Visitor Visa - B2

I had my visa interview yesterday at Melbourne Consulate. I am an Indian girl working in Melbourne on a project. I had read a lot about how it is almost impossible for young single girls to get a tourist visa and how they should avoid saying they are going to meet their boyfriend as that will lessen their chances of getting a B2 visa.

But i wanted to be honest at my interview. This is how my interview went:

VO: Good morning, how are you?
ME: Good morning, I am good.
VO: Why are you planning to go to US?
ME: I want to go there to meet my boyfriend and visit few places.
VO: What kind of job you do?
ME: explained by job role.
VO: Which company you work for and for how long have you been working?
ME: I work for ABC company and i am here on a project.
VO: When did you come to Melbourne?
ME: Answered.
VO: How long will your project be here?
ME: Answered.
VO: What is your Education level?
ME: Answered.
VO: (Asked again) Why do you want to go to US?
ME: To visit my boyfriend and see few places.
VO: What does your boyfriend do there?
ME: He is on H1B visa working for ABC company.
VO: Alright, I am approving your visa, you will get your passport in 3 working days.

The interview lasted for about a minute. i think it is best to be honest than beating around the bush.

Had an interview this morning at US Consulate Toronto for Visitor visa for myself, my wife, my daugther and my father. My dad is on visitor visa to Canada and we applied for him too knowing that we are taking chances but we decided to tell the truth rather than beating around the bush.

VO: Good Morning
ME: Good Morning Officer, how are you doing
VO: I am doing very well thank you
VO: How many passports ?
ME: 4
VO: Who's father is he ?
ME: My father
VO: What is his status in Canada ?
ME: He is a visitor to Canada having multiple entry visa
VO: Who works in your family ?
ME: Me and my wife
VO: What do you do for living ?
ME: I work at XYZ company as ABC
VO: What are your father's long term plans ?
ME: Sorry officer, but i dont understand the context when you say plans ?
VO: What does he plan to do in long term ? Is he going to stay with you etc ?
ME: No. He is going back to his home country
VO: Who's back at your home country ? Any other kids to your father ?
ME: No, i am the only child
VO: Strange and you want him to go back and live by himself ? Would he not stay with you ?

At this point.. i already got a cue that the officer is trying to corner me to see if there are possible plans for my father and ours to immigrate / settle in the US

ME: My father is in good health and he doesnt prefer to stay in cold climate and he would go back in some time
VO: Who would look after your father once he is back to your home country since you are the only child ?
ME: We have maid back home who would look after cooking, cleaning and other household chores. Besides that my father has his sister and brother in law back home
VO: What does your father do?
ME: He is retired
VO: How much pension is he getting?
ME: Nothing. He used to work for a private company. I send him money every month for his day to day expenses
VO: Where do you plan to go in US ?
ME: New Jersey, New York
VO: How are you planning to go ? By flight ?
ME: We are going to drive
VO: How long you plan to stay in US?
ME: 2 days only
VO: Well.. it will take you 14 hours to drive and you might end up spending 2 days just in your car.
ME: A friend of mine told me it may take 8 hours for us to reach NY by car and thats why we thought of going in weekend and return before the working day

VO now turns to my wife:

VO: What do you do Ms. ?
Wife: I work for ABC company as XYZ

VO now turns to my 5 years old daughter:

VO: Hello sweetie; what is your name ?
Daughter: My name is ABC..
VO: How old are you ?
Daughter: I am 5 years old
VO: So you must be in your SK
Daughter: Yes

VO keeps typing and typing and typing. After few minutes.. she says I will approve your visas but your files are not opening on my system. Its taking a while. Have a seat and i will call you again...

We take our seats and keep waiting....... I was seeing that the VO was sipping coffee and typing a lot. Gets up from her seat and comes back after some time. Again sips coffee and starts typing. It took atleast 30 minutes for her to call me back.

And.............. when she called me she said I HAVE APPROVED YOUR VISAS. You will get your passports back in 7 days.

Moral of the Story:

1. Tell the truth all the times. The officers are trained to bump you with any questions to identify that you are not a possible illegal immigrant
2. Greet the officer and look into the eyes of the officer and be confident.
3. Telling the truth would take you less time rather than coming up with a false statement or explaination. They would know immdtly that you are making up stories
4. Be prepared for unexpected questions that has absolutely no relevance to you.

