Ask the Consul
When I Applied for a Nonimmigrant Visa, Why Did You Not
Look at My Documents?
Everyday the consular section tries to open up as many
interviews as possible in order to facilitate travel to the United States.
During the interview, the consular officer will ask questions to ascertain
whether or not you qualify to receive a nonimmigrant visa.
During this process the consular officer may ask for
certain documents, including bank statements, tax receipts, job letters, car and
house titles, event invitation letters, birth certificates and marriage
certificates, among others. To facilitate your interview, each applicant should
have these documents on hand. However, there are many instances where these
documents are not needed, and therefore will not be asked for. Each consular
officer will decide during an interview whether a certain document may be
helpful to understand your situation. If an officer does not look at your
documents, it does not mean that they did not conduct a thorough interview or
that they were not able to make a sound decision. Some cases require the use of
documents, but many cases do not. An officer’s decision about whether an
applicant qualifies typically is not based on documentation, but rather the
interview itself. Therefore, if you decide to apply for a nonimmigrant visa,
you should be prepared with your documents, but do not be surprised if the
consular officer does not ask to see them. |
