The H1B visa interview is the last step in the application process before the visa is granted. The applicant must convince the Visa processing official during the interview questions and answers that they are eligible for an H1B visa. The interview will be scheduled at a convenient time by the Embassy. You, as the applicant, must ensure that you attend the H1B Visa Interview Questions at the scheduled time. If you need to reschedule, you must notify the Embassy in advance. However, this will lengthen the time it takes for your visa to be processed. Because the Embassy is often overburdened, the interview may be rescheduled after a few weeks. As a result, it’s preferable to go when the first interview is scheduled.
H1B Visa
The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows organizations in the United States to hire foreign employees in occupations that require knowledge and technical expertise in specialized fields such as engineering, architecture, science, mathematics, and medicine. In order to apply for this visa, the visa holder must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
Regardless of whether the foreigner works full-time or part-time for the employer, an H1B holder will continue in status as long as the employee/employer relationship exists. This person’s status will not be affected whether they take sick leave, vacation, maternity leave, paternity leave, strike, or otherwise become inactive. The working relationship of the H1B visa holder is very important.
Attending an interview is one of the processes that individuals must complete before applying for an H1B Visa. Individuals may or may not be granted an H1B visa based on their interview results. Some of the most often requested interview questions are included below, along with proper responses.
Categories of Most Frequently Asked H1B Visa Interview Questions?
The officer from the US Embassy will initially request that you submit copies of your supporting documentation. This contains your Form I-129 petition approval as well as your other criteria. You must have all the documentation files with you. The official will next begin asking questions from each of the following categories.
- Questions of a general nature
- Questions about academic qualifications
- Questions about the H1B company’s history or employment
Whichever question they ask first, you must respond truthfully and correctly. If you provide false information, the official will notice, and your visa will be denied.
Questions Under General Category for H1B Visa Interview
What is your main objective to travel to the United States of America?
The applicant should elaborate on their goal of travelling to the United States of America and must also state the name of the company with which they will be employed.
What position will you hold at the aforementioned firm?
Applicants must state the role or position they will be filling with the organization and the main obligations and job duties that they will be responsible for.
Have you visited the United States of America Before?
Applicants should offer reasonable answers, and if they have visited the US before, they must specify when they have travelled and for how long. Also, they must elaborate on the main activities they have completed while in their previous visit.
Have you ever studied in the United States?
Applicants must respond appropriately, and if they have studied, they must offer information about their university and course.
Do you intend to visit your country of citizenship? If so, what’s the reasoning behind it?
Individuals must react in a timely manner and give all relevant information.
Are you married, and for how long?
Individuals are required to respond as per the situation.
Do you have any relatives in the United States?
Applicants must inform the visa officer if they have relatives in the United States, as well as the cities where they reside.
What is your true motivation for working in the United States of America?
Individuals must give an honest answer to this question and explain why they want to work in the United States.
Have you ever applied for a visa to immigrate to another country?
Applicants must respond honestly and appropriately to this question, and if they have obtained an immigrant visa, general information about it must be provided.
Have you ever travelled outside of the country?
Applicants must respond correctly and, if they have not already done so, should provide general facts about their travels.
Questions Under Academic Category for H1B Visa Interview
What are your academic credentials?
Applicants should answer that can be verified with documents.
Are you a student right now?
Individuals must give verifiable information in this regard.
What subject have you chosen as your major in your College/University?
Applicants must describe the subject in which they majored/or are now majoring, as well as their reasons for choosing that particular degree.
Is it possible for you to show me your original diploma or educational certificates?
All academic certifications pertaining to the applicant’s degree must be provided and should be kept in your file.
Have you done any research assignments when you were in school?
Individuals must offer verifiable replies as well as general information about this.
What is the topic of this thesis or research paper?
Applicants must submit reliable information on their research paper or thesis.
What year did you receive your diploma?
Individuals must respond honestly to this question and provide details if they have academic backlogs.
Have you worked in a similar role or position before?