In my case, the officer didnt ask any questions that were relevant to me or my wife but probed more and more about my dad. I guess she was trying to gauge whether we would lie or not.

This was my experience. I am hoping that this may help you prepare well for your interview.

Last but not least.. thanks a lot Immihelp forum and the members here who posted their experiences who helped everyone. You guys are the real heroes.

Best of Luck

 

I would like thank every one for sharing the information and experince. Its my turn and its a good news.

My mother(Father passed away 2 months back) had her finger printing and photo taken on June 24th and the interview was today June 25th.

I sent similar documents like evry oen else.

She was in the out side line for 20 minutes. Goes thorugh the security and her documents were verified and gave a sticker. She was directed to second bulding, where the actual interview takes place. She was given a token number, stamped on her passport.

She was sittign and waiting for rest of the people in front of her to finish. Seperate lines for Kannda speakign people, seperate for Tamil speaking.

She got tenses when she saw that 4 other parents visa gettign rejected in front of her eyes. When her turn came, she was really tensed but manged to greet the consulate. They were really helpful and ask her to calm down and relax. Asked the helper boys to get her some water. Asked couple fo questions about

1. Why is she comign alsone?
2. How long your Son is in US
3. WHy you did not go to US for so long

There were the golden words. Please relax, your visa is approved.

Consular told the helper people to help my mother to get the money paid for the courier.

She was out. Byt the time she came out, ti was almost 2hours, but the wait was really worth.

Good to every one else and apprecite all your input here.

My parents had their B2 visa interview at Chennai yesterday. I took appointment in Kannada even through my father speaks English but my mom can't. I am in US since last 16 months on H1B working for a US based product company. My father is retired and gets small amount as pension. Through my father has a fixed deposit in bank, I sponsored their visa. I had sent them the following documents from the US.

1. I-134
2. Invitation letter
3. Letter to US consulate
4. I-797, Passport and Visa copy
5. W2 and Payslips
6. Employment verification letter
7. Bank account verification letter
8. Last 3 months bank statements with $9500 balance in savings account

My parents didn't carry any birth certificates or affidavits.

In the interview, there was an American lady with Kannada interpreter sitting next to her. All the questions were asked to my father. No questions were asked to my mom. Here is how the interview went.

Father: Good morning Madam
VO: Good marning
VO: Where do you work?
Father: I am retired
VO: Where were you working before?
Father: I was working for YYYY which is a public sector enterprise.
VO: What was your designation?
Father: Mechanical Engineer
VO: Who is in US?
Father: My son
VO: What is he doing in US?
Father: He is Electrical Engineer working for YYYY company.
VO : Your visa is approved and you will get your passport in a week. Welcome to America.

The interview didn't last even a minute. My father paid Rs.600 for the passport to be delivered home. I think the key is DS-160 and the Visa officer is more interested in checking what is written in DS-160 is truth or not.

Hi,
We had our OFC on Sunday, 9th June and Interview on 11th June, 9.30 AM
Had made changes in DS 160 (mine and wife) after submission. Carried both old and new printouts. My sincere advice is to get the DS 160 right in the first go itself. (changes after submission and in my case, after booking the OFC/Interview appointments is not a nice thing. You would like to avoid unnecessary stress / confusion and rather focus on interview! ). So please go through the DS 160 3-4 times before final submission.

For those who are curious to know – I missed out 2 countries in my spouse’s past travel section, 1 country in my form and committed the famous ‘surname missing in the passport’ error in my spouse case. I finally decided that it’s better to make our DS 160 forms ‘error free’ rather than just pray that those ‘unintentional’ errors will go unnoticed.

Interview day –New Delhi embassy, 9.30 AM (Wife, 1 yr old daughter and self)

US : Good morning
VO : Hi
VO: Passports Pl, how many passports?
ME : 3
VO : Your name
ME : ABC
VO : And what do you do?
ME : I work with XYZ as FGH in Gurgaon
VO : Why are you going to US? For the first time?
ME : Yes, for the 1st time. Primarily for tourism. We will also get a chance to see her (indicating toward my wife) brother who is in San Francisco
Wife, obviously ready for the next question
VO : What does your brother do?
Wife : BD manager with ABC
VO : What do you do?
Wife : I work with XYZ as FGH in Gurgaon
VO : Duration of your trip (to me)
ME : 3 weeks
VO : And how old is she (to our daughter, with a smile). Is she going abroad for the first time?
(and I knew the visa is coming our way ?)
ME : she is 1. Yes , that’s her first international vacation.
VO : Your visa is approved!
US : Thanks!
Done and over in 60 secs.

