Insider Tips for Successfully Obtaining a US Visa That Few Share

During the visa interview, respond promptly and clearly without elaboration, emphasizing clarity, speed, and decisiveness.

Secrets to Successfully Obtaining a US Visa That Few Share

The United States ranks among the most challenging countries to obtain a visa, necessitating extensive preparation of relevant documents and, notably, addressing psychological aspects. With three successful US visa applications for various purposes such as studying, traveling, short-term work, and obtaining visas for groups of dozens of students attending summer camps, combined with experience visiting over 60 countries worldwide, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Lam, an English teacher and Deputy Head of the English Department at Hanoi University, shares some experiences to help those intending to apply for non-immigrant US visas in the near future.

Firstly, you need to understand that US visas are divided into two types: immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas. In this article, we will focus only on information about non-immigrant visas, including study visas, work visas, tourist visas, visiting visas, etc.

In general, the principle of visa interviews is that at the time of the interview, consular officers assume that you (the applicant) intend to stay in the US. Therefore, the applicant's task is to prove otherwise. If the consular officer is persuaded by that proof, they will agree to grant you a visa.

Common answers for most visa applications to various countries typically revolve around three main areas:

- Personal information: marital status, family relationships, relatives, etc.

- Financial capability: property ownership, savings accounts, income, etc.

- Employment: labor contracts, business registrations, appointment decisions, etc.

You should prepare these documents meticulously and thoroughly. Surprisingly, during US visa interviews, consular officers rarely ask to see these documents. They just glance to see what you have brought, how well-prepared you are, and how you organize your documents, which reflects your personality.

You should neatly organize the three types of documents in three transparent plastic bags. Quickly access the needed type of document to avoid fumbling around, as searching for documents can cost you points.

Besides the 'hard' part which involves documents, the 'soft' part including demeanor, attitude, and attire during the interview is equally crucial and largely determines your success. In fact, when you apply online, they have already decided about 80% of your visa, the interview just adds the remaining 20%. So stay calm, confident, and natural to gain favor from the consular officer.

Note that all consular officers can understand and speak Vietnamese, so you can interview in English or Vietnamese, but English is more persuasive. Especially, they are well-trained in psychology. You will be observed (via security camera) from the moment you enter the gate until the interview queue, fingerprinting, and waiting for the interview. Any unusual gestures or facial expressions are noted and evaluated before your direct interview. You must be relaxed and not tense. Bring a newspaper or a book to read while waiting to avoid repeatedly checking documents or chatting with other applicants. When it's your turn, approach with a smile and greet briefly (e.g., Good morning/Xin chào Ngài). Many people, due to nervousness, forget this important etiquette.

When asked, answer clearly, quickly, and decisively. Typically, each applicant only has a few minutes for the interview so they ask, and you answer, no lengthy explanations. If you didn't hear clearly, you can ask again. For Americans, they highly value honesty, and this is their top criterion for visa evaluation. They are masters at verification and information confirmation so don't try to deceive them. If they catch you lying, your chance of entering the US may be permanently closed.

Their questions are usually simple and straightforward, not tricky. So, the issue often lies not in the answer but how you answer it. Just answer truthfully and naturally (e.g., if you have relatives in the US, say so; if you plan to go to the US for a specific purpose, be clear and specific about that plan because they just need to know if you are genuinely going for that purpose). Sometimes, there's also a bit of luck involved in visa interviews. Consular officers are all equally trained but they are also human, so sometimes they are very intuitive. But if you are confident (not overly so), well-prepared with what you have, and honest, regardless of whether you meet an easy or difficult officer, you'll have more chances of getting the visa.

Immediately after the interview, if they say 'Congratulations' or 'You're done' and keep your passport, it means you have succeeded; if they return your passport, it means you have been denied. If denied, leave immediately, don't ask for more. Prepare better for the next interview.

By Nguyễn Ngọc Lâm/Ngôi sao

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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour