Tips for Your Visa Interview

Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as J-1 visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not.

You must, therefore, be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. "Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc.

If you are a prospective scholar, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country.

Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter which can guarantee visa issuance.

If you have applied for the U.S. Green Card Lottery, you may be asked if you are intending to immigrate. A simple answer would be that you applied for the lottery since it was available but not with a specific intent to immigrate.

If you overstayed your authorized stay in the United States previously, be prepared to explain what happened clearly and concisely, with documentation, if available.

Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language.

One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview, but do not prepare speeches!

If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.

Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf.

Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute of the interview.

Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.

It should be immediately clear to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated.

Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you are lucky.

Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas.

Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants.

If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence.

This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied.

If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.

If you are denied a visa, ask the officer for a list of documents they would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.