US Visa (B1/B2) Guide: What to Enter for "Travel Plans" in Form DS-160?

You are sitting at your computer, late at night, eyes burning from staring at the screen. You have been wrestling with the DS-160 form for your US B1/B2 visa for over an hour. You click "Next," hoping to be done, but then you hit a wall: the "Travel Information" section.

The form innocently asks: "Have you made specific travel plans?"

Your brain freezes. You remember reading on the official US State Department website, in bold red letters: "Applicants are advised NOT to purchase tickets until their visa is approved."

But here is the contradiction: The form is asking for your Flight Number. It wants your exact Arrival Date. It wants to know where you are sleeping on your first night in America.

"What am I supposed to do?" you wonder. "If I say YES, I need details of a ticket I haven't bought yet. If I say NO, will they think I'm not serious about visiting? Will they reject me for having 'vague' plans?"

Welcome to the DS-160 Paradox. It confuses millions of applicants every single year. In this guide, we are going to solve it for you once and for all. We will tell you exactly what to click, what to write, and how to satisfy the US Consulate's requirements without risking thousands of dollars on a flight you might not take.

1. The Big Decision: Answering "Have You Made Specific Travel Plans?"

This is the first major hurdle. You have two options: Yes or No. Choosing the right one depends entirely on your specific situation.

Option A: Answering "NO" (Recommended for 90% of Tourists)

If you are a typical tourist planning a holiday, and you have not bought a ticket (which you shouldn't have!), it is perfectly acceptable—and often safer—to answer NO.

What happens when you click NO? The form will change. Instead of asking for flight numbers, it will ask for your "Intended Date of Arrival" and "Intended Date of Departure."

How to fill this out safely:

• Be Realistic with Dates: Do not put a date that is next week. US visa interview wait times can be months long. Check the current wait time for your local embassy and pick a date that is at least 2-3 months after your estimated interview date.
• Keep it Short: For a first-time visitor, a 2-week trip looks much more credible than a 3-month trip. Long trips raise suspicion that you might be planning to work illegally. Enter dates that reflect a standard holiday (e.g., Arrival: Oct 1st, Departure: Oct 15th).
• Stick to the Script: Memorize these dates. You will be asked about them in your interview. If you write Oct 1st on the form but tell the officer "Christmas" during the interview, you will be rejected for inconsistency.

Option B: Answering "YES" (When is it okay?)

You should only answer YES if you have a specific, fixed reason to be in the US on specific dates. Examples include:

• Attending a wedding on a specific weekend.
• Going to a business conference with fixed dates.
• Medical treatment appointments that are already scheduled.

If you click YES, the form will ask for your Arrival Flight Number and Departure Flight Number. Here is the secret: You do NOT need to buy a ticket to get these numbers. You can simply look up a flight that exists on that day (e.g., British Airways flight BA177) and use its number. You are telling the officer, "This is the flight I intend to take if you approve me."

2. The "Address Where You Will Stay" Section

This section trips people up. Whether you answer Yes or No to travel plans, you MUST provide a valid address in the US. You cannot leave this blank.

Scenario 1: You are Staying at a Hotel

You do not need to pay for a hotel booking yet. Simply go to Booking.com or Marriott.com, find a hotel in the city you plan to visit, and use its address. Crucial Tip: Pick a hotel that matches your income level. If you are a student or have a modest income, do not list the Ritz Carlton. It looks suspicious. List a Holiday Inn or a standard tourist hotel.

Scenario 2: You are Staying with Friends/Family

Enter their home address accurately. Warning: If you list a relative, you must be prepared for a barrage of questions about them in the interview. "What does your uncle do?" "How long has he lived there?" "What is his legal status?" If you don't know the answers, or if their status is shaky, it might be safer to plan a hotel stay instead.

3. The "US Point of Contact" Strategy

The DS-160 asks for a "US Point of Contact." This confuses tourists who don't know anyone in the US.

The Solution: If you don't have a friend or relative there, do not leave this blank. You should enter the name of the hotel you listed in the previous section. Under "Relationship to You," select "Other." This is standard procedure for tourists.

4. "Who is Paying for Your Trip?" (The Financial Check)

This dropdown menu is critical. Your travel plans must align with your financial reality.

• Self-Funded: If you select "SELF," ensure your bank statements (which you bring to the interview) show enough balance to cover the flight, hotel, and daily expenses for the duration you listed.
• Other Person: If a parent or spouse is paying, their financial documents will be scrutinized. Their ability to pay must match the luxury level of the trip you are planning.

5. Do I Need to Bring a Flight Itinerary to the Interview?

This is where the US visa differs drastically from Schengen or UK visas.

The Rule: US Consulates generally DO NOT want to see your flight tickets during the interview. In fact, if you try to slide a flight itinerary through the window, the officer will likely push it back to you. They assess you, not your papers.

However, having a flight itinerary (dummy ticket) printed out in your folder is a great "safety net" for two reasons:

1. Memory Aid: It helps you memorize your dates and flight numbers so you don't freeze and give conflicting answers during the interview.
2. Port of Entry: Once you get the visa and actually fly to the US, the Customs (CBP) officer at the airport WILL ask to see your return ticket. You absolutely need proof of onward travel to enter the US.

6. What If My Plans Change After I Submit the DS-160?

This happens all the time. Maybe you planned for June, but your interview isn't until August.

Don't Panic. You do not need to submit a new form. At the start of the interview, you can simply tell the officer: "My original travel dates were for June, but due to the interview wait time, I am now planning to travel in September." This is perfectly acceptable and shows you are honest.

7. Final Thoughts: Be Consistent, Be Honest

The US visa process is less about the documents you hold and more about the interview performance. The DS-160 is your script. Whatever you write there, you must be able to speak about confidently.

Don't panic about buying expensive tickets. Plan your trip on paper, enter those details into the form as "Intended Plans," and focus your energy on proving your strong ties to your home country. That is the real key to approval.