Preparing for the Visa Interview
Most first-time applicants for a visa will be required to attend an in-person interview at the US consulate or embassy in the country from which they are applying for the visa. The interview is meant to establish that the applicant has applied for the correct type of visa and that the applicant is eligible to receive the visa to travel to the United States.
Applicants can expect to be asked questions regarding their purposes for entering the US and may have to provide documentary evidence of these purposes. For example, if the applicant is being sponsored by a family member for legal permanent residence, the applicant will be required to show proof of the family relationship. If the applicant has been offered full-time employment in the US, he or she will be required to produce an offer letter from the employer, setting out the specifics of the intended employment.
Once an applicant has applied for a visa, he or she will receive an appointment letter from the National Visa Center, which will list the date, time and location of his or her interview. The letter also may provide specific instruction about the types of documents the applicant should bring with him or her to the interview, which may include:
- The appointment letter
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Color photographs
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Court, prison and police records (if applicable)
- Military records (if applicable)
Depending on the type of visa the applicant applies for, he or she may need to bring additional documentation to prove the purpose of the trip. For example, if the applicant is applying for a temporary visa for a business trip, he or she may need to have a letter from the employer showing the purpose of the trip and length of stay.
Consular officers are permitted to ask any questions that are material to determining an applicant’s eligibility for a visa in general and his or her eligibility for the specific type of visa in particular. Those applying for nonimmigrant visas will have to attest to their intention to return to their home country once their permitted time in the US has expired. This usually is done by showing significant ties to the home country, such as family members, employment, permanent residence or other attachments.
Applicants also will have to submit to a medical examination conducted by a physician approved by the US consulate or embassy. The medical examination is required to check for communicable diseases, illnesses and disabilities prior to entry into the US. The US consulate will examine the results of the medical examination during the interview. Applicants also will have to provide evidence of certain immunizations, including for hepatitis B and influenza type B.
During the interview, applicants will be fingerprinted. Under new federal laws, even applicants who do not have to submit to an in-person interview will have to be fingerprinted at the US embassy or consulate. The fingerprints are used to conduct background checks and to ensure that those entering the US on a visa are the same people who applied for the visa.
Whether you will be required to submit to an in-person interview and the type of documents you will be required to produce depends not only on the type of visa you are applying for, but also the embassy or consulate in the country you are applying from. You will want to consult the Web site of your local US embassy or consulate to learn more about its specific requirements. You can access a list of US embassies and consulates from the US Department of State Web site at: http://www.usembassy.gov/.
Getting Ready To Apply for a Visa
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Getting Ready to Apply for a Visa
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