Applicant Background

A 26-year-old female applicant attended her B1/B2 tourist visa interview in Mumbai. She applied individually, while her parents already held valid US visas. Although she had previously traveled to the United States, she did not qualify for the Dropbox renewal process because her earlier visa was issued before she turned 18 and she had not completed ten-print biometrics at that time.

Her VAC appointment took place in Chennai, followed by the visa interview at the US Consulate in Mumbai.

B1/B2 Visa Interview Experience

The applicant had an appointment scheduled for 8:50 AM. Due to heavy queues for English-speaking non-immigrant visa applicants, the overall process took several hours, and she exited the consulate around 11:55 AM.

Below is the complete visa interview conversation shared by the applicant.

Interview Conversation

Applicant: Good morning, officer.

Visa Officer: Good morning. What’s the purpose of your visit?

Applicant: I’m going on holiday.

Visa Officer: Is anyone accompanying you?

Applicant: Yes, my parents.

Visa Officer: And they already have visas?

Applicant: Yes, they do.

Visa Officer: Have you been to the US before?

Applicant: Yes, this time last year for about two weeks.

Visa Officer: How long do you plan on visiting this time?

Applicant: Two weeks over the summer.

Visa Officer: And what do you do?

Applicant: I’m with visa and immigration at a foreign country’s consulate.

Visa Officer: How did you get into the consulate and how long have you been working there?

Applicant: I studied in that country and I’ve been with the consulate since I graduated.

Visa Officer: Which university did you go to?

Applicant: X University.

Visa Officer: I went to Y University in the same country.

Applicant: No way!

Visa Officer: (smiles)

Visa Officer: Have you ever felt any threat to your life here in India?

Applicant: No.

Visa Officer: Do you think there will be any harm to your life upon your return?

Applicant: No.

Visa Officer: Your visa is approved. Have a nice trip.

Applicant: Thank you, have a good one.

Additional Observations From the Applicant

The applicant mentioned that the visa officer did not request any supporting documents apart from the current passport. No sponsorship documents, financial papers, or detailed travel history were asked during the interview.

According to the applicant, the visa officer spent most of the time looking at the computer screen and only occasionally looked at the applicant while asking questions. The experience highlighted the importance of answering naturally, confidently, and conversationally rather than sounding overly rehearsed.

The applicant also observed that many applicants applying for business visas were refused on the same day. Based on what was noticed during the interviews, several rejections appeared to happen when applicants could not clearly explain why their physical presence was necessary in the United States.

Another notable observation was that nearly every applicant, regardless of visa category, was asked questions related to personal safety and threats. This appeared to be part of a newer questioning pattern at the consulate.

Overall, the interview was straightforward, conversational, and focused mainly on the applicant’s travel purpose, employment background, and previous US travel history.

If you are preparing for your upcoming US visa interview, experiences like these can help you understand the interview flow and expected questions. If you need expert assistance, contact LeSo.