DS-160 Confirmation Number Lookup — Find, Retrieve & Use Your ID

Q: What is the DS-160 confirmation number and where is it?

The DS-160 confirmation number (also called the Application ID) is a 10-character alphanumeric code assigned when you first save your application. It starts with an AA prefix followed by 8 characters (e.g., AA00ABC123). You can find it on your confirmation email from the State Department, on the barcode page printed after submission, or by retrieving your application at ceac.state.gov using your email and security question answer.

Q: I lost my DS-160 confirmation number. Can I still retrieve my application?

Yes — if you remember the email address and security question answer you used, go to ceac.state.gov, click 'Retrieve Application,' enter your email and security answer, and you will see your Application ID. If you don't remember your security answer, you cannot retrieve the application. In that case, start a new DS-160 and keep the confirmation page saved this time.

Q: Can I retrieve my DS-160 application without the confirmation number?

Yes — visit ceac.state.gov, click 'Retrieve Application,' and enter the email address and security question answer you used when starting the application. The system will display your Application ID (confirmation number), the date you submitted, and allow you to reprint the confirmation barcode page. You do not need the confirmation number itself to retrieve it.

Q: How do I find my DS-160 confirmation number from my email?

Search your inbox for emails from 'no-reply@ceac.state.gov' with subject line containing 'DS-160 Confirmation'. The email includes your Application ID prominently near the top. If you don't find it, check your spam folder. If you still can't find it, use the retrieval method at ceac.state.gov with your email and security answer.

Q: What is the difference between the DS-160 confirmation number and the barcode page?

The confirmation number (Application ID) is the 10-character code used to access your application and schedule your interview. The barcode page is a two-page PDF printed after submission that contains a machine-readable barcode, your photo, and your application details. You must bring the barcode page (both sides) to your interview — the officer scans the barcode to pull up your responses. The confirmation number and barcode page contain the same identifying information and are both required for the interview.

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Every DS-160 application is assigned a confirmation number (formally called the Application ID) the moment you first save it. This 10-character code — formatted as AA00ABC123 — is your primary identifier for the entire visa process. You need it to schedule your interview, retrieve your application, and check in at the embassy.

This guide covers everything about the confirmation number: what it looks like, where to find it, how to retrieve a lost one, and what the separate barcode page is used for.

What the Confirmation Number Looks Like

The DS-160 confirmation number is a 10-character alphanumeric code. Unlike a visa number or passport number, it is assigned by the CEAC system specifically to your application session.

Example Confirmation Number Format

AA00ABC123

First two characters: Always letters — most start with AA, AB, AC, etc. Some older applications may start with a single letter.
Remaining 8 characters: Mix of letters and numbers. No special characters or spaces.
Case sensitive: The system treats uppercase and lowercase differently when retrieving — enter it exactly as shown.

Important: The confirmation number is different from your passport number, visa case number, and MRV receipt number. Do not substitute other numbers — each serves a different purpose in the visa process.

How to Find Your Confirmation Number

If you have already submitted your DS-160, there are three reliable places to find your confirmation number:

Method 1

Confirmation Email from the State Department

Search your inbox for an email from no-reply@ceac.state.gov
Subject line reads: "DS-160 Confirmation — [Your Name]"
The Application ID appears near the top of the email, prominently displayed
If you don't see it, check your spam or junk folder

Method 2

Printed Barcode Page

After submitting, the CEAC system prompts you to print the confirmation page
The barcode page has your photo on the left and your Application ID at the top right
The Application ID is printed both in human-readable text and as a machine-readable barcode
If you printed it (as required), the number is visible on the first page of the two-page barcode document

Method 3

Online Retrieval via CEAC

Go to ceac.state.gov and click "Retrieve Application"
Enter the email address you used when starting the application
Answer the security question you selected during the application
The system will display your Application ID and submission date
You can also reprint your barcode page from this portal

Retrieving a Lost Confirmation Number

If you lost your confirmation number and can't find the email or barcode page, retrieval is still possible — but only if you remember your security question answer.

Step-by-Step Retrieval

Go to ceac.state.gov — the official Consular Electronic Application Center.
Click "Retrieve Application" — on the top navigation bar.
Enter your email address — use the same address you entered when starting the DS-160.
Answer your security question — this is the question you selected and answered during the application. If you don't remember the answer, retrieval is not possible online.
View and record your Application ID — once retrieved, write it down in three places and save it in your email drafts.
Reprint the barcode page — the portal allows you to reprint the full two-page confirmation. Do this immediately.

If you can't retrieve it: If you don't remember your security question answer, the CEAC system has no mechanism to reset it or retrieve the application another way. In this case, you must start a new DS-160. Your old application remains in the system but cannot be accessed without the confirmation number and security answer.

The Barcode Page vs. the Confirmation Number

Two documents are associated with your DS-160 submission, and it's important not to confuse them:

Confirmation Number (Application ID)

AA00ABC123 — Your Digital Identifier

10-character alphanumeric code assigned at first save
Used to schedule your visa appointment at ustraveldocs.com
Required to retrieve your application from the CEAC portal
Entered when checking in at the embassy on interview day

Barcode Page

The Two-Page Printed Document

Generated after you click "Sign and Submit"
Contains a machine-readable 2D barcode (2 pages of printed output)
Your photo appears on the left side of page one
The embassy officer scans the barcode to pull up your full application
Required at the interview — you will not be admitted without it

Both are required at different stages of the process. The confirmation number gets you through the door; the barcode page is what the officer scans to review your answers.

Using Your Confirmation Number to Schedule the Interview

Once you have your confirmation number, schedule your visa interview at ustraveldocs.com — the only authorized visa scheduling platform. You will need:

DS-160 confirmation number (Application ID)
Passport number
MRV visa fee payment receipt (paid at ustraveldocs.com before scheduling)
Photo meeting the digital upload requirements or a printed 2x2 inch photo

Your confirmation number is also the reference number you will use on the day of your interview when you check in at the embassy or consulate window.

Common Questions About DS-160 Confirmation Numbers

Can I use my DS-160 confirmation number to check my visa status?

No — the confirmation number is for the DS-160 form itself. To check your visa application status after the interview, use your passport number and visa registration number (if provided) at the Consular Electronic Application Center or the tracking tool on ustraveldocs.com.

My DS-160 confirmation number starts with just one letter — is that normal?

Yes. Older DS-160 applications used a different format with a single letter prefix (e.g., A123456789). The current format uses a two-letter prefix (e.g., AA00ABC123). Both formats are valid and work for retrieval and scheduling.

I submitted my DS-160 but never printed the barcode page. What do I do?

Go to ceac.state.gov, click "Retrieve Application," enter your email and security answer, and reprint the barcode page from there. You can do this as many times as needed before your interview. The barcode page is required — officers cannot pull up your application without scanning it.

Can someone else retrieve my DS-160 application using my email?

Only if they know your security question answer. The retrieval system requires both the email address and the exact security question answer you set during the application. Without the security answer, no one can access your application — including State Department support staff.

I have two DS-160 confirmation numbers. Which one do I use?

Use the most recent one — the one from the application you actually submitted and that appears on your barcode page. If you started multiple applications and submitted the wrong one, contact the embassy or consulate where you will interview to clarify which application they have on file.

Confirmation Number Checklist

Record your Application ID in 3 separate places (email draft, notes app, printed document)
Print and keep 2 copies of the barcode page in your travel documents folder
Save the confirmation email from no-reply@ceac.state.gov — it has your Application ID at the top
Do not laminate the barcode page — lamination can interfere with the machine-readable print
Bring both the barcode page and your Application ID number to the embassy interview

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