“Rule #1 of the DS-160,” Rahul said. “Before you type anything else, write down that ID. Also, choose a security question and answer you’ll never forget. That’s how you reload your application later.”
Maya reached the last page. A button glowed: “Sign and Submit.” Her finger hovered. ds 160 application
The DS-160 rejected it instantly. “Head size incorrect. Background not pure white. Shadow on face.” “Rule #1 of the DS-160,” Rahul said
She spent thirty minutes slowly scrolling through 20 pages of answers. On page 7, she spotted a typo: her mother’s last name was misspelled by one letter. She fixed it. On page 12, she had accidentally said “Yes” to “Do you have any communicable disease?” —a terrifying error. She corrected it to “No.” That’s how you reload your application later
Tears of frustration welled up. “I’ll never get this right,” she whispered.
Maya thought she was done. She uploaded her passport photo—a nice selfie against a white wall.