Things to be done before you start filling up the online DS-160 form are as follows
Click a 5cm x 5cm photograph with white background. The photograph Should look some what like the image shown below. You also require a scanned copy of this photo. (My advice - if you do not have a scanner at your home please take a soft copy of the photograph from your photographer. Remember the photograph should have at-least 300dpi resolution i.e. 590px x 590px). For more information regarding the photo quality and specification please visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/frvi_3877.html . You can also download the Pdf of the photo quality requirement by clicking here.
Now lets us start with filling the DS-160 form. You will require the following documents before you can start filling the form.
- Soft copy of photograph as mentioned above.
- A valid Passport
- Your I-20
- Contact details with address of two references from India (They are usually not contacted but a requirement to be filled out)
- Contact details (telephone number and email) of your Graduate Ad-visor referring to I-20 from University/College website.
Now let us start Filling the DS-160
Please open Page: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/. It will look some thing like this
(Please click on the Image to make it Lager)
Step 1: Start Application
Click on the the "Start Application" button shown with red oval.
Note: The session time starts when you press this button. The session is of 15min so you have to be quick. It is almost impossible to complete the entire online application in this time so you will need to save this application after filling a few amount of data. I will guide you how to save your application from time to time and Load your previously saved Application.
After clicking on Start Application button the page will reload and you will get a page that looks some what like this.
Step 2: Getting Started
Please select a location where you are going to submit your Application Material at VFS India. The are one of the following:
- Chennai, India
- Hyderabad, India
- Kolkattta, India
- Mumbai, India
- New Delhi,India
Step 3: Starting New Application
Now to start a new application press button "Start an New Application" marked with oval 1 and to load a previously saves application press button "Upload a Previous Application" marked with oval 2
Starting a new application by pressing button "Start an New Application" marked with oval 1. We get the following page.
Step 4: Personal Information 1
Fill in the fields written in Red in accordance with your passport. If at any time you fell that it is 15min up then please click Save button at the bottom of the page. Else click on the Next: Personal 2 > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 5: Personal Information 2
Fill in the required details according to the above image . After filling the details click on the Next: Address & Phone > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 6: Address and Phone Information
Fill in the required details according to the above image with reference to your passport . After filling the details click on the Next: Passport > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 7: Passport Information
Fill in the required details according to the above image from your passport.
If you have lost your Passport click on Yes for the last Question. A panel will slide down where you will have to enter certain details with reference to the image below.
Step : Saving Application
Now is the time to save your application . Press the save button on the bottom middle of the page the following page will load as shown below.
Step: Loading Application
To load your previously saved application you need to press button "Upload a Previous Application" marked with oval 2 in step 3. The following page will appear as shown in the image below
the Next: Travel > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 8: Travel Information
Fill in the required details according to the above image from your I-20.
After filling the details click on the Next: Travel Companions > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 9: Travel Companions Information
Select the answer to the above question in the image. After answering the question click on the Next: Previous U. S. Travel > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 10: Previous U.S. Travel Information
Select the answer to the above question in the image. If any of your answers is "Yes" for the above questions then refer to the images below and fill in the required details.
After filling the details click on the Next: U.S. Contact > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 11: U.S. Point of Contact Information
Fill in the contact details of your Graduate Advisor from your I-20. Get the mail address and telephone number from the website of the college.
After filling the details click on the Next: Family > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 12: Family Information : Relatives
Fill in the names of your parents their DOB and if they are in the US. If they are in the US refer to the image below or else click on "No".
If any of your relatives are in the US then click on "Yes" the following details have to be filled as shown in image below else click on "No".
If any of your relatives are in the US then click on "Yes" the following details have to be filled as shown in image below else click on "No".
After filling the details click on the Next: Work/Education/Training > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 13: Present Work/Education/Training Information
Select your Primary Occupation and fill in the required details.
The various Occupations as follows :
For any of the above selection their is the same information to be filled as shown in the image belowThe various Occupations as follows :
- Agriculture
- Artist/Performer
- Business
- Communications
- Computer Science
- Culinary/Food Services
- Education
- Engineering
- Government
- Homemaker
- Legal Profession
- Medical/Health
- Military
- Natural Science
- Not Employed
- Physical Sciences
- Religious Vocation
- Research
- Retired
- Social Science
- Student
- Other
After filling the details click on the Next: Work/Education > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 14: Previous Work/Education/Training Information
If you were previously employed click on "Yes" and fill in the required details according to the above image else click on "No".
After filling the details click on the Next: Security and Background > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 15: Security and Background : Medical and Health Information
Click on appropriate answers of the above questions in the image (for most of the applicants the answer is "No") .
After filling the details click on the Next: Criminal > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 16: Security and Background : Criminal Information
Click on appropriate answers of the above questions in the image (for most of the applicants the answer is "No") .
After filling the details click on the Next: Security > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 17: Security and Background : Security Information
Click on appropriate answers of the above questions in the image(for most of the applicants the answer is "No") .
After filling the details click on the Next: Immigration Law Violations > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 18: Security and Background : Immigration Law Violation Information
Click on appropriate answers of the above questions in the image(for most of the applicants the answer is "No") .
After filling the details click on the Next: Miscellaneous > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 19: Security and Background : Miscellaneous Information
Click on appropriate answers of the above questions in the image(for most of the applicants the answer is "No") .
After filling the details click on the Next: Student/Exchange Visa > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 20: Additional Point of Contact Information
Fill in the required fields with the contact information of two individuals preferably not family (don't worry they are rarely contacted but please keep them informed).
After filling the details click on the Next: SEVIS > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 21: SEVIS Infromation
Fill in your SEVIS number from your I-20 (top- right box above bar code) and fill in the School details from your I-20.
After filling the details click on the Next: PHOTO > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 22: Upload Photo
Click on Upload Your Photo button in red oval.
The page will reload to the page as shown below 
Click on browse and select the photo to be uploaded. Wait till the photo gets uploaded and the page will load to the one shown below.
Step 24: Photo Quality Standards Result
The photo will be verified for quality standards and then will appear on the screen as shown in the image above.
Then click on the Next: Continue Using this Photo > button. The next page will look like this.
Step 25: Confirm Photo
The photo appearing on this page will be bit blur DO NOT WORRY this happened even with my application but it comes out well on your VISA.
Then click on the Next: REVIEW > button. The next few pages will look like this. Keep preesing next till we don't reach the Next: Sign and Submit > button.
Step 26: REVIEW
After Reviewing all the above information CAREFULLY and clicking on the Next: Sign and Submit > button the next page will look like this.
Step 27: Sign and Submit
Fill in your Passport Number and Captcha code then click on the "Sign and Submit Application" button circled in red.
The next page that loads will be a confirmation page which you need to print.
Note: Print two Conformation page (if you have printer at your home and if it has enough ink) one will be required to be submitted to VFS center in the city where you are going to schedule your appointment. Also print one application (rarely requires)
The print outs will look something like this
Conformation Page
Application Printout
You can also download this entire page in .doc format by clicking here
BEST OF LUCK