Tips for U.S. VISA interview

For US Visa interviews, a common question is: "What are the things I need to know or cautious about?" or "How do I impress the US visa officer?" I have spent hours over several weeks and years to research these questions. From this research I prepared a concise document that I have used for many years to help my family and friends. I felt this research can help the world community I belong to and hence decided to publish on hubpages.com. So without delay, let us begin:

Are there any tricks, special ways, dresses, routes to be successful at US VISA interview? Not Really !!

A successful US visa interview is a mix of luck, timing and your preparation. If you get an opportunity to travel to U.S. to work or for vacation, it is really a onetime opportunity. U.S. is truly a land of opportunities and full of wonderful places to spend vacation time at. Many aspiring professionals around the world dream to immigrate here and settle for big fortune. However, many of them get denial of their VISA for one or other reasons. Then they start thinking what went wrong. The opportunity, they seemed simpler and nearer, suddenly becomes more complex and farther? All dreams shattered!!

I was unfortunate twice and was denied US VISA as I did not prepare as I should have. I thought it is a simple interaction as I am just visiting for a few days, and I can handle it well. Actually it was not and needed some due diligence preparation and orientation. Finally after conscious efforts and with luck, I am here in U.S. writing this post inside my own home. I had no tricks, no confiscating, no-misrouting, no consultants. I was just diligent in my research in building a strong case for my travel. And so are you now and therefore are reading this article. So here are the tips:

As I said earlier luck, timing and preparation. Luck and timing is something we can not control however preparation we can. So here are the tips for preparation:

1) Do your paperwork diligently. State every item truly without hiding any important facts. For example, form may ask you if you have any blood relative. State truly with identifying the relative on the form in appropriate box on the form. In this way you establish your honesty and openness.

2) Secure sponsorship papers: If you have any relative in U.S., request them to provide you I-134, a form of sponsorship. If you are visiting an employer, ask for letters of invitation. For universities, get the appropriate documents demonstrating your acceptance and admission. These documents are a big help in your VISA interview as the sponsoring person or organization takes ownership of your rightful return and is bound by U.S. law to do so.

3) Keep financial Info handy: For many developing nations where currency conversion rates run in tens, it is imperative that you keep clear information about the funding of your entire trip. Keep bank statements, statement from your company or from your relative, handy. The interview officer makes sure that you would not become liability on U.S. Government and it is your duty to establish that you have enough funds to support your entire trip to avoid such suspicion.

4) Keep documents organized Take all your bank account statements, marriage certificates, property papers and all such documents that would help you prove that you have all ties in the country you live and you have no intention to migrate using the VISA you are securing. Local U.S. Visa websites post checklists for you. So take that checklist and organize you paperwork in the required sort order. Also I have article on document check-list that you can review here.

5) Stay calm and integrated Do not try to impress the VISA interview officers by extra smiles or talking continuously etc. Try to be precise and clear to the VISA officer’s questions. Clearly state the purpose. Show the return-tickets if asked, remember you are being judged based on your responses and documents and you have to stay integrated without having the excitement affect your responses an showing any unintended negative signs.

6) Stay current Every year VISA rules keep undergoing review and changes if necessary. Definitely visit (one day before your interview) non-immigrant VISA section of your local U.S. embassy’s website to understand any changes in law or travel conditions to U.S. and if changes are needed make sure you address such items by taking appropriate paperwork or material to interview.

7) Special attention to photographs The photograph requirements are very strict for U.S. Visa. So make sure you get your photographs as per specifications posted on U.S. websites. Spend a little extra money and get the rightfully authorized photographer to prepare U.S. VISA photographs

8) Honesty is the best policy Honest and clear responses are the one that would help you secure VISA. If you lie or make up things, there are high chances, that you would be denied VISA.

9) Attire for US visa interview: and yes, wear comfortable clothes. Neither over-dress or under dress. Clean ironed shirt-pants in hot/summer areas is a good idea. In cold areas, a professional attire always goes well. Comb your hair. Use right color combinations, light colored tops and dark colored bottoms is always a good idea. Avoid using clothes that create special attention. Business casuals is recommended in most cases.

These are some items that can save you last minute troubles. One thing to remember that U.S. Government have open doors policy and depend a lot on travelers’ clear and objective statements of purpose of travel. And honesty would your best friend in this.

Good luck!

If you type in browser travel.state.gov (or type U.S. temporary visitor's VISA in Google), you would reach the Site for one of the U.S. travel authority U.S. Department of State. There is lot of good literature on types of VISA and categories of VISA and so on. Travel.state.gov, you can find your local U.S. embassies’ website link and from there you can find paperwork needed.

Check my other article on non-immigrant U.S. VISA document check-list