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HOW TO ANSWER A CONSUL'S QUESTIONS (PART I)
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
Dear Atty Gurfinkel:
I am scheduled for my interview
at the US Embassy in a few weeks, and I am very anxious and nervous.
I really want to do well at my interview, and I want to avoid
problems. How can I best increase my chances of success at the
interview?
Very truly yours,
WB
Dear WB:
There are no "guarantees" that any person
will be issued a visa. Only a Consul can issue a visa after being
fully satisfied that the visa applicant has met all the legal
requirements. However, here are a few tips, which might help in
proving your eligibility for a visa at the interview.
1. Answer the question
being asked. You should resist the temptation to tell
your whole life story and family history to the Consul in response
to every question he asks. Consuls are extremely busy and have
a lot of interviews to conduct throughout the day. They don't
have time to listen to a long story in response to a short question.
When Consuls ask questions, they are simply trying to determine
your eligibility for the visa, per the requirements set forth
in the US immigration laws.
2. Stick to the subject
and get straight to the point in your answers. Sometimes,
the Consul will ask a question calling for a "yes" or
"no" answer. If that is the case, then answer the question
directly, and don't go on and on with an answer that does not
address the question being asked. Of course, if an answer requires
an explanation, then you should provide that explanation, but
make sure you get to the point.
3. Listen to the question
the Consul is asking, before you start answering. If you start
talking before he finishes the question, you may be answering
a question he is not even asking, and rather than speeding along
the interview, you will actually slow it down.
4. Make sure you understand
the question. If you do not understand the question, you should
inform the Consul, so he can ask it again, using different words,
or even an interpreter. The Consul does not want you to answer
a question you do not understand, and he won't know you don't
understand a question unless you tell him.
5. Don't guess. If
you do not know an answer to a question, or if you can't remember,
tell the Consul. The Consul does not want you to guess, if you
don't know the answer.
In a future article, I will give more tips
on embassy interviews.
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