What the US visa interview looks like in 2024

Today we'll talk about what is probably, for many people, the most nerve-wracking step in your planned trip to the United States — the visa interview with a visa officer.

By the way, it's worth noting that you can get a US visa without an interview, but unfortunately only for renewals and subsequent visas. You won't be able to get your first visa without an in-person interview. And if, for some reason, you need to renew your visa by applying at a consulate in a country other than your country of citizenship, you'll have to attend an interview regardless. Those are the rules… 🤷‍♀️

The visa interview
- Questions for a tourist visa (B1/B2)
- Questions for a student visa (F1)
What language is the interview conducted in
How long to wait for a US visa after the interview

The visa interview

The visa interview takes place at the American embassy or consulate where you submitted your application. This is quite convenient, since you can choose the country for your interview yourself. Of course, doing the interview for a US visa in your own country would be even more convenient, but not everyone has that option.

During the interview, the visa officer will ask you questions about your intended trip to the US, your life back home, and your immigration history. They may also ask you again about certain items from your completed DS-160 form, to hear the information confirmed by you in person.
If you brought additional supporting documents with you, they may look through those too, though this isn't guaranteed. They might also open one of your social media accounts right in front of you and take a quick look, so it's best not to post anything inappropriate. 😗

The average tourist visa interview lasts just a few minutes. In that brief window of time, you'll need to answer all the questions the officer asks and prove your non-immigrant intent. In other words — you'll need to convince them that you won't overstay illegally in the country.

So, let's take a look at what questions are asked during a US visa interview. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions during the interview.

Questions for a tourist visa (B1/B2)

What is the purpose of your trip to the US?
Have you been to the US before, and which cities did you visit?
Which US city are you travelling to, where will you be staying there, and why do you want to visit this particular place?
How long will your trip last?
Are you married, and if you have children, how old are they?
Do you have relatives or friends living in the US?
What status do your relatives have in the US, and when did you last see them?
Where do you work and in what role, what are your responsibilities, how long have you worked at this organisation, and what does it do?
Who is paying for your trip?

Questions for a student visa (F1)

Why do you want to study specifically in the US?
Why didn't you want to take this course in your own country?
How many institutions did you apply to?
Why did you choose this particular university?
Who will be sponsoring your education?
Do you plan to take on part-time work while studying in the US?
What do you plan to do if you're denied a student visa?
How can I be sure you'll return home rather than stay in the US after your studies?

Of course, this isn't a complete list of possible questions, but these are among the most common. There may be a few more questions, or, on the other hand, significantly fewer. Every case has its own set of questions, and the only way to predict them is by studying the specific case at hand, starting with your DS-160 form and going from there…

What language is the interview conducted in

The officer usually asks questions during the interview in English. This is the standard language of communication for consular staff. However, depending on the consulate and its location, there may be an option to do the interview in the local language, or even in Russian.

How long to wait for a US visa after the interview

The officer will tell you their decision on issuing the visa right at the interview. If approved, your passport stays at the consulate to be processed and have the visa affixed. The passport with the visa is usually returned 2–3 days after the interview.

Since the final word in the visa process always rests with the visa officer, you definitely shouldn't underestimate the US visa interview. But there's no need to panic if you have a weak case either — it can almost always be improved.