Hopefully, you have read our previous article about preparing for your US visa interview at a US embassy or consulate in India. In that article, we covered the online visa application and scheduling your interview and fingerprinting appointments. Now we'll talk about what to bring with you on your interview day.
On your interview day, you will go to the US embassy or consulate you scheduled. What you need to bring varies according to the kind of visa you are applying for, but all applicants will need a current passport. It is a good idea to bring all old passports as well. Even though you had your photo taken when you submitted biometrics, it can be a good idea to bring a copy of your photograph to your interview in case there are any technical issues.
If you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa other than the B1/B2 visa, please review our official website to find out if you will require any additional supporting documents for your visa class. Regardless of the visa class, applying for a US nonimmigrant visa is an interview process, not a documentary process. The visa officer would like to hear directly from you, the applicant, about your qualifications for the US visa. The visa officer may ask you about your prior international travel, current travel plans, and professional and familial ties to your country of residence. It is not necessary to bring a lot of documents with you, though you may wish to have documents on hand that show finances or that demonstrate the business purpose of your visit if your travel is work-related.
In rare cases, the interviewing officer may request additional documentation from the visa applicant. Please note that in these cases you will be given the opportunity to provide these documents after the interview. The officer will give you a letter with instructions for what documents to provide and how to provide them.
Applicants should bring as few personal items as possible to the consulate since there is no space to store items, and some common items, like large bags, liquids, lighters, and matches, are not permitted inside the consular entrance. You can bring a document pouch to carry passports, documents, and other necessities. Electronics, like mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and cameras, are not permitted, and any photography of the embassy or consulates, even from the outside, can result in your interview being postponed to a later date.