Individuals will be required to present verified information about their work experiences, as well as supporting documentation.
Have you ever participated in an internship?
Applicants must provide information on all internships they have completed, including dates and durations, as well as supporting documentation.
Questions Under H1B Company’s history or Employment Category for H1B Visa Interview
Which company do you currently work for?
Individuals must provide their recent employer’s information as well as any supporting documents available to them.
How long have you been employed and working by this firm?
The applicant must provide facts as well as be truthful in their responses.
What work do you have on your plate right now?
Individuals must detail their tasks, starting with the smallest and progressing to the most significant and major work in hand. Documents or emails that support these workloads are also appreciated.
What is your true intent for quitting your current employer?
Individuals must respond with a general and polite response such as “international exposure and improved growth.”
Could you please show us your experience certificate or letters?
Original supporting documents must be shown.
How did you learn about your American employer?
Individuals must provide accurate and verified responses. If possible, they can be more explicit, such as giving the name of the job portal from which they received the response, and so on.
How did you get in touch with the employer in the United States?
The individual must provide an appropriate and verified response. If the person has a direct response, such as responding to an online request, they can say so.
What is the name of the firm where you will be employed? Is this a genuine situation?
Individuals must give a credible response as well as proof of the company’s legality by submitting supporting documents and information about the H1B sponsor.
Give a brief description of your employer.
Applicants must submit fundamental firm information and structure in plain and easy-to-understand words.
What is the name of your company’s CEO/President?
If necessary, the applicant must include information about their company’s CEO or President.
What is the annual turnover of your H1B employer, and how long has it been in business?
Applicants must provide specifics if they know the correct answer; otherwise, it is safer to claim that they are unsure.
What is the size of your sponsor’s workforce?
Applicants must provide specifics if they know the correct answer; otherwise, it is safer to claim that they are unsure.
What was the total number of rounds of interviews you had to go through?
Applicants must submit a verifiable response as well as a brief explanation of each round.
How was your interview conducted with the employer?
Individuals will be required to offer relevant responses, such as whether the conversation took place over the phone, over Skype, or elsewhere.
What is your expected remuneration at your sponsoring company?
Applicants must submit an exact and verifiable figure.
Where will you be working in the United States? Do you have any idea how much it costs to live in that city?
Applicants must tell the interviewer where they will be staying and an estimated cost of living, whichever figure is reasonable.
Did you have to pay for the costs of your H1B petition?
Individuals will be required to respond with a Yes or No as applicable.
What will your responsibilities be?
Applicants will be required to give a brief description of their responsibilities.
What are the projects that your sponsor company is working on?
Applicants must include a brief overview of the projects that their sponsor company will participate in, along with samples if necessary.
Please show us all of your tax documentation.
Applicants will be required to give all of their tax records without reservation.
How do you intend to support yourself till your next salary arrives?
Individuals will be required to provide a brief and honest response, such as, ‘I have a particular amount of money saved from the former job that I can convert to dollars.’ If the employer is providing housing or financing, the interviewee must disclose this information.
Please show me any project-related materials.
Applicants must provide all documents, including an appointment letter and other information, on the firm letterhead.
Please show us your sponsor company’s income tax return paperwork.
Individuals will be required to present the required documentation.
I’d like to see your I-129 and I-797 forms.
These documents are required to be submitted. The I-129 is the H1B document submitted by the employer, and the I-797 is the USCIS H1B document of approval.
H1B Visa Processing Time
The majority of H1B visa determinations are made right after the interview. The interviewer decides to grant you a visa and stamps your passport on the spot. After you receive your passport, you can begin making trip plans.
In some circumstances, the interviewer will require additional time to make a choice. They could wish to go through the paperwork again or discuss how your interview went with their bosses. This procedure should not take longer than a week.
When the Embassy reaches a decision, your passport will be stamped and mailed back to you. The process of tracking your passport is explained in this article, “Passport Tracking For US Visa.“