Section 1 of the DS-160 asks for your personal information — and it's the section most likely to have a mismatch between what you enter and what your passport shows. Getting it right matters because everything downstream depends on these fields.

Section 1 Fields — What to Enter

Full Name (Given Name + Surname)
Enter exactly as shown in your passport's machine-readable zone (MRZ)

Given Name: Your first name or given names. If you have only one name, enter it here and leave Surname blank — do not write N/A.

Surname: Your family name or last name. For hyphenated surnames, include the hyphen. For compound family names, enter them as they appear.

If your name includes diacritical marks (é, ñ, ç, etc.), enter them — do not replace with ASCII equivalents.

Aliases / Other Names
Include any name you have used that is different from your legal name

List every alias: maiden name, professional name, religious name, common name variant, name used on social media. If you've never used a different name, check the "No" box. If you have used aliases, add each one — include the type of alias (maiden, professional, etc.) and the date range it was used.

Date and Place of Birth
Date format: MM/DD/YYYY. Place: city, state/province, country at time of birth.

Date of Birth: Enter as MM/DD/YYYY. Double-check the format — some countries use DD/MM/YYYY and entering the wrong order here is one of the most common errors.

City of Birth: Enter the city name in English. If the city name has changed, use the name at the time of your birth.

State/Province of Birth: Enter the state, province, or region — even if your country no longer uses that designation.

Country of Birth: Use the country name as it existed at the time of your birth. Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Zaire — all are still entered under those names when that's what your birth records use.

Nationality
Your current citizenship — the country that issued your current passport

Enter your current nationality. If you hold dual nationality (or have held it in the past), add the additional nationality in the secondary field. This affects which US consulate processes your application.

Primary National ID Number
Your national identity document number (not your passport number)

Enter your national ID number if your country issues one (Aadhar in India, CNIC in Pakistan, Resident ID in China, etc.). If you don't have a national ID, leave it blank — don't enter your passport number here.

Current Address
Your physical residential address — not a P.O. box

Enter your current street address including apartment/unit number, city, state/province, postal code, and country. Do not use a P.O. box — it will be rejected. The address should be where you currently live, not necessarily where your passport is registered.

Common Profile Questions

My passport MRZ shows my name differently from how it appears on the photo page — which do I use?
Use the MRZ at the bottom of the bio page. The machine-readable zone is the authoritative source for name spelling in visa processing. If the MRZ has a different spelling than the printed name page, enter what the MRZ shows. Bring both pages to the interview and explain if needed.
I have a name in my native script that doesn't appear in English on my passport — do I enter both?
Enter your name in Latin characters as shown in the MRZ. The DS-160 only accepts Latin character input. If your native script name doesn't appear in your passport's MRZ in Latin characters, enter the closest transliteration. Note any discrepancy in your documentation and be prepared to explain it at the interview.
I was born in a country different from my current nationality — which do I enter?
Enter your birthplace in the Place of Birth fields. Enter your current nationality in the Nationality field. These are separate fields and both can be different from each other — this is normal and not a problem. For example, someone born in India with UK nationality enters "India" as Country of Birth and "United Kingdom" as Nationality.
I'm a dual citizen — which nationality should I use for processing?
Enter your current passport nationality. If you hold two passports, enter the nationality of the passport you are using to apply. The consulate selection is based on your country of residence, not your nationality — but your nationality affects your eligibility for the visa category and any interview processing.
I changed my name after marriage — do I use my old name or my new name?
Use the name that matches your current valid passport. If your passport has been updated to your married/divorced name, enter that. Keep your marriage certificate or court order ready for the interview as supporting documentation. The name in the DS-160 must match your passport exactly — not your driver's license, not your bank account, your passport.

Section 1 Checklist

  • Name copied from passport MRZ — including any diacritical marks
  • All aliases listed (maiden name, professional name, etc.)
  • Date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format — verify the month/day order
  • Place of birth: city, state/province, country as it existed at your birth
  • Current nationality: your current passport country
  • Any secondary nationalities listed if applicable
  • Current residential address — no P.O. boxes
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