LinkedIn identifier for the DS-160: what to enter
Select LINKEDIN in the DS-160 social media dropdown, then enter the part of your public profile address that comes after linkedin.com/in/. That string is unique to you; your name on LinkedIn is not.
Enter this in the DS-160 identifier box
Your identifier will appear here.
The form wants the username or handle only — not the full URL, and never your password. The platform goes in the dropdown; this string goes in the box beside it.
Sure you have listed every account?
An account you used in the past five years but left off the form is treated as misrepresentation — a far bigger problem than anything posted on it. A free scan shows what is publicly tied to your name, so you can list it before an officer finds it.
Check my profiles free →Example
Profile link
linkedin.com/in/priya-sharma-4b1a2cIdentifier (platform: LINKEDIN)
priya-sharma-4b1a2cKeep the trailing letters and numbers if your URL has them — they are part of the identifier.
Where to find your LinkedIn username
- Desktop: click Me → View profile, then look for "Public profile & URL" at the top right. The address shown there is your public profile URL.
- Mobile app: open your profile and tap Contact info — your profile URL is listed there.
- Copy everything after linkedin.com/in/ (no trailing slash) — or paste the whole link into the tool above and it does that for you.
Common mistakes
Entering your name instead of the URL slug
"Priya Sharma" matches thousands of LinkedIn profiles. The identifier is the slug in your profile URL, which points to exactly one account.
Pasting the whole URL
The box asks for the identifier, not the address. Enter priya-sharma-4b1a2c, not https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-sharma-4b1a2c/.
Forgetting a URL you changed
If you customized your LinkedIn URL in the past five years, the old slug was also an identifier you used. Listing both is the cautious, consistent answer.
Getting the LinkedIn identifier right is the easy part
The real risk on the DS-160 is the account you forget to list, and the post that contradicts your application. A free check finds every public profile tied to your name and shows what an officer would see on each — before you submit.
Run the free visa social media check →LinkedIn on the DS-160: common questions
What is my LinkedIn identifier for the DS-160?
The custom part of your public profile URL — everything after linkedin.com/in/. For linkedin.com/in/priya-sharma-4b1a2c the identifier is priya-sharma-4b1a2c. Select LINKEDIN in the platform dropdown and type that string in the identifier box next to it.
Does LinkedIn count as social media on the DS-160?
Yes. LINKEDIN is one of the platforms in the DS-160 dropdown, so a LinkedIn account you used in the past five years must be listed — even one you rarely open. An account used in the past five years and left off the form is treated as misrepresentation — a far bigger problem than anything posted on it.
Will the officer actually look at my LinkedIn?
Assume yes. LinkedIn is where officers check employment history against your application — job titles, employers and dates that do not match the DS-160 are one of the most common inconsistencies. That matters most for H-1B, H-4, F-1 and J-1 applicants, who must also keep profiles public since 2025.
My LinkedIn profile URL has random numbers at the end. Do I include them?
Yes. Enter the slug exactly as your URL shows it, numbers included. Removing them produces a different (possibly someone else's) profile address.
Other platforms
Independent service — not affiliated with any government and not legal advice. App menus change; the DS-160 platform list is maintained by the State Department. Always confirm against the live CEAC form.