So you now have your US visa appointment date set and the only thing standing between you and America is a B1/B2 US tourist visitor visa.
To get the B1/B2 US tourist visitor visa though, you must convince the visa officer interview beyond any reasonable doubt that you will return home at the end of your US visit.
In my case, the longest US interview appointment I have ever attended lasted for about 2 minutes. I know others who’ve had interviews of less than 1 minute.
In essence, there is no formula. There is no exact science to a US visa interview. It is largely at the discretion of your visa officer.
It therefore goes without say that you have to convince the visa officer within the first 30 seconds that indeed, you intend to leave the US and return back to Kenya after your visit.
The only reason a visa officer is able to come up with a decision in as little as 30 seconds lies in the fact that for US visas, you must first submit your application electronically before even booking an embassy appointment.
What this means therefore is that by the time you’re meeting the visa officer for interview, they pretty much know everything about you from your application and all they’re trying to do is corroborate the information you presented in your application.
Section 214 b of the US Immigration and Nationality Act clearly states that:
(b) Every alien (other than a nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (L) or (V) of section 101(a)(15), and other than a nonimmigrant described in any provision of section 101(a)(15)(H)(i) except subclause (b1) of such section) shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for a visa, and the immigration officers, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15).
So, by default, you are presumed to be an immigrant until you establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for a visa, that you intend to return to Kenya or whichever country you reside in.
The burden of proof therefore lies on you to:
- Clearly and succinctly state what your intention is for visiting the United States; and
- Whether or not you have what it takes to fund your trip to, and stay in, the United States.
Period.
Every other question you will be asked is just for what to do.
To convince the visa officer of your intended return therefore, it is important that you put yourself in their shoes as you answer the questions. After all, all you may have is just 30 seconds…
Ask yourself, If you were sitting on the other side of the visa counter, would you believe the responses you’re intending for the visa officer to believe?
You need to prove to the visa officer that you will come back after your visit.
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