B1/B2 Visa Interview Questions
The most frequently asked questions at US consulates for B1/B2 tourist visa. These questions appear in 80%+ of interviews for tourists and business visitors.
How to answer
- 1 State the approximate annual income confidently
- 2 Mention the sources: salary, business, investments
- 3 Be straightforward and consistent
What to avoid
- × Inflating numbers that don't match your documents
- × Being vague or evasive
- × Appearing uncomfortable discussing money
The number should match your bank statements and tax returns (ITR).
How to answer
- 1 Mention multiple tie categories: family, property, business, marriage plans
- 2 Quantify where possible: property value, business size
- 3 Mention spouse's career in India if engaged/married
- 4 Highlight family responsibilities
What to avoid
- × Saying you have no specific ties
- × Only mentioning 'family' without specifics
- × Sounding uncertain about return reasons
Be specific: 'My father's business needs me' or 'I have a job offer waiting' or 'I'm getting married in 2027.'
How to answer
- 1 Be completely honest about relatives
- 2 Emphasize your financial independence
- 3 Clarify you won't be living with them
- 4 State your own funding sources
What to avoid
- × Saying you'll live with relatives
- × Relying on them for financial support
- × Lying about relatives—officers have immigration records
If you have relatives, acknowledge them but emphasize your independence. 'I may visit during holidays for social reasons.'
How to answer
- 1 Start with your name and current occupation/status
- 2 Mention your educational background briefly
- 3 Connect to your purpose for visiting the US
What to avoid
- × Long life stories or irrelevant details
- × Mentioning relatives in the US right away
- × Being too vague or generic
Keep it under 30 seconds. Focus only on what's relevant to your visa application.
How to answer
- 1 State their occupations clearly
- 2 Mention if they own a business or have stable employment
- 3 Briefly note work history if relevant
What to avoid
- × Being vague about income sources
- × Saying they're retired without mentioning pension/savings
- × Overcomplicating the answer
If they're business owners, mention the type of business and how long they've run it.
How to answer
- 1 Answer directly: yes or no
- 2 If married, mention what your spouse does
- 3 If you have children, mention their ages
What to avoid
- × Long explanations about your relationship status
- × Mentioning plans to get married in the US
- × Being evasive
Being married with spouse/children staying in India is seen as a strong tie.
How to answer
- 1 Name your city and state
- 2 Mention if you own or rent
- 3 Briefly describe if it's your family home
What to avoid
- × Being vague about your address
- × Mentioning plans to relocate
- × Overcomplicating the answer
Owning property strengthens your ties to India. Mention property value if significant.
How to answer
- 1 List properties: house, land, commercial
- 2 Mention approximate values if significant
- 3 Note if it's ancestral or self-acquired
What to avoid
- × Undervaluing your assets
- × Being vague about ownership
- × Mentioning plans to sell property
Bring property documents as supporting evidence of ties.
How to answer
- 1 For tourism: specific destinations and activities
- 2 For family visit: relationship, reason for visit, their status in US
- 3 For business: conference name, dates, company purpose
What to avoid
- × Vague answers like 'just to travel' or 'I want to explore'
- × Mentioning job hunting or long-term plans
- × Mismatching purpose with visa type
Be specific: '2-week vacation to visit New York, Grand Canyon, and Disney World' or 'Attending KubeCon conference in Seattle, March 15-18.'
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How to answer
- 1 Give specific duration matching your stated purpose
- 2 Tourism: typically 2-4 weeks
- 3 Parents visiting children: up to 3-6 months is reasonable
What to avoid
- × Asking for maximum time without clear reason
- × Open-ended duration: 'as long as possible'
- × Duration that doesn't match your itinerary
If parents asking for 6 months, prepare for 'Why so long?' Good answer: 'There's a lot to see and at our age we cannot do it all in a hurry.'
How to answer
- 1 Be honest—officers have immigration records
- 2 Mention their visa status (H1B, Green Card, citizen)
- 3 Emphasize your strong ties to India despite relatives abroad
What to avoid
- × Lying about relatives
- × Having no explanation for why you'll return
- × Mentioning boyfriend/girlfriend in US (major red flag)
Young unmarried applicants with siblings in US face highest scrutiny. Prepare extra-strong ties to India.
How to answer
- 1 State job title and company name
- 2 Mention years of service
- 3 For self-employed: business type, years of operation, who manages while you travel
What to avoid
- × Being vague about your work
- × Not knowing basic details about your employer
- × Saying you're between jobs
Stable long-term employment is a strong tie. 'I've been with TCS for 15 years and lead a team of 20 people.'
How to answer
- 1 Self-sponsored: mention savings and stable income
- 2 Family-sponsored: name the sponsor, their job, and relationship
What to avoid
- × Being vague about funding source
- × Showing insufficient funds
- × Sponsor with unclear income source
Prepare bank statements (3-6 months), ITR (2-3 years), property documents, and sponsor's employment letter.
How to answer
- 1 Mention concrete ties: pension, house, property, agricultural land
- 2 Reference established life: spouse, friends, community
- 3 Emphasize this is a temporary visit
What to avoid
- × Saying 'I don't know'
- × Seeming uncertain about returning
- × Vague answers about 'loving India'
Be specific: 'I have my pension, house worth ₹2 crore, and agricultural land here. My life is established in India.'
How to answer
- 1 Give specific reason for in-person visit
- 2 Mention special occasions: grandchild's birthday, health concerns
- 3 Emotional connection that can't be replicated virtually
What to avoid
- × Not having a specific reason
- × Getting defensive
- × Vague answers about 'wanting to see them'
'I haven't seen my son in 3 years, and I want to be there for my grandson's first birthday. Video calls cannot replace that.'
How to answer
- 1 Reaffirm your ties to India
- 2 Mention career, property, and family here
- 3 Emphasize the temporary nature of visit
What to avoid
- × Hesitating or seeming unsure
- × Saying 'maybe I would stay'
- × Not having clear reasons to return
'I have my career, property worth ₹X crore, and my entire family here. My life is established in India. This is just a visit.'
How to answer
- 1 List countries you've visited
- 2 Mention that you returned on time
- 3 Note if you had valid visas
What to avoid
- × Lying about travel history
- × Being vague about previous trips
- × Mentioning overstays or visa issues
If you've never traveled internationally, that's okay—just be honest. Previous compliant travel helps but isn't required.
How to answer
- 1 Say 'Yes' confidently
- 2 Mention whose account it is
- 3 Offer to show it if needed
What to avoid
- × Appearing unprepared
- × Showing statements with sudden large deposits
- × Having inconsistent information
Bring 6-month statements showing CONSISTENT balance, not recent large deposits. Officers flag sudden inflows.
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