Preparing for the US B1/B2 visa interview: 10 questions and the right approach

In a US visa the decision is made after a two-to-three-minute meeting with a consular officer. Interview preparation is therefore as important as document preparation. Below we summarise 10 frequently asked questions and the approach to answering them.

Before the interview

• Complete the DS-160 form fully and consistently; at the interview you must remember every piece of information on the form.
• File the fee receipt, appointment confirmation and your passport.
• Be able to explain your purpose of travel in one sentence.

Ten frequently asked questions

1. Why are you going to the US?
2. How long will you stay?
3. Who is funding your trip?
4. What do you do for work and how long have you worked there?
5. Whom will you visit and how do you know them?
6. Have you been to the US before?
7. Do you have family living in the US?
8. What ties you to Turkey?
9. Which cities will you visit?
10. Have you been refused a visa before?

The right approach

Your answers should be short, truthful and consistent with the form. Long explanations and memorised answers raise suspicion. You do not have to present documents; present them if the officer asks. Making eye contact and speaking in a respectful but relaxed tone has a positive effect.

What to avoid

• Presenting forged or misleading documents
• Using wording that could imply "working"
• Answering on behalf of someone else during the interview
• Handing over too many documents at once

Interview rehearsal

Our advisers run a one-to-one rehearsal with real interview questions and assess your answers on record. Rehearsals help you sharpen your answers without spoiling your natural way of speaking.

Important: no preparation guarantees visa approval; the decision belongs to the consulate alone.

The flow on interview day

Arrive at the consulate no more than 15 minutes before your appointment; electronic items are generally not allowed inside, so bring only your passport, appointment confirmation and the necessary documents. After security you hand in documents, give fingerprints and finally have a short interview at the window. The process, including waiting, can take one to three hours.

After the interview

The officer tells you verbally whether the visa is approved or whether additional administrative processing (221(g)) is needed. If approved, your passport is delivered by courier within a few days. In administrative processing the decision can take weeks; do not reapply during this time and share developments with your adviser.

Suggestions for carrying your file

Have these ready: passport, DS-160 confirmation page, fee receipt, appointment confirmation, employer letter, tax plate or payslip, bank statement and documents showing ties such as a title deed or vehicle licence. Keep them all in order in one folder; the officer will only ask for what they need.