The DS-160 asks for every employment period in the last 5 years. The key principle: no blank gaps over 30 consecutive days. If you were doing something — working, studying, traveling, job-searching, raising children — enter it. Here's the full guide.
What to Enter for Each Employer
Required Fields for Each Employment Entry
For each employer, enter:
- Employer Name — full legal company name (not a nickname)
- Employer Address — street address, city, state/province, country
- Your Title/Position — job title at that employer
- Supervisor Name — supervisor's full name (optional but recommended)
- Employment Dates — start month/year and end month/year (or 'Present' if current)
- Brief Description — 1-2 sentences on your primary duties
Special Situations
I was unemployed for several months — how do I enter that?
Create a work history entry with: Employer Name — 'Unemployed' (or your city if you prefer). Address — 'N/A.' Position — 'Unemployed / Job Searching.' Dates — the start and end months of the unemployment period. Description — 'Job searching and career transition.' This is not a negative entry — unemployment is a valid period to account for.
I'm self-employed — what do I put for employer address and supervisor?
For self-employment: enter your business name (or 'Self-Employed') as the employer. Use your home address as the employer address. For supervisor, enter 'N/A' or 'Self.' Describe your work briefly: 'Software consulting and development services.' Self-employment is fully acceptable — just be accurate about the nature and dates of your work.
I was a full-time student during some of the last 5 years — do I list that?
Yes — enter your education as a work history entry if you were not simultaneously employed. Enter the school name as 'Employer,' 'Student' as your position, and the degree program in the description. If you were both working and studying, list the employment as your primary entry and note education as a brief note in the description.
I had multiple jobs at the same time — do I list both?
Yes — list each job as a separate employment entry with its own dates. Having multiple concurrent jobs is not unusual and does not require an explanation in the form. Officers may ask about it at the interview if the combination seems unusual, but it's not a red flag in itself.
I worked for a company that no longer exists — what do I enter?
Enter the company name as it was when you worked there, even if it has since been acquired, merged, or shut down. If you know the successor company, enter the original name and note the acquisition in the description if you wish. Use your best knowledge of the address — a general location is acceptable.
What if I have gaps of less than 30 days between jobs?
Gaps under 30 days between jobs (e.g., two weeks between finishing one job and starting another) are generally acceptable without a detailed explanation. If a brief gap falls within a longer unemployment period already accounted for, it's fine. Officers focus on gaps that appear unexplained — small turnaround gaps rarely raise questions.
The Gap Rule
- No blank period longer than 30 days in the last 5 years
- Unemployment, schooling, and travel are all valid entries for gaps
- Leaving a gap blank raises the same question as omitting information
- You don't need to explain why you were unemployed at the interview — just enter it
5-Year Work History Checklist
- List every employer in the last 5 years in chronological order
- No gaps over 30 days — use 'Unemployed / Job Searching' for gap periods
- Include part-time, contract, and gig work
- Self-employment: list your business name or 'Self-Employed'
- Education without employment: list school as employer, position as 'Student'
- Current employer: start date only, leave end date blank or use 'Present'