US Visitor Visa Interview Questions & Answers
Commonly asked questions during USA visitor visa interview. These sample questions and answers will help visitor visa applicants, especially parents, applying from India for B2 visa.
Q: Why are you going to the US?
A: "I am going to visit my son/daughter and for tourism purposes."
Q: Have you been to the U.S. before?
A: Give the true answer Yes or No.
Note: The consulate can check to confirm this answer.
Q: Do you have relatives in the US? If yes, who?
A: Give the true answer Yes or No. "My son/daughter lives there." If you have other relatives in the U.S. mention them.
Note: Do not give details of other relatives unless they ask first.
Q: Who is going to sponsor your visit?.
A: "My son/daughter is going to sponsor my visit."
Q: Where will you stay in the US?
A: "We will stay at XYZ Street, ABC City, PQ State, 1234 Zip code."
Note: Memorize the address. It should correspond to the one on your visa application.
Q: What does your son/daughter do for a living?
A: "My son/daughter is a designation for name of company."
Note: Memorize the designation and name of company. Show proof of employment and other employment-related papers at this point, ONLY if asked.
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Q: How much does your son/daughter earn?
A: Give the true answer. "My son/daughter earns $ ___ annually."
Note: Carry financial documents to support your answers. Your answer must correspond with the amount given in the visa application.
Q: Where does your son/daughter work?
A: "My son/daughter works for name of company."
Note: Memorize the name of the company.
Q: What does your son/daughter-in-law do?
A: Give the true answer. "My son/daughter-in-law works for ____ company or is a home maker or studies at ___ University."
Note: Mention that they study only if they are on F1 or student visa. If they are on H4 dependent visa, then don't say that they are studying.
Q: Who is paying for your son/daughter-in-law's studies?
A: "My son/daughter is paying for his/her studies. He is able to pay for all our expenses over and above the expenses of his/her wife/husband's studies."
Note: Make sure your documents show clearly that it is possible for your son/daughter to pay for the studies as well as your visit.
Q: How long has your son/daughter been in the US?
A: "My son/daughter has lived in the US for number of years."
Q: Which visa is your son/daughter and son/daughter-in-law on?
A: "My son/daughter is on name/number of visa (for example H1) visa. My son/daughter-in-law is on name/number of visa, for example H4/dependant visa."
Note: Memorize name and number of visa.
Q: Did your son/daughter study in the US? Where?
A: Give the true Answer, Yes or No. If yes, give details of university etc.
Note: Be prepared with details about university, what degree they studied etc.
Q: What visa did your son/daughter enter the U.S. on?
A: Give the true Answer. For example, if they came on a student visa and later changed to work visa, say so.
Note: The consulate can check to confirm this Answer, so always tell the truth.
What else can you expect at the Visitor Visa Interview?
Here's a complete checklist to get you prepped and ready
Q: Is your son/daughter married?
A: Give the true Answer, Yes or No
Q: Does your son/daughter have any children?
A: Give the correct Answer
Q: Is your daughter/daughter-in-law pregnant?
A: "No, she is not."
Note: I guess Not
Q: Will your wife/husband accompany you on your trip?
A: Give the true Answer. "Yes, my wife/husband will accompany me."
Q: If only one person is traveling to the U.S. then they may ask: Why are you traveling alone? OR Why isn't your husband/wife accompanying you?
A: If you are a widower/widow, say so. Otherwise give the reason for your solo visit. "My husband is unable to get leave to go to the U.S."
Q: When do you plan to travel?
A: "We plan to travel in name of month."
Q: Why do you want to travel at that time?
A: "My son/daughter has arranged for leave from work during that period. They will be able to show us around then." If the trip is in spring/summer, you can say "We want to visit during summer as the weather will be suitable for us and we have heard that everything is beautiful at that time of the year" If visiting in fall/winter, say "We want to visit at that time because we want to see the fall colors and snow."
Note: Make sure you are aware of what is good to see at the time of your visit.
Q: What are you going to do in the US?
A: "We are going to travel/visit the interesting places there like: (give some names of famous tourist spots) Disneyland, Niagara Falls, Washington D.C, Las Vegas and spend time with our son/daughter and son/daughter-in-law."
Note: Make sure this answer corresponds with the answer for the previous question.
Q: What is the purpose of your trip?
A: "We are going for pleasure and tourism, to see some of the interesting places in the US and to spend time with our son/daughter (and son/daughter-in-law)."
Q: Have you blocked your tickets?
A: "Yes, we have."
Q: Do you have return air tickets, medical insurance etc.
A: "Our son/daughter will arrange for that after our visa is approved."
Q: How much expense do you expect from this trip?
A: "My son/daughter will be sponsoring this visit."
Note: Never say that you can put up some/part/all of the money.
Q: Have you been outside India before?
A: Give the true answer Yes or No.
