One of the blog members asked for a page solely for people to post their interview experiences. So this is it – with some rules!!!
First – NO questions on this page. Let’s keep it for interview experiences only – good and bad. I will probably delete questions to try and keep the page focused on interview experiences
Please at least mention your embassy (city and country, like Accra, Ghana) and brief details about what questions you were asked and any interesting points about documents you were asked for and any tips you can give others. This will be useful to others who have not yet had their interviews. People could use the search function to look for their embassy.
February 9, 2023 at 05:42
Hi everyone! Hope some of you will find my experience useful. However when reading my interview experience take into account that me, my husband and our daughter have been to the US many many times on B1/B2, each time have spent at least a month but never overstayed, never had issues with law inforcesment, and I have immediate and extended family living in the US. With that said here is my experience.
Case no.: 2023EU11k
Country: Armenia
Interview at Islamabad Embassy
DS260 submitted May 10
Case unlocked May 13 to add high school
Case unlocked Sept 8 to add newborn
Current: January
2NL: December 21
Interview date: Feb 1st
Status: Issued
Our interview was scheduled at 9am we were at the bus terminal to the diplomatic enclavement at 7am but they didn’t let us in till 8.30. The bus takes you directly to the US embassy where you will be guided from the entrance to security. I was allowed to bring baby bottle with pre made milk for my 7 month old. You can carry diapers and necessities for your baby in a clear shopper bag. However best to call them beforehand and ask if a certain item is allowed. In the waiting/interview hall there are drinking fountains and washrooms so no worries.
1st window I submitted our 2NL and 2 photos for each applicant and received a token number. After a while our number was called out for the 2nd window. There I submitted all the documents that were required and COPIES for everything! Take copies and extra photos! Cuz here they asked for another set of photos which I had. Take as many supporting documents as you can even if you think you don’t need them Take them. Make sure you carry translations and copies for everything you have. I am an armenian citizen, my husband and kids are Pakistani citizens so the papers vary. We had to submit fingerprints here too after that was asked to be seated and wait for the CO to call us.
We waited for about an hour till our turn came. The greeting and how are you part was very casual. He asked couple of questions about my birth certificate and if I had transferred from yerevan I said no I live in Pakistan I didn’t transfer. They were having technical issues after they fixed it he called me again.
Him: before we begin you have to take an oath
Me: yes but before we do so I would like to inform you that the kids’ passport numbers have changed after submitting DS260 and I would like to correct
Him: oh thank you for letting me know. The rest is current and correct?
Me: yes
Him: okay we’ll take your fingerprints and begin. So tell me how did you and your husband meet?
Me: we met in Canada in college
Him: okay and you have 2 kids. Tell me about your travel history
I told him
Him: have you or your husband ever had any issues with law
Me: no sir
Him: as I understand you have valid US visas do you remember when do they expire?
I actually had the old passports with visas in them so I gave them to him cuz he said they have to cancel those visas. After this he gave me an information paper about domestic abuse and how to go on about it in the US (it’s a standard procedure)
Him: so I’m going to refer your application for approval congratulations. You can collect your passports within 2 weeks
He handed me over the instructions how to register to pick up the passports and the interview was over
Right after the interview for couple of days ceac was showing Administrative Processing after which it changed to Issued. I received an email that the passports are being processed for delivery and went to pick up from Karachi pick up point exactly a week after the interview.
The embassy staff was very friendly and helpful. If you have any questions before or during the interview don’t hesitate to ask/clarify
February 9, 2023 at 23:46
Thank you very much!
February 23, 2023 at 15:18
Mr Simon, not enough words can be used to express my profound gratitude and thanks for all the help your blog, live video sessions and patiently taking time to answer our questions no matter how repetitive they were. Haha.
I entered the 2023 DV Lottery draw whilst already in Hungary and it was no brainer for me to select Budapest as my interview location since I was going to be here for more than a year.
I originally come from Ghana and with case no. AF22671 I wasn’t really worried about getting an interview date. Fortunately for me, when coming to Hungary, I came along with ALL documents bearing my name. From birth certificate to all academic certificate, I carried everything along. Haha.