10 yr multiple entry for me and wife, 5 yr multiple entry for my daughter (got the stamped passports in D+2 days)

My learning / advice : Prepare well, fill the DS 160 with utmost honest and correctness. Avoid any ambiguity, whatsoever!. Stay confident and be presentable at the interview.
Carry all the supporting documents that you feel are relevant (will also boost your confidence to face / reply any question) but remember it’s an interview, not a form & doc submission appointment.
So do remember that it’s your answers that will primarily decide the fate of your visa. The consulars are quite experienced and adept in knowing your case, intentions and purpose basis the interview and body language.

Said that, luck always plays a role. So all the best!

hi,
im mark 28 y/o and an expat here in abu dhabi, i had my interview yesterday june 10, 2013 , it was like a casual interview the VO is very nice you will not be intimidated to her.
here are some of the question that was ask to me:
1. my reason of going to the US?
2. whom i will visit?
3. since my brother is under H4 visa. she ask me what is the job of his wife?
4. then ask me how long ive been here in the UAE?
5. What's my job?
6. ask my salary certificate and my bank statement
7. then ask about my previous travel and which is my favorite country?

then she said the magic word
i'ii approve your visa and wait for the email of Empost about 5 days for you to pick up your passport...

by the way thanks for this site it really help me in preparing my self for the interview and filling up my application..

Would like to thank immihelp who has been a true tutor for me and could be for all of them who wants to apply by themselves.

My interview was in Mumbai Consulate, it went very smooth and I got the visa for 10 years multiple entry.

Immihelp really helped me to filled up application form/DS-160, preparing documents and most exiting and important part is interview preparation and reading others interview experience.

From my experience I would like to give some tips which may help you ….

1. Gather all the documents (Passport, education related, professional, personal etc) before filling up DS160. There should not be any mismatch between document and information filling in DS160 form. Most common mistake people does in field "Given Name". it should be Name & Middle name both (exatly as shown in passport), dont write only name, there is no other column for middle name.

2. Fill up the form and save it . Do not submit in first time. (as after submit you will not be able to correct if any mistake)

3. Review the form twice thrice or the next day or next week, try to find out mistake if any, correct and once you are confident then submit it. ( Validity for review and correction is 30 days from saving it first time in case you have choose to save and not to submit/signature in first time)

4. Prepare for an intervirew, make a list of questions VO may ask. List of question may be preapred by reading various experiences or by putting up yourself in VO's place and think what you may ask to your candidate.

5. Once list is prepared, make short and to the point answers. (as you will have only 2-5 mins for answering all questions).

6. Practice question answer at least 20-30 times giving role of VO to someone or standing in front of mirror. Keep practicing till the time you are confident of answering each question without any hesitation.

7. Start visulizing interview closing your eyes whenever you are free. Question and answer by yourself. And remember your last sceen of visualization must be VO saying "Your visa is approved, you will get your paspport in 3-5 days" Practice this 100 times and it will come true.

8. Secondly be prepared for unexpacted question/s, they may ask. Just relax, take half second pause and answer what is correct, do not answer anything in hurry. (also do not take long pause or they may think you are making answer)

8a. Dress up well, that will always help you boosting your confidence.

9. Go 1 hr prior to interview time as they will allow to enter 50-60 mins before interview time. Don't reach too early or else you will have to wait on the road/footpath that can spoil your mood, also do not reach late or else you may lose your focus. (rare tip : do not stand below tree in case you reach early as birds on tree are ready to **** on your shirt/dress, as it happned to one of the candidate)

10. After entry people are there to help you at each mode so don't worry just relax and go. You can choose to get referesh once you enter inside, there is fresh room inside, go wash your face, relax.

11. In case you are nervous or tense, take a long breath and keep doing the same till the last moment. Don't worry what other thinks, what really matter is how you present yourself against VO.

