B1/B2 visa interview: the questions officers actually ask (2026)
The interview lasts two to four minutes. Most refusals cite one rule: 214(b).
Updated August 2026The B1/B2 window interview is shorter than almost anyone expects: two to four minutes at a counter, decided under INA 214(b), which presumes every applicant is an intending immigrant until their answers prove otherwise. Since 2 September 2025 the interview waiver is gone: everyone interviews, including renewals, children and the elderly. FY25 adjusted B refusal rates: Nepal 69.47%, Ghana 64.34%, Bangladesh 61.45%, Nigeria 57.00%, Pakistan 52.32%, India 22.04% and worsening. This page carries the full question bank with what works and what triggers a refusal.
This is interview practice, not immigration consultancy. Merra does not review your visa application and does not predict whether you will be approved or refused.
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The officer runs the real window format — purpose, ties, funds — and shows you which answers get flagged under 214(b), before a real one hears them.
Practise your B1/B2 visa interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscriptionThe B1/B2 interview process
- 1Complete the DS-160 online and pay the MRV fee.
- 2Book biometrics (VAC/OFC) and the consular interview.
- 3Attend biometrics, then the window interview at the embassy or consulate: typically 2-4 minutes on purpose of travel, ties and funding.
- 4Decision is usually immediate: approved, refused under 214(b), or 221(g) administrative processing.
B1/B2 interview questions officers ask
Grouped by area — the core bank James draws on in a mock interview.
Purpose of travel
Visiting family
Ties and return
Funds
Tourism/business
Pricing
B1/B2 visa interview FAQs
How long is the B1/B2 interview?
Usually 2-4 minutes at the window; decisions are immediate.
What is 214(b)?
The presumption that you are an intending immigrant; most refusals cite it, and it resets every application.
Do parents visiting children get refused?
Yes, at high rates in South Asia: the presumption hits hardest when your child lives in America.
What documents should I carry?
Passport, DS-160 confirmation, evidence of funds and ties, though officers often ask for none of them.
Can I reapply after refusal?
Yes, any time, but with the same case you get the same answer: change what was weak first.
Sources
- travel.state.gov visitor-visa and visa-denials pages
- FY25 adjusted refusal rates (State)
More US visa interview guides
Merra is an independent interview-practice platform and is not affiliated with the US Department of State, USCIS, or any embassy or consulate. Merra’s feedback is advisory only — it is not a guarantee of any interview or visa outcome, and it is not immigration, legal, or educational advice.
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