A former visa officer explains the dos and don’ts for a visa interview.
Getting a US visa has gradually become a game of luck as the denial rate is high. Sometimes there are valid reasons, sometimes visa officers simply suspect that the applicant cannot return to their home countries, and sometimes, it is just a bad day. Former visa officer Christa Byker said that while most people focus on documents and literal answers to potential questions, visa officers are trained to read microimpressions. They can recognize subtle cues like confidence, stability, and authenticity,“In those first few seconds, before you even finish your first sentence, the officer has already started to make an impression,” Byker said.
5 things visa officers notice
- how do you walk up to the counter
- Eye contact (natural, not forced)
- Tone of voice – calm/natural/confident, practiced/timid
- listen completely before answering
- Keeping answers strategic, logical and honest
3 things to never say in a visa interview
Byker said he chose three phrases that he heard repeatedly in interviews, which created an element of negativity and doubt in his mind.
- “My application was weak”
- “I was very nervous and disorganized so I couldn’t express myself”
- “I took a gap year because my profile was not strong enough yet”
What to say instead:
- “Today I would like to illustrate the strength of my application by demonstrating X”
- “At my last interview it appeared there was a misunderstanding about my father’s finances. He is a very successful businessman and has a long travel history. Can you check again?”
- “I took a gap year to prepare for the exam, invest in myself, and figure out what I want in life. Now I’m ready to study a degree I’m passionate about.”
If your visa officer is rude and you are refused a visa
Bykar said that it often happens that the visa application is rejected due to the bias of the visa officer, even though there is no flaw in the case. In such a situation, the best thing is to apply again. Byker said, “That rude officer probably has a bad reputation among coworkers. If they see that person’s name on prior denial notes, it might actually be a signal to reconsider the case.”