12. Inside you need to take a token number then give finger print and lastly you need to present against window no. which is announce against your token no. (people there will guide you for each step)

13. When VO call you at window, great him/her Good morning/evening etc.
13a. Keep your passport ready as firstly they will ask for the same.

14. Listen and understand question properly (you may face problem as there are lot of noise back side)
14a. In case you are not clear with the question, do not hesitage asking it again by saying beg your pardon etc. Do not answer without listening/understanding question properly.

15. Give to the point and short answer, do not give additional or irelevant information.

16. Do not present any document till the time they ask you for the same. (but keep it handly as you will have no time to search for asked document.)

17 Go with full confidence (no overconfidence pls) & relax. Don't worry too much as world is not going to change whatever the result may be, you will be as happy as you are currently.

              -------- All the Best --------------

Document preparation tips
- It may warry on case to case base, whatever you have filled up in form DS160 your document should support the same or whatever you think can strengthen your case, you can carry the same. (for example someone from US is inviting you so you need to carry invitation letter/card etc, work experience letter/income proof/tax returns/educational certi etc)
- I suggest , caryy two file or folder, first should contain Passport,DS-160 confirmation page, appointment confirmation page, fee receipt and 8-10 supporting documents (you feel is most important and most supporting), in second folder you can carry other supporting document which you feel is require but not that much important. And I think making index on first page of folder/file will help you to find out document as you will have no time to find the same in case they ask any document.
-In many case they don't ask for a single document (as happened in my case) but in case they ask and you don't have it then you are gone. So be prepared with all documents. That's what I think.
              -------- All the Best --------------

My interview experience :

Window no. announced for my token number, I went there, 1 person was giving interview and 1 was standing in queue. After 7-8 mins my number came.

me : Good Morning, Madam. ( When I went she was drinking water, so waited her to finish her glass then great her)
VO : Good morning, Your passport please.
me : Yes madam (passport given)
VO: Why you want to visit USA (asked after few seconds)
me : To drop my mother as she is afraid of travelling alone after my fathers death. They were living there and having green card, I have the green card copy. If you want to see.
VO : No I will ask if I require any document.
me : ok madam (then nither tried to present any document nor she has asked for any document)
VO : when did your father expired.
me : Date Given.
VO : Sorry to hear the same.
me : its ok.
VO : Who called your parents there.
me : My sister
VO : What is she doing there
me : House Wife.
VO : Does she applied for your immigration.
me : yes madam.
VO : When you think your file will open (don’t remember the exact question but meaning is same)
me : I suppose in 2015, as it takes 10 years to open file and it was filled in 2005.
VO : Does you mother physically fit to travel. (this question was out of my question list / unexpected question)
me : Yes she is physically fit but mentally disturbed, need my support.
VO : Are you appling for your family.
me : No, I am leaving them here.
VO : What is your job profile.
me : I started explaining but she stopped me in between
VO : No no no, I mean your position,designation
me : oh !! I am sorry, working as xyz position (I appologize for understanding question wrongly)
VO : What is your salary
me : xyz per month
VO : Annualy
me : xyzz annualy.
After 2-3 second of silence. ( she was busy in typing something, even all the time she was typing something in computer during question answer, may be recording answers)
VO : Your visa has been approved, you will get your passport in 3-5 days.
me : Thank you, thank you very much madam.

Thats how I got the visa. It went very smooth, it went for aound 5-6 mins.
 I think when your reason is valid and answering question honestly then there is no reason they should reject your application. That’s what I feel.
I will be happy if my experience can help anyone to get the visa. All the best. Good Luck.

My father's visa got rejected last year in mumbai and so i advised him to go to chennai and it worked...

Visa interview date : 21 may , Time : 7.30 a m

VO : GM
Father: GM
VO: where are you going in USA?
Father : City, State
VO: looked at some form on his PC, and said your visa is approved. You will get your passport in 2 days.

My father got passport today with 10 years visa. No documents checked. Interview lasted 30 seconds.

Lessons Learned : keep trying. It is like lottery.

Good luck to everyone who is applying and thanks immihelp.

test

Hi my mother went for a visitor visa interview on May 22, she was told the visa is approved and they also gave her a green receipt, but when I check status on CEAC (Consular Electronic Application Center), it says the visa is refused, can anybody help what is going on with that, thanks.