In the previous Ask the Consul articles we discussed how to find visa information at do.usembassy.gov, how to complete a nonimmigrant visa application (DS-160) at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/, how to use www.ustraveldocs.com/do to create a profile and schedule your appointment, and how to prepare for your visit to the Visa Application Center (VAC).
The next step will be attending your scheduled interview at the U.S. Embassy. On the day of your interview, you should arrive to the U.S. Embassy within 15 minutes of your appointment time.
Please take time to prepare at the interview. Think about the most important aspects of your life, such as information about your family, employment, career, and other information about yourself that demonstrates that you have sufficient resources to fund your travel.
This interview is your chance to demonstrate that you have a well-established life here in the Dominican Republic. In most cases, you will need to prove to the consular officer that you will leave the U.S. after a short stay and use the visa appropriately. Be prepared to speak about the reason for the trip, the source of funds for the expenses of the trip, and provide clear background information about your employment, business, or source of financial support. During the interview be ready to discuss the following:
- Purpose of trip: What city do you plan to visit and why? Who are you visiting?
- What you do for a living: A detailed explanation of your job or of what you do on a daily basis helps us understand your situation.
- Direct Family: Tell us about your family life. Are you married or single? Do you have children? Grandchildren? Does your family have visas?
- For students still building a career, it is important to speak about your degree program, your courses, and your future plans.
You may want to assemble helpful documents that support your case, such as birth or marriage certificates, bank statements, and so forth, but we may not ask to see them.
Do not purchase fake documents in the hopes that they will impress the consular officer. Fake documents will put you at risk of never being able to receive a visa.
