USA B1/B2 Visa Interview Questions

B1/B2, or Visitor Visa, is the most popular U.S. visa category and is suitable for most tourist purposes. An interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy is the most important step in obtaining a U.S. visa, and the B1/B2 visa is no exception. This type of visa requires a minimal package of mandatory documents, but you must prepare to be questioned closely. Your main goal will be to convince the visa officer that you do not have immigration intentions. Visafoto has prepared a U.S. visa interview guideline to help you deal with this task!

You can find the detailed guideline on B1/B2 visa applications here.

Table of contents

• Before the visa interview: checklist
• B1/B2 visa interview questions
• What not to say in the U.S. visa interview?
• What language is the interview in?
• How long does the interview for a U.S. visa take?

Before the visa interview: checklist

Make sure that you have the following documents that are absolutely necessary:

• A passport. It must be valid at the time of the interview, and there must be at least one free page for the visa.
• Аn interview appointment letter;
• А DS-160 form confirmation page;
• Visa fee payment slip;
• Expired passports (if any).
• U.S. visa photo that matches the official requirements. You can use our visa picture editor to get a compliant image. Simply upload a portrait taken in a full-face and convert it into an American visa photo suitable for an online application and printing.

You must come to the interview 15-20 minutes before the appointed time. Please note that you will not be allowed to enter the consulate with large bags, lighters, and electronic devices. Phones and laptops will need to be handed in at the entrance to the luggage room.

B1/B2 visa interview questions

B1/B2, or Visitor Visa, is the most popular type of visa in the U.S. and is suitable for most tourist purposes. It requires a minimal package of mandatory documents, but you must prepare to be questioned closely.

Travel itinerary questions

You may be asked where, why, and for how long you are going, where you are planning to stay, how you will move around the U.S., and what you want to visit most of all. You should answer these questions in great detail, so think about your itinerary in advance. Note that no reservations are required. You do not need to buy tickets or book them in advance. The main thing is to answer questions about the upcoming trip. The officer needs to understand that you have a clear idea of where you are going and why.

Questions on Form DS-160

An officer can check to see if the information on the form is consistent with your oral answers. It is important to avoid all factual errors and inaccuracies when completing the DS-160!

Questions about your work

The visa officer may be interested in where and how long you have been employed, your position, the amount of your salary, and whether your superiors allow you to go on vacation. You will need documents to back up what you say.

If you are not currently formally employed, the visa officer may be interested in past professional activities. Also, try to prove that you have some occupation: for example, that you are a housekeeper or are learning a new profession. If you are a freelancer or self-employed, you may be asked what projects you have been working on recently.

Questions about the inviting party

If you are going to the U.S. by invitation, embassy officials may ask you who the inviting party is, what their immigration status is, and what they do. You must be prepared to prove that you are really welcome and that the invitation is not fictitious. If you are traveling to the United States for work, you may be asked what the host company does, how long have you been working with them, and who in the U.S. organization you are in contact with.

Note that you should only talk about acquaintances in the U.S. if they are really your close friends and you plan to visit them.

If you have distant acquaintances living in the U.S. whose visit is not the main purpose of the trip, it is better not to flaunt this information: it will cause additional questions from the visa officer.

Questions about your family

You may be asked about family in your home country as well as relatives in America. It is best not to emphasize the connection with the U.S., because it may lead the embassy worker to the fact that you want to immigrate. It is better to talk about a large and friendly family in the homeland.

If you are married but traveling alone, you may be asked about your spouse's work. Why are you not traveling together - do your vacation schedules not match, or are you not traveling with each other at all? These are questions you need to prepare for.

Questions about your visa history

Avid travelers have a better chance of getting an American tourist visa, because they have already proven their interest in recreational trips. Therefore, you should always bring your old passports to the interview. Questions may also arise if passports contain visa refusals or stamps of deportations or violations of visa rules of foreign countries.

Questions about the travel sponsor

If another person is paying for your trip, you should prepare information about their sources of income and your relationship.

Questions about your past trips to the US

If you have visited America before, you may be asked about the details of your stay. Questions may be detailed if you have visited the U.S. frequently and have been there for a long time. You mustn't have any unpaid fines or services in the U.S.

Random questions

Don't be surprised or nervous if a visa officer asks you what your favorite month of the year is or what your math teacher's name was. This is a psychological trick officers use to detect possible deception and excitement. Answer questions calmly, confidently, and truthfully.

What not to say in the U.S. visa interview?

Although there are no official rules on this subject, it is better to stick to the following recommendations:

• Do not emphasize your acquaintances in America (unless you are traveling by invitation). Do not say you are visiting a male friend if you are a woman. That way, you may raise suspicions that your goals are more than just tourism.
• Do not give information that the visa officer does not ask you, even if you think it is important. Answer questions strictly on the subject matter.
• Never say or imply that you are not happy in your home country and that you would like to immigrate.
• A sense of humor is also not recommended: it is better to answer questions without jokes, even if they seem appropriate.

What language is the interview in?

The Conversation can always be in the language of your choice: English or the national language of the country where the U.S. consulate is located.

How long does the interview for a U.S. visa take?

The average interview for a U.S. B1/B2 visa rarely takes more than five minutes. During this time, you will be asked several questions from the list above. During the interview, you need to give concise, clear answers, without going into unnecessary detail and without showing excessive interest in the upcoming trip.

Immediately at the end of the interview you will know whether the decision is positive or negative. In case of rejection, your passport will be returned to you immediately after the interview. If your candidacy is approved, the officer will take your passport: in 2-3 days you will get it back with a visa stamped on it.

Good luck in getting a visa to the U.S.!