Typical B2 visa interview questions: what could you be asked?

A key part of the US B-2 Visa application process is the requirement to attend a visa interview.

Preparing for your B-2 visa interview will help to improve your chances of being granted the visa.

Familiarise yourself with all the information you have provided in your application form, bring all necessary supporting documentation and use the following common B2 visa interview questions to help you prepare.

 

What happens during the B-2 visa interview?

B-2 visa applicants aged between 14 and 79 are required to make an appointment at the Embassy or Consulate where they filed their petition. In the UK, this will be either the US Embassy in London or the Consulate General in Belfast.

Applicants aged 80 or over, or under the age of 14, may be eligible to apply for their visa by courier.

You will need to bring your appointment confirmation letter to the interview.

You won’t be admitted into the Embassy or Consulate until 30 minutes prior to your appointment time. If you arrive late, your appointment may be cancelled.

While the B2 visa is typically short, lasting only around 5 – 10 minutes in most cases, you should allow 2 to 3 hours for your time at the Embassy or Consulate. You will also be required to have an electronic scan of your fingerprints taken while you are there.

Prepare well for your interview. Go through your application and ensure you have to hand all the information you need to answer questions fully and accurately.

 

Examples of B-2 Visa interview questions

The B-2 visa interview can cover a lot of ground. The consular officer is able to question you on a broad range of topics to determine if you satisfy the requirements of the visa for eligibility, that your purpose of travel meets the restrictions under the B-2 visa and that you have intent to leave the US at the end of your permitted stay by demonstrating you have sufficient ties to your home country.

While each interview will be different, and will be shaped by your specific application and the information you have provided, there are a number of common areas that you may be asked about and as such should prepare for.

Remember to always answer honestly and keep your responses brief.

The types of questions you could be asked at your B-2 tourist visa interview include:

 

Reasons for travel

• What is the purpose of your visit to the US? Here you should provide your reasons for travel. Are you planning to visit friends and family, or to go for a holiday?
• Why are you travelling at this particular time? – You may be attending a wedding or other celebration. Or to spend Christmas there. It may be the only time you can travel. You will need to give valid reasons.
• How long are you intending to stay?
• Why do you need a 6 month visa? – They will want to know why your trip can’t be done in less time.
• Where are you going to be staying? – You will need to provide any booking information you have for hotels, family addresses etc for all places you intend to visit and stay.
• How will you pay for the trip? You will need to demonstrate that you know how much you are likely to need and if you have the resources to support your trip. You may be staying with family and some expenses may be covered by them, you will need to explain that. You may need to show sponsor documents at this point.

 

Family members and sponsors in America

• Who is your sponsor? This could possibly be a family member
• Are they married?
• Do they have children?
• How many children?
• What are their birthdates?
• When did they get married?
• What do they do for a living?
• What will you be doing when they are out at work?
• You may need to give all their contact details
• How long since you last saw them?
• Do you have any relatives or friends in the US? Again, be honest. The adjudicator will be looking to be satisfied that you will not stay in the US – being open about your US-based friends and family will avoid any potential suspicion about your plans.
• How are they in the US? i.e. are they on a visa, green card or American citizen, what type of visa will be required too.
• Did your sponsor study in the US? If so you will need to provide information of when, where and what they studied.
• Are they planning on visiting you any time soon? If they are planning on visiting you within the year, the consular officer may feel this is an unnecessary trip.
• Have you had a green card application put forward by anyone?

 

Travel plans

• Have you booked/bought your flights? What are the details?
• Have you ever visited the US before? If you have been to the US previously, give brief details including the reason for your visit – medical reasons, tourism.
• If yes, when and how long did you stay for? If on a previous visit you overstayed past your visa validity, you should state this. The adjudicator will have access to this information so it is best to be upfront.
• When you last visited, was your stay extended? If it was, you will need to provide your extension approval letter.
• Who will be travelling with you?
• When are you planning on travelling?
• Do you have visitor medical insurance? – you will need to show this if you have it
• Have you got a credit card?

 

Your work information

• What do you do for a living?
• If you have your own business, you will need to provide information about who will be taking care of the business while you are away.
• Are you retired?
• How much is your annual income?
• If you are planning on staying for 6 months you will need to provide your approval to leave from your employer
• Are you going to do business in the U.S?
• Are you planning on working in the U.S?
• What are you going to do when you return home?

 

Ties to your home country

• Are you going to return to your own country after your visit? The B-2 visa is a temporary visitor visa. You cannot remain in the US past your permitted period of stay. The adjudicator will want reassurance that you will leave the country when you are supposed to.
• Can you demonstrate your reasons to return home? Here you will need to explain about family, friends, work etc that are keeping you in the UK, as evidence that you intend to leave the US after your visit.
• Do you have property in the UK? Detail all properties you own, including your home address. This will help to show that you will return home after the visit.
• What is happening to your property while you are away? Who will be taking care of your property while you are away and give their details.
• What relatives do you have in the UK? If you have any that are dependent on you for support, it would be helpful to mention them here.

 

B2 visa supporting documents

You should take the following documents with you to the interview, as a minimum:

• Print out of the confirmation page from your DS-160 form.
• Your passport, valid for at least six months past the period of stay in the USA.
• Digital photograph.
• Details of your travel plans and accommodation.
• Details of any visits to the US in the past five years.
• Your cv.

In addition to the above, you may need to bring further documents depending on your circumstances. For example, if you have any planned medical procedures or appointments.

 

Need assistance?

If you are looking to apply for the B-2 visa, and require guidance and advice with your application, including the interview, NNU’s specialist US attorneys can help. We can support with completing the necessary application paperwork and preparing for the interview. Our US immigration specialists also bring specific expertise in complex applications such as criminal waivers where you have a past conviction.

If you have a question about the B visa, or any other US immigration-related matter, please contact us for advice.

 

B2 interview questions FAQs

What questions are asked in B2 visa interview?

Typical B-2 interview questions include questions about your travel history, your itinerary while in the US and your reasons for visiting the US.

How to pass the US tourist visa interview?

Be prepared with details of your itinerary while in the USA and ensure you provide sufficient proof of ties to your home country to prove your intention is just to visit the US and to return home after your stay.

How long does a B2 interview last?

B2 interviews are generally brief and can last around 5 – 10 minutes. However, interview times can vary depending on the complexity of your application and circumstances.

Do you have to interview for a B2 visa?

Yes, B2 visa applicants are required to attend an interview, usually at the Embassy or Consulate where the application was filed.

This article does not constitute direct legal advice and is for informational purposes only.