event — who do I list as contact?

List the conference organizer or your company's US office as the contact. Enter the organization name, address, and phone. If you are staying at a hotel during the event, you can list the hotel as an additional or alternative contact. For business visa applicants, the US employer or the company you are visiting is usually the most appropriate contact.

Q: Do I need a US contact if I have no one to list?

The form requires a US point of contact. If you truly have no personal or business contact in the US, list your first hotel or accommodation as the contact. You cannot leave this field blank. If you are applying for a work visa (H-1B, L-1, etc.), your US employer's information is the contact.

Q: Should I list my immigration lawyer as my US contact on the DS-160?

You can, but it is generally not necessary. Listing a lawyer as your contact may signal to the reviewing officer that your case is complex or that you have immigration intent beyond what the visa category allows. For straightforward tourist or business visa applications, a personal contact (family member, friend, hotel) is more appropriate. For employment-based visas where an employer is sponsoring you, the employer's information is the contact.

Q: What if my US contact's phone or email is not in the US?

Enter whatever phone number and email your US contact actually uses — even if it is an international number. The field asks for the contact's phone and email, not for a US-format phone number. For email: use whatever email your contact uses regularly. If your contact is outside the US but you are staying at their US address, list their email and phone as provided.

Q: My US contact is a US citizen who lives abroad — can I still list them?

The field asks for a US point of contact — meaning someone or an organization in the United States. If your contact is a US citizen living abroad, they are not a valid US contact for this field. List whoever or whatever is present at your US destination — a hotel, employer, event venue, or family member's address in the US.

USVisaStack Editorial

The US Contact section (Section 7) asks for the person or organization you are staying with or in contact with in the United States. The right answer depends on your situation — here's the complete breakdown.

Who to List by Situation

If visiting family or friends

Enter the person's full name, their US street address (not a P.O. box), their phone number, and their email address. The person does not need to be a US citizen or permanent resident — any legal resident or citizen with a US address qualifies. If you are staying with multiple people, list the primary person you will be with.

If staying at a hotel

Enter the hotel name as the organization, the hotel's street address, and the hotel's main phone number. You do not need a personal contact if you have a hotel reservation. The hotel contact approach is common and entirely acceptable for tourist visa applicants.

If attending a conference or business event

Enter the company or organization hosting the event, its US address, and a contact phone number. If the event has an organizer, you can list their name and contact information instead. If you are staying at a hotel for the event, list the hotel address alongside or instead of the company contact.

If on a work visa (H-1B, L-1, etc.)

Your US employer's information is the contact. Enter the company's name, address, and main phone number. The contact person is typically your supervisor or HR representative at the US office. You can list the company as the organization without a specific person if you prefer.

Common Point of Contact Questions

I have no personal contact in the US — can I skip this field?

No — the field is required. If you have no personal contact, list your hotel or accommodation. If you haven't booked a hotel yet, enter the city you'll be staying in and a general placeholder you can update before the interview. You cannot leave the field blank.

I'm visiting my romantic partner — should I list them as my contact?

You can list your partner as your contact — this is a valid relationship. However, be consistent: if your stated travel purpose is 'tourism' but you list a romantic partner's address, officers may ask about the nature of your relationship. If you are visiting a romantic partner, that is a legitimate purpose — but describe it consistently in both the travel purpose section and the contact section.

What if I'm staying in multiple places during my US trip?

List the first or primary place where you will stay. If you are visiting multiple cities, list the address where you will be for the longest period or the first address. You do not need to list every accommodation — one primary contact is sufficient.

Can I list an Airbnb or short-term rental as my US contact?

Yes — enter the Airbnb address as your contact address. Use the street address provided by the rental platform. You can use the host's name if you have it, or enter the property management company's contact information if available. A short-term rental is treated the same as a hotel for this purpose.

US Contact Section Checklist

Visiting family/friends: person's name, US address, phone, email
Hotel stay: hotel name, street address, phone number
Business trip: company/organization name, address, contact
Work visa: employer's name, address, HR contact
Short-term rental: rental property address
Never leave this field blank — if in doubt, list your first accommodation

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