US visa interview questions: every visa type (2026)

Four visa types, one machine: minutes at a window, and the first answers decide it.

Updated August 2026

Every US visa interview runs on the same machine: a short window, direct questions on purpose, money and return, and an immediate decision. What changes by visa type is the rule being applied: F-1 and B1/B2 live under the 214(b) presumption, H-1B is dual intent and turns on whether the job is real, J-1 adds the two-year home-residency rule. This page maps the machine, then hands you to the deep page for your visa.

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.

Choose your visa type

F-1 Student VisaFunding, study plan and the 214(b) presumption.B1/B2 Visitor VisaPurpose and ties — including the parents case.H-1B Work VisaEmployer, client chain and 221(g) administrative processing.J-1 Exchange VisaYour category and the 212(e) two-year home-residency rule.

Merra: practise your US visa interview before it counts

James, Merra’s AI interviewer, runs a mock built for your exact visa type — the real question format for that lane, real follow-ups — then scores you on the five dimensions real interviews are judged on, with a recording and transcript.

  1. 1Sign up free — no card, 2 free coaching sessions available until used.
  2. 2Choose your visa type — F-1, B1/B2, H-1B or J-1, then answer the real question categories for that lane.
  3. 3Get readiness feedback — see what’s working and what to fix, with a recording and transcript.

No card details required. Your first 2 coaching sessions are free.

Practise your US visa interview now

Pick your visa type after signup — F-1, B1/B2, H-1B or J-1 — and run a realistic mock with an AI interviewer trained on that visa’s real questions.

Practise your US visa interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscription

The shared skeleton

  1. 1DS-160 (or DS-2019/I-20 paperwork by type) and fees.
  2. 2Biometrics.
  3. 3The window interview, minutes long.
  4. 4Immediate decision: approved, refused (214(b) where it applies), or 221(g) administrative processing.

The questions every US visa type gets

The five questions every type gets

“Why are you going to the US?”
“Who is paying, exactly?”
“What do you do now?”
“What is waiting for you at home? (skip for H-1B: dual intent)”
“What will you do when your program/trip/contract ends?”

Pricing

2 coaching sessions free
then Practice Packs from £6 · one-off, no subscription
Practise your US visa interview

US visa interview FAQs

Are US visa interviews really that short?

Yes: minutes, sometimes seconds; preparation is answer-quality, not paperwork volume.

Which visas can be refused under 214(b)?

F-1, B1/B2, J-1: any nonimmigrant category carrying the presumption; not H-1B.

Does everyone interview now?

Yes, since 2 September 2025 the interview waiver is gone across categories.

What is a 221(g)?

Administrative processing, most common in H-1B consultancy cases.

Where do I prepare for my exact visa?

The four lane pages below, each with its full question bank.

Every visa lane

F-1 Student VisaB1/B2 Visitor VisaH-1B Work VisaJ-1 Exchange Visa214(b) explained (F-1 / B1/B2 / J-1)221(g) explained (H-1B)

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.

Your visa interview decides your trip. Walk in ready.

Your first mock takes about 15 minutes. Free, no card, instant feedback — choose your visa type after signup.

Practise your US visa interview2 free coaching sessions · available until used · no card needed · no subscription