common questions asked during the United States Visa interview:

Visitors who want to enter the United States for studies, tourism, business, medical treatment, and other reasons are required to apply for the United States Visa. The application process involves completion of the application form, submission of documents, payment of visa fee, and appearing for visa interview, if required. While not all categories of United States Visa application requires the applicants to appear for the visa interview, there are certain types of visa which require a visa interview. Based on the applicant’s nationality, the purpose of travel, type of the visa, duration of stay, validity of the visa, entry scheme, and other factors, an applicant may or may not be required to appear for the visa interview.

The United States Embassy/Consulate requires the applicants to appear for the visa interview in order to assess the applicant’s eligibility for the particular type of visa. During the visa interview, the consular officer will ask certain questions specific to the visa category and also verify the details/documents provided by the applicant. While answering the questions asked by the consular officer, the applicant needs to answer directly with confidence and also reassure his/her ties to the native country. The applicant needs to stress his/her intentions of coming back to the native country after the completion of the trip.

Following are few of the common questions asked during the United States Visa interview:

1. What is the reason for your travel to the United States?
You must answer this question based on your purpose of travel. Before applying for the visa, you must have a plan to support your trip. The Consular Officer may also ask questions to check how you are going to support your travel financially. Based on the category of visa, an applicant may require producing proof of sufficient funds.
2. What is the duration of your stay in the United States?
As a part of the application process, the applicants need to indicate their intended date of travel to the United States. Based on the purpose of your travel, visa type, and duration of stay, you will need to provide your tentative date of travel. Details such the address where you will be staying, type of residence, etc. could be asked to verify your details/documents submitted by you.
3. Where will you be staying?
As provided on the visa application form, you will need to mention the address of your stay. If you will be staying at multiple locations, mention the address where you will be staying the most number of days. Ensure you mention the purpose of your travel and be prepared with details as much as possible.
4. Where do you stay in India?
Mention the city and address, if required. You may be asked related questions to see how long you have been staying at that address, do you come from another city, what’s your native language, etc.
5. Who is going to cover your expenses during the travel?
Depending on the type of visa you are applying for, you may need to submit proof of sufficient funds to support your travel financially. If your visa category allows you to have someone else cover the expenses for you, you may need to submit a letter of consent along with the required documents.
6. Is it possible to reduce the duration of your stay?
Mention your travel plan to justify why you need a visa for that particular duration. Also, check with the Consular Office if you need to reconsider the duration of your stay. As long as you have all the details/documents with you to support the duration of your stay, there shouldn’t be any issues.
7. Do you have any relatives/friends in the United States?
Answer with a Yes or a No. If your answer is yes, mention your relationship to the person and if you are going to meet them. If your answer is a No, mention the purpose of your travel and how much you
8. Have you been to the United States before?
Answer is Yes/No and briefly mention the purpose of your earlier travel, if required. You won’t be asked much of the details of your past travel, however, if you have traveled earlier, use it to your advantage to stress your intentions of coming back to the native country.
9. Where will you be working/studying?
If you are applying for work or students visa, provide the address of the employer/office or college university address. It can be helpful to inform about the distance between your office/college address and the place of your stay. Additionally, you can also mention your plan to manage your local travel in the United States.
10. Is anyone else you know who is coming to the United States with you?
Say Yes/No based on your situation. If you are traveling with someone you know, you can mention it along with answers to any other questions being asked.
11. What have you been doing in India?
You may be visiting the United States either to work, study or for tourism. If you are going to work, mention your profile along with details of the previous employer. If you are going to study, mention the courses you have completed in India. If you are visiting for tourism, mention your occupation in India.
12. What are your plans after the visa expires?
You will need to convince the consular officer that you have plans to come back to India before the visa expires. Depending on the situation, you may need to reassure your ties to India to show clear intentions of coming back after the travel plan ends.
13. If your visa application is rejected, what are your plans?
Don’t be disappointed to hear that but ensure you are able to mention the importance of your travel plan. The Officer may ask similar questions to assess your eligibility for the specific type of visa.
14. Have you booked the tickets yet?
Though applicants are recommended not to proceed with the booking of airline tickets and arranging the accommodation till the visa is approved, it is good to do your research and have a clear plan. Be smart while answering these questions and mention your reason for doing so. If possible, provide at least the tentative date of travel as per your plan.
15. Do you have any other plans in the United States apart from the work/study/tourism?
Mention about the places you will be visiting and why they are interesting to you. Based on the purpose of your stay, you can inform about your travel plans within and outside of the United States.
16. Did someone help you with the application form?

Mention Yes/No based on the reason. It is recommended to go through the terms and conditions of the visa application and also be aware of your rights as a visitor in the United States.

Additionally, the Consular Officer may ask any details/documents pertaining to the eligibility criteria and the travel plan. Ensure that you are ready with the documents and know the details of it. Depending on the location of the United States Embassy/Consulate, make sure you arrive at the address well before the scheduled interview time. Since you will need to go through security checks, etc. you may lose a significant amount of time before reaching your turn. Most of the visa questions are centered on the category of the visa, duration of stay, applicant’s nationality, however, these are few of the most common questions asked during to the United States Visa interview.