I received my 2NL on 20th December 2022 with my interview scheduled for February 1st at 1:30 PM. Prior to getting my 2NL, I had already applied for and received Police certificates from both Ghana and Hungary. Getting them wasn’t difficult. They all arrived in less than two weeks.
On February 1st, I arranged all the requested documents in two separate envelopes. One containing Originals and the other, copies. At, 1PM I arrived at the embassy and was allowed in at exactly 1:25PM.
I was ushered to the first windows where the lady took my biometrics and documents. She put the documents into folders and requested for the medical report which I gave to her.
She then said the Hungarian Police certificate was the wrong one and I needed to submit a corrected version. She then asked me to go pay the fee.
I run into some problems paying the fee. For some reason, my bank kept declining the transaction, but I was allowed to go out of the embassy, withdraw some cash from the nearest ATM, then back into the embassy. My advice, ALWAYS SEND CASH.
After paying the fee, I was told to wait, and the CO will call me shortly. At this point, I was really prepared for every possible question I would be asked. I had read extensively from your blog and was well prepared or so I thought.
I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW THE WHOLE THING WENT. Nothing could have prepared me for that.
The CO calls me, makes me swear the oath and I was ready for the questions, but she rather looks looking through my documents again and says
CO: I see you are a student here in Budapest. You arrived in 2021 and studying Public Policy. You are not married and erm……everything looks great. (not even looking at me at this point……just focused on the documents)
ME: The other lady said something about the Hungarian PC.
CO: Yes, I will show you how to get the corrected version. (still looking down at the documents)
ME: OK.
When taking the documents to the embassy, I decided to include what we Ghanaians call a National service Certificate. It is a document you get after serving your country for a mandatory period of 1 year upon completion of a tertiary institution.
CO: I see you’ve served your country already. I know your scholarship demands you go back to your country to serve, but I see your service certificate. That’s fine.
ME: (I was quiet, cos it wasn’t really a question, right?) lol
CO: Alright, I have just one question for you. Do you have any plans of becoming a diplomat?
ME: Yes. It is actually my dream.
CO: Great. Maybe you can work for the foreign service someday. Congrats. I will approve your visa when you submit the new PC.
ME: Thank you!
Right after I exit, I go straight to the post office and apply for a new PC. I take my time to follow every instruction. It takes only than usually to arrive.
February 16th. New PC arrives. Submitted at embassy same day,
February 17th. AP
February 23rd. ISSUED.
I didn’t expect the whole interview process to go as smoothly as I experienced with just one question asked.
February 24, 2023 at 00:04
That’s awesome. Congratulations!!
April 15, 2023 at 01:45
Mr. Simon, I am speechless without word can be used to express my profound gratitude and thanks for all the help your blog, live video sessions and patiently taking time to answer our questions no matter how repetitive and over again.
I entered the 2023 DV Lottery draw whilst already in CHINA and it was no brainer for me to select in 2020 and 2023 in china as my interview location since I was here for more than a year.
I originally come from an Ethiopia and with case no. AF369** I wasn’t really worried about getting an interview date. I went to Addis to reunite with my family after that covid issues, then got 2Nl which I need to come back to china to do interview , I came along with ALL documents bearing my name. From birth certificate to all academic certificate, I carried everything along and make police certificate for three month in addis and I was over prepared.
*All translated and authenticated carefully including Birth certificate, Police certificate and all supporting document need to be in English.
I Went early to Guangzhou US consulate because my interview was at 7:50 am I was at checkpoint advance onee hr to pass all security issues. there is local people to arrange your document before you go the window to be asked all document and they put the documents into folders and requested including : Ethiopian police certificate, passport , photo and Birth certificate and translated.
I run into some problems paying the fee. My advice, ALWAYS CASH.but the finance said this doular is old version of serious and I advice you have new version of cash dollars. lol.
After paying the fee, I was told to wait, and went to the window who check my document and I was called by the CO . At this point, I was really prepared for every possible question I would be asked. I had read extensively from your blog and was well prepared or so I thought.
