Preparing for a Nonimmigrant Visa Interview

A consular interview is an important step for many applicants seeking a U.S. nonimmigrant visa. Procedures and questions vary by visa category and consular post, but preparation can help applicants to present accurate information about their travel plans and qualifications. This article explains what to expect before, during, and after the interview, and offers practical guidance for responding to the consular officer’s questions.

Entering the Consular Section

Each person applying for a nonimmigrant visa generally must submit a separate Form DS-160 and follow the appointment and fee instructions for the consular post. Confirm the appointment time and review that post’s instructions for the arrival time and place of the interview.

Expect security screening before entering the consular section. Restrictions on electronic devices and other items vary by post, so review the local instructions before traveling to the appointment.

Bring the DS-160 confirmation page, passport, appointment confirmation, and any category-specific documents required by the post, such as Form I-20 for an F-1 applicant, Form DS-2019 for a J-1 applicant, or a petition approval notice when applicable. Follow any additional document instructions issued with the appointment.

At some posts, document intake and fingerprinting take place before the interview, sometimes at a separate window or appointment. Follow the staff’s directions and the post’s instructions for each step.

What to Expect During the Interview

Consular interviews are often brief, but their length varies with the circumstances of each case. The officer may ask about the proposed trip, the applicant’s background, and the requirements of the visa classification. Some applications require additional documents or administrative processing after the interview.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss their circumstances clearly and to provide the documents required for their visa category. The officer may review Form I-20 for an F-1 application, Form DS-2019 for a J-1 application, or petition-related documents for a petition-based visa. Requirements for blanket L applications and other specialized classifications should be confirmed in advance with the consular post.

For many nonimmigrant visa categories, the applicant must establish eligibility for the requested classification and overcome the presumption of immigrant intent under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). A refusal under that provision may reflect a failure to establish either qualification for the visa category or the required temporary intent. Applicants should review the requirements specific to their classification rather than assume that proof of ties abroad alone will resolve every concern. See Visa Denials.

The immigrant-intent presumption under Section 214(b) does not apply to H1B and L visa applicants, although they must still establish eligibility for their classifications and meet other applicable visa requirements.

Preparing for the Officer’s Questions

The following considerations may help applicants to prepare for the interview:

1.  Listen carefully to each question, remain composed, and answer in your own words.

2.  Answer truthfully and do not conceal material information. Inaccurate or incomplete answers can affect the visa decision and, in some circumstances, raise separate inadmissibility concerns.

3.  Applicants with prior unlawful presence, arrests, or other potentially significant immigration or criminal issues should seek individualized legal advice before the interview. They should answer questions accurately and bring relevant records. Whether a waiver is required and/or available depends on the particular ground of inadmissibility and the facts of the case; applicants should not assume that a waiver request can be resolved at the interview.

4.  Bring the required documents and any relevant supporting materials, even if the officer does not review every document during the interview.

5.  Make sure you fill out the DS-160 completely and truthfully for each applicant. Each applicant’s DS-160 should be answered from that applicant’s point of view. Each applicant is responsible for their own DS-160 content, even if someone filled it out on their behalf. “I didn’t fill it out” will not be an acceptable excuse for any discrepancies. It is especially important to be consistent between what is written on the DS-160 and what is said during the interview. The consular officer will have the DS-160 open on the computer screen during the interview. Officers typically do not review the DS-160 or other documentation before the interview.

6.  You should be able to answer the officer’s questions without referring to documents. Think of a professional gathering where you are meeting someone for the first time.

7.  Answer the questions asked completely. For example, if asked, “What do you do for a living?” give a full answer: “I am an IT engineer for [company]. I am transferring to the U.S. operations to help with …,” or whatever the case is for your situation, as opposed to “I work” or “I am in service.”

8.  For B-1/B-2 visas, you will be asked about your livelihood, your family situation, who is traveling, why you are traveling, what you plan to do in the United States, and where you have traveled internationally. You must demonstrate that you have ties to your home country that are sufficiently strong to draw you back home after a temporary visit.

9.  For F-1 applicants, you will be asked why you picked this school, what other schools you applied to, how you will pay for the education, and how the degree you are seeking fits into your career path. DO NOT repeat a memorized section of the university website or claim that the university is one of the best in the United States when it is clearly not.

10. For H1B, L, and other employment visas, you will be asked about your current employer, who you will be working for in the United States, how you found the opportunity, and about your education and work background. For L visas, be prepared to explain in your own words how you have specialized knowledge (for L1B) or your bona fides as a manager (for L1A). For O1 applicants, be prepared to explain your contributions to your field. Despite being petition-based, O1s are subject to Section 214(b).

11. If applying as a family, let each family member answer any question the officer addresses to that person specifically. A spouse or child (depending on age) should also be able to explain, in their own words, the principal’s job or school. This is especially true if they are applying separately from the principal applicant.

After the Interview

In most of cases, the officer will decide to issue or refuse a visa at the conclusion of the interview. If the officer retains the applicant’s passport and provides a sheet with instructions on receiving the visa-stamped passport, then the visa has been approved, and you should typically expect to receive the passport in about two weeks.

If the officer refuses the application, the officer will return the passport along with a refusal letter detailing the section of law under which the application was refused. For a standard Section 214(b) refusal, it will be a form letter explaining the law and that you failed to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent. For a refusal based on a different ineligibility, such as unlawful presence in the United States, it will be a form letter with an explanation of the ineligibility that applies. There may be a brief explanation of why the officer thinks the ineligibility applies, but not always.

A third refusal type is a refusal under Section 221(g). Although it is considered to be a final refusal on its own, it typically means documents or other requirements are missing from the application. The form letter should state the section of law and what is missing. The letter will have instructions on how to upload or send in the missing documents or information, along with the passport. In some 221(g) cases, the officer needs additional administrative processing rather than more documents from the applicant.

Conclusion

Be aware of the atmosphere and constraints of the visa interview process. The officer has limited time in which to decide the outcome of your visa application. Have your documents in order, tell the truth, and confidently answer the questions asked. There is no magic answer to each question, either on the application or in the interview. What is true for you may not be true for your neighbor, friend, or family member. So, be yourself.

In the end, the officer must determine whether you meet the qualifications for the visa category and that you will do what you say is your reason for traveling to the United States. Following these rules will help you put your best foot forward.

Applicants with a prior refusal, a potential ineligibility, a complicated employment or student history, or who simply want a more in-depth preparation for a consular interview, should consult experienced immigration counsel before the interview.

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