13 Mistakes to Avoid During a Visa Interview
Visa interview is an essential part of the whole visa process. Avoid these 13 mistakes during a visa interview to maximize your chances to getting your visa.
Published On:12 Jan 2022
Congratulations! You have been shortlisted for the visa interview. You
feel as if your dream is just going to be true. You think that now getting a
visa may be a piece of cake.
But that's not true. Succeeding in a visa interview is no small feat. You need
to know about the common irritable elements that may ruin your visa
interview.
You are going to meet with the embassy officials. You can present yourself as a
perfect candidate. A good firm providing immigration
consultant services can guide you professionally along the way.
In this article, we will cover some mistakes to avoid that can get your visa application stamped for rejection.
Don’t Come Late for the Interview
One huge mistake during a visa interview is appearing late for the
interview. When you apply for a visa in any country, the embassy will assign
you a time and date at which your interview would be held. If you show up late,
you would come across as an unpunctual and neglectful candidate.
We recommend reaching the interview destination at least 15 minutes prior. Use
this time to perform a deep breathing exercise. Or simply calm yourself down
while waiting for the interview to start. As a result, you would be relaxed
while answering the questions.
Secondly, even if you arrive a few minutes before the appointed time, you may
waste a lot of time trying to find a free parking lot. To avoid this
inconvenience, don’t come in your car. Rather, hire a taxi to reach your
destination.
Don’t Show Up Without Preparation
Many candidates commit this big mistake during the visa interview that
they don’t prepare well for the interview. Preparing well for the possible
questions better arm candidates for the interview.
Do your research about what questions are commonly asked. Prepare their
suitable answers. You can take help from people who have appeared in a visa
interview before.
Don’t Hide Information
Many people think that not providing full and honest information is a
smart strategy. But it’s one of the mistakes during the visa interview.
Your visa may be unnecessarily delayed if you provide false or incomplete
information. Furthermore, false information exposes you to the risk of getting
banned for applying for a visa. You would not only be extremely troubled but
also may face legal penalties.
Don’t Show Up with Incomplete Documents
The consulate officer is judging your seriousness to get a visa by every
action of yours. One mistake during a visa interview is failing to deliver the
important supporting documentation.
A visa application form may need marriage licenses, employment papers, and
other documents. It relies on the kind of visa you are applying for.
Show up at the interview place with all the necessary documents. The documents
should contain full and true information. Go through all prerequisites and
gather the documents accordingly. Plus, organize your documentation into
categories. It will likely impress the consulate officials.
Your visa could be delayed if you don’t provide the right documents. It can be
damaging to aspirants who have to get visas within a certain time frame.
Don’t Appear Without the Complete Fee
Many embassies only accept the fee via the modes of payment they allow.
Not getting familiar with them beforehand is a mistake during a visa interview.
Get to know the correct amount of fees and modes of payments for the visa you
are seeking.
Some consulates only receive fees via bank transfer and don’t accept cash.
Prepare two bank drafts one for the visa application and the other for the visa
issuance fee. Consult an apt source for more comprehensive information.
Don’t Skip Questions or Give False Answers
The consulate officials want to make sure that you have provided them
with correct and honest information. That’s why they take an interview to meet
you in person. They will be scrutinizing you in the whole interview.
Don’t refuse to answer any question as it will not save you at all. Rather, it
would be a huge mistake during a visa interview.
Furthermore, don’t provide false data. The diplomatic office will verify all
the data delivered by you in the visa application and the interview meeting.
Rather than dodging or fabricating the response, answer candidly and
communicatively to the diplomatic officer regardless of the question.
Remember that they are allowed to examine your travel history to the place you
are applying for the visa.
Don’t Go for the Interview in a Casual Appearance
Your appearance matters a lot when it comes to cracking a visa
interview. One mistake during a visa interview is to arrive looking shabby and
badly dressed.
It could reprimand your visa application. Focus on your dressing, makeup,
footwear, personality, body posture, and how much perfume you wear.
All these things sum up your overall first impression. And the first impression
is the last. Because often one doesn’t get a second opportunity to leave the
first impression.
Take your time to work on your appearance. Don’t dress inaccurately or
informally. Make sure not wear any kind of funky or casual outfits. Dress up in
formal attire with minimal accessories.
Plus, wear light make-up and a little perfume. It will show that you consider
the interview a formal event. The officials would consider you as a serious
visa applicant.
Don’t Guess the Answers
English is a second language for Pakistanis. Sometimes people only get
one or two words from the entire question. They guess the question and answer
in yes or no. We think that it will cover our English language incompetency.
But it could backfire. It's one of the biggest mistakes to avoid in a visa
interview. Don’t answer if you don’t completely understand the sentence. Just
ask the interviewer to expand on this query and describe it better. Don’t feel
that you can’t ask the officer to repeat the question.
If you presume most of your answers, the embassy can simply reject you for a
visa. Plus, if your response happens to be untrue, you will come across as a
liar. And it could reduce your chances of cracking the interview.
Don’t Ramble
Avoid speaking on and on limitlessly. Do not use superfluous words. They
would think you are anxious. Or they may think you are hiding something.
Don’t answer any unasked questions. Don’t provide any extra information that is
not inquired from you.
Don’t Pressurize the Officer for Response
You can nonchalantly ask questions about when you
may get a response. But ask in a well-mannered, humble, and professional way.
Usually, applications and data provided by the candidates undergo several
processes and evaluations. Only after that, the consulate can answer you. Your
visa interview is just like a job interview. So, be patient and wait for an
answer.
Don’t Interrupt or Argue with the Interviewer
The officer might ask you some harsh questions. They have to ensure that
you are a genuine candidate. Patiently answer all the questions. Interrupting
the officer is simply rude.
He would think that you are impolite. Be courteous. Cooperate with the
interviewer. Answer all questions.
Similarly, don’t argue with him. Talk in a cool manner. He should find it easy
to talk. Bear in mind that the officials are the decision-makers. There is no
point fighting.
Don’t Express a Bad Body Posture
The body position and the apes a candidate makes during the interview
are very important. Your facial expressions should display confidence and
honesty. If you aren’t sitting properly, they may consider you a useless and
dishonest applicant.
Moreover, don’t lean back because the officer may think that you are arrogant.
Don’t lean forward as it shows that you are aggressive.
If you are too laid back, they might consider you as a lazy candidate. While,
if you are sitting arms crossed, it shows that you are resistant and defensive
against the questions.
Rather, keep your body in a neutral posture. Sit straight and keep your arms
open. It would tell the officer that you are a friendly and prepared candidate.
Don’t Avoid Eye Contact
During the question and answers session, talk with confidence. Keep
looking straight into the eyes of the interviewer. Avoiding eye contact can get
your visa rejected.
Because the official may perceive you as a nonserious applicant. Keep regular
eye contact when listening to the officer or answering him. Don’t look at him
constantly and oddly.
Conclusion
Your visa interview is the most important part of the whole visa
application. You worked hard to get this opportunity. Don’t let it go away. You
aren’t the first person appearing in front of the consulate officers.
Preparation is the key. You must acquire knowledge. Talk to people who have
given a visa interview before. Take advice about the dressing and the
communication style.
Try to be completely confident. Your tone, body language, and attire,
everything will be examined. Work on all those things. You can write down the
answers to the possible questions somewhere. Read them before you leave.
By avoiding all the mistakes we have discussed in this article, you are more
likely to crack the interview.
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