I have listened you very carefully and there no one except Mr. Brits can give you real and genuine advice, I am not exaggerating this scenarios he is right person to give you real advice and tips . for me its seems that he got all information form insider but not he is indisputably a Professor!! please dont listen other youtuber bla bla Curtis law and bla bla youtuber is liars listen listen listen Brits simon guaranteed you will be success and Nothing could have prepared me for that.
The CO calls me, makes me swear the oath and I was ready for the questions, but he rather looks looking through my documents again and says
CO: what is your name ? You are not married and erm……everything looks great. (not even looking at me at this point……just focused on the documents)
ME: my name is X X X
CO: are you married ?
ME: Not yet.
CO: what is your highest degree?
ME: Doctor.
CO: you working in china?
ME:yes
CO:As what capacity?
ME: Postdoctoral Fellow.
CO:all seems to be good and congratulation.
He asked me do you want to leave your passport or you will go back then send passport ? I said II have to check with security if I can go back without passport or not then inform you .is that okay ? he said sure. i went to my place where i live and send passport .
My advice is just relax and over prepared as Mr. simon always said and be honest.nothing is trick there. It will be issued soon.
April 15, 2023 at 21:46
Congratulations!!
April 15, 2023 at 22:38
Hi, there
I have been grateful continuously tovMr Simon for facilitating this platform which I have benefited tremendously during my interview recently.
I have had an interview JHN consulate that started at 7:00am though I was on the queue an half an hour earlier.
As the time arrives the security started screening process and got access to go through.
The first thing they request was my passport and then she directed me to prepare original documents with copies each. Once she made sure that I have all the documents (school records, pc, birth certificate, I-134 with latest tax return) , directed towards cashier which I paid in cash. Once I paid cashier told me that she give the receipt to the interviewer officer, so I went back to sit where they were calling for the interview. As my turn arrives the interview officer requested me for finger print and take an oath.
CO: State your name
Me: stated my name
Co: are you married
Me: no
Co: any kids
Me: no
Co: where are you working currently
Me: stated where I work
Co: busy checking my school records (it seems fine)
Me ____
Co: checking the I134 and tax return
She has told me on this that there is a quick fix thing which your sponsor income is less than the threshold to accommodate so you can found a co sponsor and send us the I134 and tax return of the Co sponsor.
Me: ok
Co: everything is fine
Me: thanks
And I left with that recommendation which I believe everyone who read this could get a lesson or be aware that you need to double check your sponsors ability or income during preparation.
My status showed refusrf221g at the beginning but
I attached my new co sponsor I 134 and tax return it is on “Ready” though I don’t understand why it’s on ready after I did interview.
Thanks to those who share their stories as well
April 16, 2023 at 14:00
Thanks for the detailed account of the interview.
The requirement for income for the sponsor is shown here:
https://britsimonsays.com/all-about-public-charge-affidavit-of-support-i-134/
April 24, 2023 at 15:14
Hello,
CN 2023EU19XXX
Embassy: Paris, France
Interview: 12 April 2023 at 08:30AM.
DS-260: Submitted on 25 May 2022.
I realize the accounts of Paris embassy experience are scare. So, here’s another one to help the ones following.
At 08:30AM sharp I was on line to enter the embassy. Before entering the embassy, I had to go through some documents check and was asked for:
1. My passport
2. 2NL
3. Interview registration confirmation.
Very quickly I went through security where all my electronics (phone had to be switched off) were kept, and was given a number to which I would be called later.
I paid the $330 and waited for approximately 5 minutes until I was called to a booth.
There, I was asked for my birth certificate and my police certificates (I have dual residency in Europe), followed by my diploma.
Questions asked:
1. Confirm my US address for the Green Card and SSN to be delivered
2. Have you been to the US before?
3. Walk me through your studies and diplomas.
Finger prints taken.
I was then asked to wait for the CO to call me. I must have waited for 30 minutes approximately.
Took the oath.
Questions asked:
1. Have you been to the US before?
2. Have you always followed the rules and come back to your country?
Finger prints taken again.
The CO said: I’m happy with your file. Congratulations!
And that was it, really!
I was overprepared with all kinds of supporting evidence including an I-134 and was never asked any of those apart from the above mentioned.
I was out of the embassy at 9:45AM.