Questions Asked In The H4 Visa Interview Process

The H4 visa is generally issued to the spouse and children (below the age of 21 years) of an H category Visa holder in case they are accompanying their spouse to the United States. The H4 Visa holder has to be financially dependent on the H category Visa holder and has to be a family member. The visas that come under the H category are H-1A, H-2A, H-1B, H-2B AND H3.

Before a person is granted an H4 Visa, he or she has to go through an interview process before being approved for the same. There are 3 different categories of questions asked by the immigration official in the interview. The questions are asked about the H4 Visa, about you and marriage with your spouse. The specific H4 Visa questions asked in the interview are:

About the H4 Visa

1. Which type of visa do you want an approval for?
You want an approval for the H4 Visa.
2. Why do you need an H4 Visa?
You need an H4 Visa because you want to accompany your spouse to the United States who is a H1 Visa holder.
3. Did you or someone else make an appointment for the interview?
Answer the question truthfully as to whether you or someone else has made the appointment.
4. How did you obtain all the documents required for the H4 Visa interview?
Answer the question as appropriate.
In some cases, the dependent husband/wife will go to the United States later than the H1 Visa holder. For such instances, the H4 Visa interview questions asked by the immigration officer are:
5. In which month and year did your spouse get an approval for the H1 Visa?
Answer the exact month and year when your spouse got the approval for the H1 Visa.
6. What are the reasons for you not attending the visa interview with your husband/wife?
Give the exact reasons as to why you did not attend the visa interview with your husband/wife.

About you

1. What do you plan on doing in the United States?
The immigration officer wants to know what you will be doing in the United States during the period of your stay.
2. Are you planning to be employed in the United States?
As a H4 Visa holder, you will be financially dependent on your spouse, so for this question, your answer should be no.
3. Do you have any family members residing in the United States?
 Answer the question as applicable.
4. Which city/town are you currently residing in your native country?
Answer this question with the relevant information.
5. Do you reside with your family or friends?
Answer the question as applicable.
6. Who do you plan on residing within the United States?
 For this question you should answer that you will be staying with your spouse.
7. Who will financially support you during your period of stay in the United States?
For this question you should answer that your spouse will support you financially.

Questions about your marriage

To confirm that you and your spouse are married, the immigration officer will verify the details of your marriage by asking you certain question which are:

1. Can you show me a document that legally states your marriage to the H1 Visa holder?
 You can show your marriage certificate as proof of marriage with the H1 Visa holder.
2. Can you show me some of your wedding pictures?
 You can show the pictures from your wedding album to the immigration officer.
3. Can you show me your wedding invitation?
 You need to show the immigration officer your wedding invitation.
4. What is the duration for which you have been married to your current spouse?
 Answer this question with the relevant information.
5. What is the date of your marriage?
To answer this question, you need to mention the exact date, month and year of your marriage.
6. Was your marriage love or arranged?
Answer the question accordingly.
7. Who arranged the marriage?
The immigration officer wants to know the people who arranged your marriage. It could be your family, cousins or friends.
8. Mention the date you and your spouse met for the first time.
The immigration officer might also want to know the date you met your spouse. If you do not remember the exact date, you can mention the month and the year.
9. At which location did you get married?
To answer this question, you need to mention the city, state and the country in which you were married.
10. Do you have any proof of your marriage being registered?
To answer this question, you need to provide the marriage certificate to the immigration officer.
11. What amount of money was spent on your wedding ceremony and who financed it?
Provide the appropriate details for this answer to the immigration office such as the net spend on the wedding and who financed it.
12. Did you get engaged before getting married to your spouse?
    If you did get engaged before marriage, you need to provide proof to the immigration officer for the same.
13. After marriage, did you go for your honeymoon? If yes, where?
Provide the appropriate details to the immigration officer for the question asked.

About your spouse

1. What is the date of birth of your spouse?
Mention the exact date, month and year of the birth of your spouse.
2. Which university did your spouse graduate from?
Mention the university and the year in which your spouse graduated.
3. What is the highest degree completed by your spouse?
Mention the highest degree completed by your spouse.
4. Which organization does your spouse work for?
Mention the organization for which your spouse currently works.
5. What is the location of the organization in which your spouse currently works?
Mention the location of the organization your spouse currently works in.
6. What line of profession is your spouse into?
To answer this question you need to mention the profession of your spouse. Mention exactly what your spouse does with all the details.
7. Is your spouse currently residing in the United States? If yes, for how long?
If your spouse is currently residing in the United States, mention the exact number of days, years and months of his/her stay.
8. How long has your spouse been employed by your current company?
Mention the exact number of days, months and years for which your spouse has been Employed by his/her current organization.
9. What is your spouse’s income for the year?
Answer this question truthfully as the immigration officer will ask for proof to verify your answer.
10. Can you provide the bank statement of your spouse’s bank account?
Provide bank statements and pay stubs of your spouse’s bank account.
11. Has your spouse applied for a green card in the United States?
Answer as applicable.
The immigration officer will verify the information you provide to him or her and if you have the answers prepared for the H4 Visa interview questions mentioned above, you should be able to get an approval for it.