Visa Interview Guide

What Interviewers Are Actually Checking

• Consistency — do your spoken answers match what you wrote and documented in your application?
• Genuine purpose — does your stated reason for travel (tourism, business, family visit, study) hold up under a few follow-up questions?
• Ties and intent — for categories where it's relevant, whether you have a credible reason to return home on schedule.

Commonly Asked Questions

Exact questions vary by consulate and category, but interviews commonly cover:

• Purpose and duration of your trip, and why now
• Who you're travelling with, and who's funding the trip
• Your occupation, employer, and how long you've worked there
• Where you'll stay, and your broad itinerary
• Your ties back home — job, family, property — where relevant to the category
• Any previous international travel and visa history

Do's

• Answer only what's asked — concise, direct, consistent with your application
• Carry originals of every document you submitted, even if already uploaded online
• Arrive early, dress neatly, and bring nothing prohibited into the visa centre
• If you don't understand a question, ask for it to be repeated rather than guessing

Don'ts

• Don't memorise a script — answers that sound rehearsed can raise more questions than they answer
• Don't volunteer information that wasn't asked for
• Don't let a family member or agent answer questions addressed to you
• Don't contradict your written application — if something's changed, be ready to explain why

Country-Specific Interview Guidance

Interview format and typical questions vary by destination. See our UK visitor visa interview guide for a country-specific example, or talk to a consultant for guidance on your destination.