How to behave on a US visa interview?

How to behave on a US visa interview? - Brown Mountains

I am planning to apply for a US visa soon to see one of IT conferences and from what I heard, in order to get the document I will need to meet one of US embassy representatives. Trying to imagine what such an interview looks like, I have to admit I completely don't know how am I supposed to behave then. For example, am I supposed to wear a suit, or are casual clothes okay? What are the topics I should not talk about?



Best Answer

It's called interview, as in asking questions rather than a meeting. Of course it might vary by the consulate where you're applying.

In my experience:

  • you're just attended by the clerk at one of the counters, so it's not really much of a meeting
  • you get your fingerprints scanned
  • you're asked standard questions about the purpose of your visit
  • you're asked standard questions to verify that you're the person that you say you are and that you filled in your DS-160 truthfully. I.e. you're expected to know things you filled in there w/o hesitation
  • you might be asked for supporting documentation. For example in case of a conference your invitation/ticket to that conference. See consulate page for the kind of documentation they might expect from you

And that's it. Again, might depend on the consulate. In my case, not counting the wait time, I was at the counter maybe 5 minutes total, including 2 minutes of scanning all the fingers, which is tedious process.


I assume that you're applying in Warsaw, here is a forum post (in Polish) of someone who did it there.



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Quick Answer about "How to behave on a US visa interview?"

  • Language. ...
  • Positive Attitude. ...
  • Look and Act the Part. ...
  • Proving Ties to Family and India. ...
  • Know your Program. ...
  • Give Precise Answers. ...
  • Complete Documents. ...
  • Do NOT mention Hopes of Employment in the US.


  • What do visa officers check during interview?

    Most of the work of processing a visa is done before the interview even starts: we verify the applicant's identity, enter their biographic data into our system, take fingerprints, analyze biometric data, conduct security checks, screen required documents, and more.

    How can I be confident in visa interview?

    The best way to be confident is to prepare in advance of your interview. Think about the questions your interviewer might ask you and practice answering the questions out loud or with a family member. Practicing your speaking abilities will increase your confidence.

    How can I stay calm during visa interview?

    Try one these strategies that will help you feel calm, cool, and collected\u2014or at least make you appear that way.
  • Just Breathe. While waiting to be greeted by your interviewer, take a few moments to do some breathing. ...
  • Don't Fidget. ...
  • Make Eye Contact. ...
  • Press Pause. ...
  • Think Positively.




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    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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