19 April 2023: Administrative Processing
20 April 2023: Issued
24 April 2023, 5PM: Email notification to collect my passport
24 April 2023, 6PM: Passport with visa collected.
Thank you Brit for your support through this great experience.
Veronique
April 24, 2023 at 22:47
Sounds like it was EASY!. Well done and thanks for taking the time to capture the experience.
May 16, 2023 at 10:52
Hello BritSimon,
Thank you so much for all you do for DV lottery winners.
We all are so grateful for the information you constantly share on your website, twitter and youtube channel.
I am from Cameroon and live in Cameroon. So will love to share my experience and that of another family.
Country: Cameroun
Embassy: Yaounde, Cameroon.
Case Number: 2023AF39XXX
2NL date: 30th March 2023
interview date: Mid May 2023
Arrival and we went through the normal checks and had to wait with the others outside.
My husband was asked to pay the visa fee $330 ( 215,000FCFA)
We waited for an hour and was called in.
First document checks and reception and collection of finger prints and we were asked to sit and wait for the second interview (main interview).
CO: Congratulations Sir and Madam. What’s your name
My husband: XXxx
Me: XXXx
CO: Place your right hand for finger prints
We: did
CO: Raise up your right hand and take an oath
We: OK
CO: have any of you ever travelled before?
My husband: NO
Me: yes, I travelled in 20xx to xxx for a brief training.
CO: Have any of you been married before?
We: No
CO: When did you get married?
Me: DD/MM/YYYY
CO: hands our originals and says congratulations your visas have been approved.
Few take aways,
1. Be truthful.
Especially families please endeavour to say the truth and ensure all what you filled in the ds260 was the truth. A Family of 7 was rejected because the husband has been previously married and the first spouse left him and traveled to SA without legal divorce. He went ahead and married the new spouse without legally divorcing the first. when he was asked if he had ever applied for a visa he refused but the CO pulled out his file and told him he see he once applied to travel to SA. That’s when the whole story started unfolding.
He tried explaining himself but the CO told them to provide a legal divorce document of the first marriage.
It’s so sad how our African countries issue marriage certificates without checking the previous marriage history of spouses.
2. Have extra money
We did the conversion rates at home and what was asked was way extra.
3. Endeavour to register appointments for all derivatives. I registered my husband’s appointment and forgot to register mine. hand to do it that morning.
May 18, 2023 at 14:11
Copied from an excellent post by TOH Jérôme on the Ask questions page.
Hello Brit,
Trust you’re doing good with family🤗. Just to give you feedback on my interview. I’m case number 2023AF00031XXX, had interview in U.S Embassy Yaounde, Cameroon on Tuesday May 16th, 2023
I received my 2NL on Wednesday 29th March, 2023. I had to subscribe for your daily mail post which has helped me a lot, learning through other peoples questions asked here. I took the pain to read/re-read every question you answered via my mail until now. Through this I have gained so much value and now equipped with proper information that can help me further in future and possibly help any other person in need
Showed up at interview way before time, was calm with all documents complete. Later on went through normal security check and document verification by Embassy support personnel. Interview was pretty straight forward, less than 2 minutes😊 as a single applicant, a recap
CO: Warmth greetings, good morning Sir😅!
CO: Now raise your right hand, You have to take this oath, that you promise to say the truth and only the truth
Me(Response): Did as asked
CO: What is your name Please?
Me(Response): gave my full names
CO: Have you ever travelled to another country before?
Me(Response): I had travelled before, so I gave the country and even added confidently by specifying the duration period
CO: Are you married?
Me(Response): NO
CO: Do you have a child?
