A former visa officer shares the dos and don’ts of visa interviews.
Due to the high rejection rate, getting a US visa gradually became a matter of luck. Sometimes there are valid reasons, sometimes the visa officer just suspects that the applicant may not return to their home country, and sometimes, it’s just a bad day. While most people focus on documents and literal answers to possible questions, visa officers are trained to read micro-impressions, said Christa Byker, a former visa officer. They can pick up on subtle cues like confidence, consistency, and authenticity,“In those first few seconds, before you even say your first words, the officer is already starting to form an opinion,” Byck said.
5 Things Visa Officers Pay Attention to
- how do you walk to the counter
- Eye contact (natural, not forced)
- Tone – calm/natural/confident beat rehearsal/timid
- Listen fully before answering
- Keep answers strategic, logical and honest
Three things you should never say during your visa interview
Byck said she chose three phrases she heard repeatedly during interviews that, in her opinion, introduced an element of negativity and skepticism.
- “My application is weak”
- “I’m very nervous and disorganized, so I can’t express X”
- “I took a gap year because my image wasn’t strong enough”
How to say:
- “Today I want to illustrate the strengths of my application by showing X”
- “In my last interview, there seemed to be a misunderstanding about my father’s financial situation. He was a very solvent businessman with an extensive travel history. Can you take a look at that again?”
- “I spent a year preparing for exams, investing in myself and exploring what I wanted in life. Now I’m ready to study a degree I love”
If your visa officer is rude and you are denied
Byker said it was common for visa applications to be rejected due to bias on the part of the visa officer, even though there was no flaw in the case itself. The best thing to do in this situation is to reapply. “That rude officer may have a bad reputation among his colleagues. If they see that person’s name on a previous denial slip, that could be a sign that they really reconsider the case,” Byck said.