Note: If you have been outside India before, be prepared to answer questions about your previous visits.
Q: Is this your first visit to US?
A: Give the true answer Yes or No.
Note: The consulate can check to confirm your answer, tell the truth. If you have visited U.S. before, be prepared to answer questions about your previous visits.
Q: What places do you want to visit?
A: "We want to visit give names of interesting and famous U.S. tourist attractions like Disneyland, Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, Washington D.C etc."
Q: How long will you stay in the US?
A: "We want to stay for number of months, for example six in the U.S."
Q: Can't you finish your visit earlier? Why do you want to stay for so long?
A: "There is a lot to see in the US and at our age we cannot do it all in a hurry. We would also like to see fall foliage towards the end of our visit (if going in summer). If we stay for six months, we will be able to do sight seeing and spend time with our son/daughter (and son/daughter-in-law). But a shorter visa will be acceptable if you think it is appropriate."
Note: Say the last sentence about the shorter visit only if you think that they might refuse.
Q: What is the guarantee that you will come back?
A: "I have family and property here in India, so I will definitely come back." Give all the reasons. Showing strong ties to your home country is very important. If you have other children and grandchildren in India definitely mention that. If you have a job or run a business, mention it. Definitely mention if there is someone who is dependant on you in India (like younger child or old parents etc.)
Note: Be prepared for this question. Have papers (property; financial) to prove it. Carry photographs of grand kids (ONLY if they are in India).
Q: When did you last see your son/daughter?
A: "We met out son/daughter when he/she/they last visited us in month and year."
Note: Consulate can check to confirm this answer.
Q: When did your son/daughter last visit India?
A: "My son/daughter last visited India in month and year."
Note: Consulate can check to confirm this answer.
Q: When does your son/daughter plan to visit India next?
A: "My son/daughter may visit late next year or maybe even later than that. They have no fixed plan right now."
Note: Don't say that they will visit in the same year otherwise the Visa Officer might say that you can meet them then.
Q: Where do you stay in India?
A: "We stay at your address in India."
Q: When did your son/daughter go to US?
A: "My son/daughter went to US in month and year."
Q: What work do you do and where?
A: Give the correct answer. If you are retired, say so.
Q: What is your job profile?
A: Give job details, responsibilities etc.
Q: How much do you earn/ What is your annual income?
A: Give true answer and details.
Note: Carry financial documents to support your answers.
Q: If you are working, you may be asked: Did you take leave?
A: "Yes, I have accumulated six months? leave over the past years."
Note: Show leave certificate.
Q: Your income is not enough to support international travel. What do you plan to do?
A: "My son/daughter is sponsoring my visit. He/she will take care of all my expenses for this trip."
Note: Carry appropriate documents. Refer to the checklist on Path2usa.com at: visitor visa interview preparation
Q: If you run a business, you may be asked: Who will look after your business in your absence?
A: "I have arranged for ____person to take care of my business in my absence" OR "My partner will take care of it."
Q: When did you retire?
A: Give the true answer. "I retired in month and year."
Q: How much pension do you get?
A: Give the true answer. "I get Rs.. ___ pension annually."
Q: What assets/property do you have in India?
A: "I have whatever property/assets you have, for example a house or two shops, etc. in India."
Note: If you have property or immovable assets in India, do mention them during the interview - it will be seen as a reason to return.
Q: Who will take care of your property in India while you are gone?
A: "We have made arrangements with relatives/friends to take care of our property for the duration of our visit to U.S."
Q: Can I see you Business/visiting card?
A: If you have a card, show it. If not, say you don?t have one.
Q: Do you have a credit card?
A: Give the true answer, Yes or No. If yes, show it.
Q: Will you work in the US?
A: "No, I am going for tourism and sightseeing. I have no intentions or reasons to work in the U.S."
What are your rights and responsibilities when on a US visitor visa?
Q: How many children do u have ? And where are they? What do they do? Are they married?
A: Give the true answer, "I have ___ children. My other son/daughter is married. He/she lives in India and they have a son/daughter."
Note: Definitely mention if your other child lives in India and has children.
Q: What is your son/daughter's birth date?
A: Give the correct answer.
Q: When is your son/daughter's wedding anniversary?
A: Give the correct answer.
Note: You might want to carry a few wedding pictures.
Q: Can you tell me your son/daughter's contact details?
A: Give phone number and e-mail address.
Note: Memorize these. Make sure your answers correspond with details given on visa documents.
Q: Show me your documents OR Has your son/daughter sent any documents?
A: Show documents.
Note: Refer to the checklist of documents at visitor visa interview preparation
Q: My passport is going to expire soon. I do have a valid US visa in this current passport If I apply for a new Passport do I need to get the new US visa in new passport?
A: No.
A valid exisiting visa is good. You can carry the old passport which has this visa stamped.