Me(Response): NO
CO: Do you have a fiancee, girlfriend or someone you intend to marry later on, smiled 😉 at me? (She later on said the reason was just in case your partner happens to apply in future, so that we know by putting her name in the system will facilitate the process, just in case she ever apply for a visa)
Me(Response): NO
CO: Ok, CONGRATULATIONS sir, welcome to USA. You will have to wait for 1-2 weeks for your visa to be printed. You will be notified by mail. That’s all, you can go now😊
So, I was approved Brit. I want to thank you 🙏 personally on this occasion, for taking upon you to serve others in this manner free of charge, others on YouTube may charge for this but you’re doing it for free, God bless you and your household, you will never lack financially, peace of mind and long life to you with family, I wish you the very best and hope just to see you one day inorder to show my appreciation/respect
JUST FEW TIPS/ADVISE***
1) I see many persons abandoning the whole process/forms to be filled by someone else and they just wait to be told what to do, I don’t think is the right way to go, even if some other person has to fill and follow up your process, you should at least know everything happening by reading the information needed and if better, take out time to do all by yourself. The blog by Brit here has everything from A to Z, don’t be lazy, take out time to read and re-read
2) You can also subscribe by mail on the britsimon blog, so that whenever he answers a question, you can receive in your mail, then read them and learn as sometimes you might even have the same question to ask Brit, that way you won’t be repeating questions already answered, take out time to read
3) There are also guidelines for new immigrants. When approved, you can even take the burden to start reading and know what is expected of you as we plan to take this new phase of life in another land, very important
Though long, I believe someone will always learn. Best wishes to all approved 2023
May 22, 2023 at 06:14
being almost 5 months in 221g. any advice guys would be highly appreciated
May 22, 2023 at 18:17
If you are Iranian, that is sort of normal. If not, check with the embassy.
May 28, 2023 at 20:23
Our interview experience in China Guangzhou 🇨🇳
dv2023 winner
Case number 9k
My wife was the main applicant
We submitted ds260 on 10th October, 2022
2NL received 15th February
Did our Medical 27th of March 2023.
The interview date April 10th at 7:50am
We arrived at the embassy at 6:30am
The gates were opened at 7:30am
We provided our appointment letter and passport to start the entry check list and went through a security check.
After entry, we went into the building where we waited in queues for them to check our appointment documents and later we were given a ticket number for the next counter.
We waited for about 20 minutes and our ticket number was called. We went to the counter and the teller verified our documents.(This is where we felt a-bit shaken because she said one of the PCC we presented is not up-to the standard required, but in China different cities have different formats which she didn’t want to accept and wrote it down as a mistake)
The lady checking our documents also asked about our parents last names, and kept repeating about 5 times as if to have us confused.
The documents she checked were:
1. Ds260 confirmation page
2. Birth certificate with photocopy
3. Education certificates with photocopy
4. Police certificate
5. Marriage certificate with photocopy
6. Passports NO copy
7. Two American (2)passport pic
8.Medicals
9. I-134 form ( but she actually didn’t know why we gave her that form, she didn’t know what it was and my wife explained )
After Submission, we waited about 10 mins patiently in the queue and was called to a counter.
We greeted the CO who was a very cool dude and he asked us to confirm our names and date of birth. Then he asked us to take an oath and proceeded to take our fingerprints.
CO: have you been to any other country for over a year apart from Kenya 🇰🇪 and China 🇨🇳?
My wife and I answered
CO: Have you been refused a US visa
My wife answered
CO: did you get married in Kenya 🇰🇪 or China 🇨🇳 ?
My wife answered
CO: currently what do you guys do in China?
My wife and I answered
CO: Have you used any other name apart from the one in your passport?
My wife and I answered
CO: Have you had any criminal records in the past ?
( that’s when he checked our PCC to confirm if our duration of stay matched the years in the PCC)
He noticed I had a gap of 6 months and he needed the PCC for those months.
In China mostly you will have to get PCC from every city you’ve lived in for over 6 months. In our case we had about 6.
He also told us the PCC we provided were ok and that the Chinese lady who said it was not up-to standard was wrong.
CO: how long have you two been in China
My wife and I answered
CO: where are you going to live in the U.S
My wife and I answered
CO: are you a member of the CCP?
My wife and I answered
CO: everything looks good. Karibu (in swahili) which means welcome to America.
He checked all our documents and stamped all the copies and gave us back the originals
He gave us a 221g form and told us to send the 6 months pcc together with our passports.
On May 9th we sent the documents to the embassy.
On May 22nd our status changed from refused to ready .
On may 23rd it changed to Ap
On May 24th it was issued.
On May 25th they sent our passports and we just received it today ( May 27th)
May 29, 2023 at 08:58
Awesome – congratulations!