A visa application procedure itself can feel like a daunting task for many travellers. Acquiring a US Visa is considered one of the most stressful experience. This is because of the impression that USA Visa applications have chances of rejection for the slightest mistakes. One of the most intimidating experience to tackle during a US visa process is giving the interview at the consulate. If you are residing in Dubai and planning to travel to US for business or tourism purpose, you need to apply for a US visa and appear for an interview at the consulate to get your US visa sorted before your travel commences. However, by getting to know the process beforehand and how to prepare, you can easily get through your US Visa interview in Dubai without any pressure. Scroll down to know more about how to crack your USA visa interview in Dubai with ease.
Here is all you need to crack your US visa interview in Dubai easily.
- Make sure you have a passport with a validity of at least 6 months from the date of travel and with enough pages to get the visa stamped.
- You should be very clear on what type of US visa is needed for your travel purpose. If you are visiting the USA for tourism, medical and leisure purpose or for social visits, you will require a B2 visa. If you are visiting USA temporarily for business purpose, you would require a B1 visa which is the US Business visa. Both these visas are Non-immigrant / visitor visas and are valid for 6 months from the date of issuance of visa. Having clarity on types of visas are required as your visa application will get rejected if it doesn’t match with your purpose of travel.
- Complete the online visa application form, DS-160 which is a U.S. Government on-line form you have to submit along with your application. Your application must be clearly and accurately filled with information. You will also need passport size photographs along with your application.
- After submitting your application online, you need to schedule an appointment with the Consulate for your visa interview.
- Be aware of what documents you need for a US visa from Dubai. All your documentation should be thoroughly in order as required by the consulate. Carry whatever documents you feel would come handy for your visa application.
On the day of the Interview:
Please reach the Embassy or Consulate at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time. You will not be granted entry into the consulate more than 30 minutes prior to the time appointed to you and arriving too late can result in the cancellation of your US interview appointment. You can expect to be at the Embassy or Consulate for at least an hour for the whole process to complete. It would be better if you do not carry any bags, briefcases or any extra items with you to the Embassy as you will not be allowed to bring them along with you while entering the building. Also, you have to appear in person and alone as only the applicant will be allowed to enter into the consular section as per the appointment time.
After you enter the consulate/embassy:
Your appointment will be confirmed at the entrance first before letting you in. After your security check, when you enter the Consulate/Embassy, you should have your passport, Photos, DS-160 Confirmation Page, Appointment information and all supporting documents ready for verification. You will be given a token number for your interview and will need to visit different windows for the initial examination of your application documents, fingerprinting and finally the interview. Once your number is called for your interview, you should provide the officer with all the documents and the Consular Officer will ask you questions related to your intended travel to USA and other relevant questions. The interview may last for approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
Types of USA Visa Interview Questions – Commonly asked B1 & B2 Visa Interview Questions & Answers
- What is the purpose of your visit to USA?
Make sure your answer is in simple, compact sentence and state your purpose of visit.
For eg: I am visiting to negotiate a contract for business purpose. I am travelling to visit a friend who lives in US. - Have you visited US before?
Speak truthfully if you have visited or not. - Do you have any relatives, family members or friends currently in the US?
Even if you have one friend, family or relative, give a compact answer about them. You may be further asked about personal details about your friends, family members and relatives residing in the US such as where they work, where do they live, what is their legal status etc. - How long will you stay in US?
Tell the interviewer the date you enter into US and the date of your departure from US. - Why do you want to travel at this particular time of the year?
Give honest answers such as you can get leave from office for travelling at this time of the year, or you have been given an opportunity to travel to US by your company. Whatever the reason is you should clearly state it to the officer. For business travellers, it is easier to just convey that this is when the business opportunity has come up for negotiation. - Have you booked your tickets?
If you are asked this question, you should tell the interviewer if you have booked it or not. If you have, then hand the booking confirmation letter to the interviewer. - Why do you plan to stay so long, can you stay shorter?
This question is usually asked to those applying visa for validity 6 months or more. In this case, you need to back your answers with strong reasons to convince the interviewer on why you need to stay for such a long time in US. - Do you have travel insurance, international credit cards or how much money you will be carrying with you on your US visit?
Tell the interviewer if you have these or not and present all related documents as proof to back your answers. - Are you currently working? Where?
If you are an employee or a businessman, back up your answer with your company’s name and place. If you are retired, then answer accordingly stating that you have retired from your services from this particular company. - Can I see your leave approval letter?
You will have to provide the interview with a proof of the same. - Could you show me your business/visiting card?
Answer accordingly. If you have a business or visiting card, show it to the interviewer. - When you are on your business trip, who will take care of business when you are in US?
Let them know that you have a backup for such situations at your office to take care of your business. - How can I be assured that you will return back to your country after your visit?
Convince by saying how you have a job or your business here which is doing quite well and your dependent family members staying with you in Dubai. You can also show your assets and properties if you have any in Dubai to further showcase that it would be extremely difficult for you to not return back to Dubai.
At the end of your interview, the Consular Officer will let you know if your application is approved or rejected.
If you receive a white document before leaving the consulate, it indicates that your visa has been rejected. If you receive a yellow sheet of paper, then you are required to provide additional documents for your visa approval. If you receive a pink document, then your visa has been approved. You can collect your passport after 3 to 5 working days after the visa is stamped on it.
Some points to consider during a USA visa interview
- Dress professionally, think of the interview like a job interview and dress formally and smartly.
- Be confident while answering the questions. Elaborate only where you feel it is necessary. Be honest, courteous and sincere in your answers.
- Your documents and your interview answers should convince the interviewer that you will come back to Dubai once your travel purpose is finished.
- Make meticulously sure that you have your paperwork as a solid back up for all your answers. Get everything ready and double-check everything to have a smooth experience.