These are some of the top questions asked by visa/embassy officers in order to determine your eligibility before issueing you a visa/permit to enter their country and the possible best answers you can give.
Q: How do we know you will return home after your visa expires?
A: Discuss your important relationships. Your educational/ professional and personal affiliation to your home country that gives you reasons to return. Talk about properties, business, or ongoing Job positions.
Q: What’s the purpose of your visit?
A : Explain the purpose. Give the details as to why you want to visit by giving supporting documents (sightseeing, Tour bookings, Therapy appointments, study, etc). Being confident is very important.
Q: How much will this journey cost you?
A : Make calculations before the interview. Talk about your investments, income & expenditure before departure from home country & arrival in new place Show that you are a convincing candidate that has thought of the financial aspects.
Q: What do you do for a living in your country?
A : Discuss your activities in your home country ie education, family, work, hobbies, etc.
Q. What is the duration of your stay?
A. As a part of the application process, the applicants need to indicate their intended date of travel, visa type, and duration of stay. You will need to also provide your tentative date of travel. Details such as the address where you will be staying, type of residence, etc, could also be asked to verify your details/documents submitted.
Q. Can you guarantee that you will return to your home country within the stipulated visa expiry time?
A. Stress about your intention to return to the country after your visit/study. Explain how you have family, friends, business, employment, and property in your country and that you will come back before the expiry of the visa. Property documents, employment certifications, marriage certificate, and children’s birth certificates act as great evidence to support your answer.
Q. How long are you going to stay?
A. Give an answer that is fully in compliance with your travel itinerary. Mention your time of departure and your return date. Remember that your visa will be issued depending on the length of time you plan to stay in their country.
Q. How long have you been working in this company?
A. Answer by stating the number of years you have been working for your current company.
Q. How much is your salary or how much do you earn?
A. State your net monthly salary, if you are an employee. If you are an employer, mention the net earnings.
Q. Are you travelling with someone else?
A. Answer simply with a yes or no. Also, be sure to clarify the relationship you have with the person accompanying you on the trip.
Q. Do you have a Job-Leave Approval letter from your employer?
A. Simply confirm the possession of this letter from your employer (signed and stamped) and offer it to the official. In case you do not have such a document, it is worthless trying to verbally convince the official about your employer’s authorization to leave your job during the travel period.
Q. Do you plan to pursue Masters or Doctoral Studies after you finish your Bachelors?
A. Express your concern regarding the current Bachelor studies, but mention that there might exist the possibility for you to consider this opportunity in the long-term future.
Q. Have you ever traveled to any other country?
A. Answer with a yes or no. Also, you might tell the countries where you have traveled outside your country of birth/residence.
Q. Can you show your bank statement?
A. Make sure to not show any hesitation when providing the document of your statement to the official.
Q. What are your plans after the visa expires?
A. You will need to convince the consular officer that you have plans to come back home before the visa expires. Depending on the situation, you may need to reassure your ties to your home country to show clear intentions of coming back after the travel plan ends.
Q. What have you been doing in your home country?
A. If you are going to work, mention your profile along with details of the previous employer. If you are going to study, mention the courses you have completed. If you are visiting for tourism, mention your current occupation.
Q. Where will you be working/studying?
A.If you are applying for work or students visa, provide the address of the employer/office or college university address. It can be helpful to inform about the distance between your office/college address and the place of your stay. Additionally, you can also mention your plan to manage your local travel when you arrive.
Q. Have you been to …….. (the country you are applying to) before?
A. The answer is Yes/No and briefly mention the purpose of your earlier travel, if required. You won’t be asked much of the details of your past travel, however, if you have travelled earlier, use it to your advantage to stress your intentions of coming back to your native country.
Q. Do you have any relatives/friends in ……. (the country you applying to)?
A. Answer with a yes or a no. If your answer is yes, mention your relationship to the person and if you are going to meet them. If your answer is no, mention the purpose of your travel.
Q. Where will you be staying?
A. As provided on the visa application form, you will need to mention the address of your stay. If you will be staying at multiple locations, mention the address where you will be staying the most number of days. Ensure you mention the purpose of your travel and be prepared with details as much as possible.
Q. Who is going to cover your expenses during the travel?
A. Depending on the type of visa you are applying for, you may need to submit proof of sufficient funds to suport your travel financially. If your visa category allows you to have someone else cover the expenses for you, you may need to submit a letter of consent along with the required documents.
Q. What is the reason for your travel?
A. You must answer this question based on your purpose of travel. Before applying for the visa, you must have a plan to support your trip. The Consular Officer may also ask questions to check how you are going to support your travel financially. Based on the category of visa, an applicant may require producing proof of sufficient funds.
Q. Are you married? Is your spouse/partner travelling with you? Why/why not?
A. If you are married, mention the name and occupation of your spouse. If you are unmarried but have a partner, mention the name and occupation of your partner. If the spouse/partner is travelling with you, inform the interviewer of the same. If he/she isn’t, explain why that is so.
Q. What is your educational qualifications?
A. Give an answer by stating your highest received degree from a school or university. Do not start talking about every school and educational institution you attended before, only if the Visa Officer asks you to do so.
Q. How much this journey will cost you?
A. You calculations must be done early enough for the interview. Calculations must include all the investments you do before and after your arrival, as well as during your return to your home country. So, show you are a convincing candidate that properly has projected it’s financial aspect and is able to deal with them when abroad.
