Tips for a Successful US Visitor Visa Interview

When attending your interview for your US visa, the best course of action is to prepare beforehand. This will allow you to feel confident during your interview and answers any questions asked correctly. The better prepared that you are for your interview, the higher your chances of being approved!

Here are some helpful tips to know before attending your US visitor visa interview:

• Understand the interview process beforehand.
• Provide complete and truthful information.
• Prepare well for the interview.
• Applicants should bring the same passport to their interview as was used to purchase their receipt or pay fees. If your passport expires within the next 6-12 months, it is advised to obtain a new passport prior to purchasing a receipt for a visa interview.
• All questions in your application form must be answered correctly.
• All visa applicants should indicate clearly their correct last name and given name. It’s often seen in the case of South Indian names that passport issuing authorities write the whole name in the last name field. Applicants should check their passport and if the whole name is given in one line, they should have their name changed at a passport office before applying for a visa.
• Indicate your current address, not your permanent address, on your visa application form.

Here are some additional tips that will guide your through the actual US visitor visa interview process:

• Your host or sponsor in the USA should send complete and readable documents. It is better to have computer printouts for legibility.
• If you are hosting or sponsoring someone to come to the US, it will helpful to send your visitor complete instructions and the procedure steps for getting a visa. Try to send your filled out sponsor documents as soon as possible.
• For those attending the interview, ensure that you provide all authentic and clear answers to the Consulate staff. In case of any confusion, don’t hesitate to ask for additional assistance.
• If language is a problem, you may request translation services.
• During your interview, the Consulate office may ask for proof of your return air tickets, medical insurance, etc. If you don’t have what they are looking for yet, let them know that you will acquire these items after the visa is approved.
• Complete your visa application form neatly. In case of an error, ask for another form. Do not overwrite.
• Upon receiving your visa, carefully check for any mistakes such as name, date of birth, type of visa, validity date, etc. These should all be accurate.
• Reminder: the date of expiry of your stay limit is the date on the I-94 form slip which will be attached to your passport at the port of entry in the USA, and not the date stamped on your visa. Usually, these are the same dates, but in some cases, they may be difference.