Here’s How You Can Pass YourB1/B2 Visa Interview

Heard stories of visa denials? Yes, it’s quite common thatdespite tons of preparation your U.S. visa may get denied. Thisis not just with the family petition or employment-basedimmigrant visas but also common with non-immigrant visasincluding O1 visa, H1-B visa, and B1/B2 visas. Despite you haveall the documents ready and have filed the application correctly,one simple mistake during your interview can turn your visaapplication down. Even well-traveled folks can get their visadenied for a simple mistake they do while applying for US visaapplication. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. If you arelooking forward to applying for a B1/B2 visitor visa, we havecertain tips to help you pass your B1/B1 visa interview.

Below are somegreat tips to help youpass your B1/B2 visainterview at the U.S.Embassy:

The purpose of your visit to the U.S. shouldbe valid under the B1/B2 visa. The purposeof your tour could be vacationing, visingyour family or friends, attending a weddingor house warming, or other allowedactivities. If you give any reason to visit theU.S. which is not allowed under tourist visassuch as an intention to study in the U.S.,intention to work, dual intention, etc yourvisa will be denied immediately. Thus, makesure to give a proper, valid reason toconvince the officer. If the officer does notfind your reason to visit appropriate, there isa big possibility that your visa applicationcan be rejected immediately.

Valid Purpose Of The Tour

United Nations law views all the applicants fornon-immigrant visas as intending immigrants.This is why you must be able to convince theconsular officer that you do not intend to do so.For this, you must be able to show that you havereasons to return to your home country. Thus,demonstrating strong “ties” with your homecountry can help you pass your interview. For eg.If you show that you have a family in the hometown who are dependent on you, or show youremployment ties, show your leave application tillthe time you are traveling, etc. it may work foryou. Therefore, if you succeed in demonstratingthat you intend to return to your home country,the chances of your visa issuance are certainlymore.

Demonstrate strong ties to your home country

Practice English conversation

Anticipate that your visa interview will beconducted in English and not in your nativelanguage and thus, you must prepare well. Youmust read the frequently asked interviewquestions and practice in advance with any ofyour friends or family members. Even duringyour interview, if you fail to understand any ofthe officer’s questions, do not hesitate to say “Ibeg your pardon” or “Sorry sir, I didn’t get yourquestion” instead of anticipating and givingwrong answers. This will ensure that youunderstand each question and answercorrectly during your visa interview.

Be concise and to the point

During your interview, make sure to giveshort, informative, and precise answers.While facing the consular officer, you shouldkeep in mind that if you keep talkingunnecessarily, you might end up sayingsomething wrong, or anything that can goagainst you and get your visa rejected. If yougive your answers precisely, it will also lowerthe chance of making mistakes in the Englishlanguage, which the officer may noteotherwise. If you make mistakes in speakingEnglish, the officer might doubt your ability tocommunicate in English in the US.

Keep the application and documents handly.You must keep a copy or two of all the requireddocuments for the interview. This may includeyour current valid passport, confirmation ofform DS-160, with CEAC barcode submittedonline, your visa fee receipt, your interviewappointment letter, a letter from youremployer, proof of property owned by you (toshow ties with your home country), and otherrelevant documents. There is no prescribed listof documents to carry to a visa interview bythe US government. However, you must carryall the relevant documents that can make yourcandidature stronger.

Arrange your supplemental documentation

Be honest during the interview

Consular offers have plenty of experience andcan easily find out your true intentions to visitthe U.S. They permit only those applicants whoare honest, who stay for the authorizedduration, and return to their home country.Thus, you must not take officers for granted,and be honest while giving answers. If you tryto make up stories or give false answers, thereis a big possibility that your application getsrejected immediately. All data while applyingfor the visa are computerized and wellmaintained, so if you try to give any falseanswer, the officer would certainly know. It isrecommended that you answer every questionaccurately and honestly which brings you morechances to get your visa approved.

Your appearance conveys who you are. Forexample, if you are an executive, you mustdress up like an executive. Don’t be toocasual in your appearance on your interviewday. Other than your overall attire, you mustalso pay attention to your body language.You should be well-mannered and refrainfrom making unnecessary body movementswhich may leave a bad impression on theconsular officer interviewing you.

Pay attention to your appearance and body language

Be polite & do not argue!

You must keep in mind that this interviewonly decides the fate of your B1/B2 visaapplication. Thus, you must be calm andpolite throughout the interview process. Youshould never argue with the officer else youmight get your visa application rejected. Youshould also not ask unnecessary questionsto the officer and also not give explanationto everything that is not required as it maynot go in your favor. The more you are calmand polite, the better chances you have topass your visa interview.

Interview Outcome

Congratulations if you get your visaapproved! As your visa is approved, youmust go through all the information onthe visa stamp carefully, to make surethat there are no typographical errors. Incase there are any mistakes, you mustimmediately go to the visa applicationcenter and get it corrected.

On approval:

By any chance, if your tourist visa getsrejected, don’t be disheartened. Do not giveup. You have a chance to re-apply for thevisa and this time try to be more authenticand prepared. You can also take help froman immigration attorney who can help youthroughout the process of laying outrequirements, preparing paperwork, andpreparing you well for your visa interview.Keep all the above-mentioned tips in mind,and go ahead!

On rejection: