How to obtain a U.S. visa: a personal experience

Non-immigrant U.S. visa is issued for 10 years and renew it, even without visiting the Consulate. But if the first request refused, to continue to receive the stamp will be very difficult. And after 2 failures — almost unreal.

American visa: is it really all that difficult

I note immediately: the difficulty of getting the coveted stamp in the passport largely depends on the purpose of the trip. In my case it was a business trip, namely a visit to the conference. That is, the documents I submitted at the category B1/B2, which gives the opportunity to make short business or leisure trips to the United States. Because of the busy schedule to collect the necessary documents, I started at the last moment and just miraculously managed to get a visa and do not miss the event. Therefore I recommend to begin the process of preparing at least a month, preferably two to preserve the nerves.

How to obtain a U.S. visa: a personal experienceForm DS-160 and visa fee

The first step to the coveted stamp — payment of the consular fee. Without receipts you will not be able to make an appointment at the Consulate, even if the questionnaire had already been filled. The fee is $160 (nonimmigrant visa), but must be paid in local currency. The receipt for payment with the terms of the local money, you can print from the website of the US state Department. It remains valid for 5 days. If you go at the right Bank (on the receipt it is written where you have to pay) — will print out a new receipt.

Continue to be patient and fill in the form on the website of the state Department. The time it will take decent: it took me half a day. By the way, don’t forget to save the already filled pages, not to enter data again. Or keep a foreign passport, as the information you need to enter it. Be careful! If at least one digit that you specify in the questionnaire do not match the data of the passport — the visa will be refused and the visa fee are not refundable.

Three times think before to answer the questions, with whom you are traveling, what is the purpose of the trip and whether you have relatives in the United States

To be honest, I reacted to form lightly, what I did in the interview. Three times think before to answer the questions, with whom you are traveling, what is the purpose of the trip and whether you have relatives in the United States. Even if living there is your aunt twice removed, it best to mention. And if you still forget, «puncture» in the interview. Information from the questionnaire should fully correspond to what you say in a personal meeting with the Consul.

And, of course, is not to be trifled with, answering questions from section «Security». If you staged terrorist acts in the United States? Whether you are financing militant Islamist groups? Are you going to attack us politicians or officials? Even if the questions seem stupid — in the state Department they are quite serious. Accidentally put a check mark on «yes» instead of «no» and bye bye visa! And, most likely, forever.

The last stage of completing the DS-160 will attach a picture. On the website are the requirements for photos (white background, no shadows on the face), but I personally do not recommend playing by yourself trying to take a picture against the wall. Go in the Studio — there the staff know photo settings for the application and make a picture that just want American Consulate. By the way, print the photo is not necessary — just the electronic version.

The recording of the interview

Receipt is paid, the form is filled — now you can schedule your interview at the Consulate.

Click on the appropriate tab on the website of the US state Department and enter the number of the payment receipt, which you have given to the Bank (10 digits). Don’t worry if the site will display a notification stating that the payment is not found. A banking transaction may take several hours. For example, I was able to schedule an appointment only a day after paying your visa application fee.

After you enter the receipt number will open a calendar with available dates for interview. And here for me the fun began! The nearest available date was only 3 weeks on March 7. This day just ended an event that I had planned to go. No matter what is no hoping, I called the Consulate, where I was advised to try to schedule your expedited appointment. You need to provide a document confirming the urgency of the trip. (In my case it was the invitation to the conference.)

In the experience of friends I knew in urgent interviews often denied, but no harm in trying — I applied. And — about a miracle! — a few days later I got an email that my request for expedited appointment is approved. Then at the state Department website opened a new calendar with new dates. Please note: if you are recording for an expedited appointment you are too late number (for example, 10 days after application), the interview and can refuse. The consuls will find that is not so urgent you needed. I signed up for the interview, which was 4 days later.

How to obtain a U.S. visa: a personal experienceInterview: not so terrible the Consul as he is painted

In truth, the time for the interview I chose is not the best. The Consulate had to come to 10 am, and sleep I only managed about 3 nights. So, while waiting, I literally almost fell asleep. Therefore I recommend before the visit to the Consulate to sleep well and think about the answers to the sample questions. What I actually did.

Come to the Consulate 15 minutes before your appointment time. Previously, just not necessary! Note that you should only document folder. In my case it was: proof of wages from work, invitation, passport, Bank statement, flow of funds, confirmation on filling out DS-160 and confirmation of invitation for a job interview. (The last 2 of the document will be sent to your email.) All these papers I collected in 1 day, but I recommend you to prepare them in advance to avoid fuss at the last moment.

All other things, including phones, smart bracelets, car keys, you will be asked to leave the Luggage at the entrance to the Consulate building. Here you have to pass through a metal detector, and then personal inspection. The procedure is not pleasant and makes slightly nervous, but very important to keep a straight face. The consular officers and comrades pretty nervous.

And so I took control and sure step towards the window for submission of documents. It is not necessary to give the consular officer the entire folder with just a passport. Here, you will be asked to submit fingerprints, and said number in waiting queue will be sent to the waiting room. My interview was scheduled for 10am, however, to go up to the window for the interview I was only at the beginning of the 12th. By the time I was pretty bored (with themselves or the phone, not even a magazine) and, as I said, almost fell asleep. Because when the scoreboard flashed my number in the queue, I was not ready to see a very unfriendly face of African-American girls-Consul, not Bode well.

The first surprise was that I was not allowed to be interviewed in Russian what I wanted. So consider: if the purpose of the trip is business, you will have to flash English. Well, or at least not lose face in the dirt.

Some of the questions posed to me, was the standard:

  • Are you going alone?
  • Do you have relatives or friends in USA?
  • Tell us about your work: what exactly do you do in his position?
  • Tell us about the event where you want to take part.
  • What are you coming to the States?

And here is an important tip: remember what is written in the form, and let’s surely exactly the same answers. I pointed out the DS-160 that the food one, and the interview said that he would go and a few people from our company. And here I had to explain myself. The Consul demanded the names of all my fellow travelers to check, does everyone have the American visa. Besides, I had to explain why the application indicates other information. (I said that the list sent was approved after filling out the questionnaire.)

if the trip purpose — business, will have to show off English

As for other nuances of the interview — be prepared for unusual questions. You can ask about the details of your work, and professional activities. Can I ask how you feel about the U.S. government and are a patriot of his country. Subjective: I was asking about visas in the passport. In my many «exotic» African, and the purpose of each trip I had to explain. And Yes, I have said three times my age. Obviously, the Consulate staff is no stranger to ageism.

To the last it seemed to me that things are not going well. I was ready to sheet failure. But… after 20 minutes of detailed questioning, the Consul smiled for the first time: «You will receive your passport within 5 working days»
and handed the sheet with the notification that my application was approved! Yay!

Leaving the Embassy with a view of the winner, I caught myself thinking that it was not so scary. From stories of friends I knew to get a visa is not easy. In fact the whole preparation took a couple of weeks. And although I would not recommend to prepare for the supply in such emergency mode, I can assure you that not too worry because of the probability of failure. If you have a valid reason for the trip, and your Bank account has sufficient money for a return ticket from America, most likely, problems with a stamp in the passport does not arise.

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