A nonimmigrant visa interview at a Consulate is often a nerve-wracking experience especially for first-timers. As most cases are decided after a brief interview and a quick review of documents by the Consular Officer, being prepared for the interview is absolutely essential.

Following are some questions you should be prepared to answer irrespective of whether you are going to the Consulate for a fresh H-1B visa or an H-1B renewal.

• What does your U.S. company do?
• What will be your job duties in the U.S. company?
• How many employees does the U.S. company have?
• What is the annual turnover of the U.S. company?
• Where will you be working in the U.S.?
• What computer languages do you know? (Information Technology professionals are often asked this question)
• What computer languages are you currently using in your company?
• How long have you worked with your current employer?
• What is your current salary?
• Have you ever been in a ‘no-job no-salary’ kind of situation?
• What is your role in the current company?
• Which university in the U.S. did you study in? (This is in case you have a degree from the U.S.)
• What is your highest degree?
• Where will you be staying in the U.S.?
• How long do you plan to stay in the U.S.?
• Which state do you live in the U.S.? What’s your opinion about the state?

What you need to do before the interview

• Check the Consulate website to ensure you are have the correct nonimmigrant visa application fee checks and have written your passport number and name behind the them, and determine where the fees are to be paid.
• Ensure you have all the Forms and personal documents as part of the package you will be carrying to the interview. Be sure you have a complete copy of the H-1B petition that was filed on your behalf as part of the documentation you carry with you to the interview.
• Arrange the documents in a way that it’s easy for the Officer to flip through the package and locate a document immediately.

While the presumption of immigrant intent is inapplicable to H-1 and L-1 visa applicants, it is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons to obtain an H-1 visa approval. Consular Officers tend to request a revocation of the USCIS approved H-1B petition in cases where there is fraud or perceived fraud as their goal is to issue visas to qualified applicants.

Often, Officers find that H-1B visa applicants who have obtained an H-1B petition approval and have the appropriate credentials are unable to articulate the job duties or the position in which they intend to work in the U.S. This creates a problem because it is important to be able to explain one’s job duties clearly to the Officer to avoid any potential fraud or misrepresentation issue regarding eligibility. With the mandatory personal interview, confident and prompt replies to questions posed by Consular Officers are more important than ever before.