What makes you extraordinary?

Have a 20-30 second answer ready: your field, your main achievement, who recognized it. This is the most common English opener.

What exactly do you do? (describe your work)

Explain your work in plain words, without jargon: the officer is not a specialist in your field. One sentence on the substance plus an example.

Who is your employer in the United States?

The company name or the agent-petitioner. If there is no employer, as with EB-1A, explain what you will do and on what basis.

Who is your petitioner?

The person's name or the organization and its role. With an agent arrangement, explain the difference between the agent-petitioner and the end clients.

Why are you applying at our Consulate?

Give the factual reason: residence permit, appointment availability, no service in your country of citizenship. For third-country nationals this is the key question.

How much will you be paid in the United States?

Give the figure and its basis - contract, market rate. The number must match the petition.

What do these companies do?

One sentence about each company in the petition. Not knowing what your client does is a bad signal.

How did these companies find you and make an offer?

A specific story of how contact began. Vagueness here is the main sign of an arrangement manufactured for the visa.

Why do these companies want to work with you?

Answer with your rare competence, not with being cheap. Tie it to the same achievement as in the petition.

Why did he file for your visa?

A business reason: the project, the role, the need for your competence. A personal relationship as the reason is a poor answer.

How do you know him or her?

The story of the professional connection with a date and context. It must match the letters in the file.

Where are you currently residing?

Your actual address, matching the form. If you moved after filing the DS-260, volunteer that.

English interview questions for practice

Updated: September 14, 2026Author: Alina Kanametova

The same questions in the wording officers actually use in English. Worth rehearsing aloud even if you chose Russian for the interview: hearing a question and understanding it are different skills.

Questions (26)

keyWhat makes you extraordinary?: Have a 20-30 second answer ready: your field, your main achievement, who recognized it. This is the most common English opener.
keyWhat exactly do you do? (describe your work): Explain your work in plain words, without jargon: the officer is not a specialist in your field. One sentence on the substance plus an example.
keyWho is your employer in the United States?: The company name or the agent-petitioner. If there is no employer, as with EB-1A, explain what you will do and on what basis.
keyWho is your petitioner?: The person's name or the organization and its role. With an agent arrangement, explain the difference between the agent-petitioner and the end clients.
keyWhy are you applying at our Consulate?: Give the factual reason: residence permit, appointment availability, no service in your country of citizenship. For third-country nationals this is the key question.
How much will you be paid in the United States?: Give the figure and its basis - contract, market rate. The number must match the petition.
What do these companies do?: One sentence about each company in the petition. Not knowing what your client does is a bad signal.
How did these companies find you and make an offer?: A specific story of how contact began. Vagueness here is the main sign of an arrangement manufactured for the visa.
Why do these companies want to work with you?: Answer with your rare competence, not with being cheap. Tie it to the same achievement as in the petition.
Why did he file for your visa?: A business reason: the project, the role, the need for your competence. A personal relationship as the reason is a poor answer.
How do you know him or her?: The story of the professional connection with a date and context. It must match the letters in the file.
Where are you currently residing?: Your actual address, matching the form. If you moved after filing the DS-260, volunteer that.
When was the last time you were in your home country?: The date and purpose. It must line up with your stamps and the travel history in your form.
Where do you plan to live in the United States?: City and state as in your form. If housing is not rented yet, say where you plan to live and why there.
How long was your longest trip to the United States and what did you do there?: Dates and purpose. It is checked against your entry history - make sure you remember your trips.
When did you get married?: The date as on the certificate. Both spouses give the same date - an elementary but common slip under stress.
What do you do now?: Your current role and employer. If you are between jobs, explain the gap before the follow-up question comes.
You claim to be very successful, but I've never heard of you.: A probe for your reaction, not for facts. Calmly name external recognition: awards, judging, publications - do not argue or get defensive.
I'm still not quite clear on what exactly you do and what makes it so outstanding?: It means your first answer was too complex. Rephrase even more simply and add one measurable result.
Who signed the engagement letters / petition letter?: Names and titles of the signatories. Check this before the interview: an applicant who does not know who signed their letters raises authenticity questions.
What is his status in the United States?: The petitioner's status: US citizen, permanent resident or US company. Clarify it in advance - this comes up often.
Where does your petitioner live?: City and state. If it is a company - where it is registered and where the office is.
Since the war started, did you move anywhere?: Your actual relocation route with dates. This is a residency check, not a political question - do not drift into opinions.
What do you have left in your home country?: For an immigrant visa your home ties need not be strong - unlike a tourist visa. Answer factually, without trying to 'prove you will return'.
Where do you plan to return if the situation at home does not resolve?: Calmly explain your plan: you are getting an immigrant visa and intend to live in the US. Do not perform an intention to return.
Why are you not applying for an H-1B work visa?: Explain the difference: H-1B needs a sponsoring employer and the lottery, your category is about recognition in the field. This tests whether you understand your own route.

Rehearse these questions out loud in the interview simulator - it shuffles the bank and reveals the hint only after your answer.

Other sections

General questions about the applicant (10)Career and experience questions at the visa interview (12)O-1 and EB-1A criteria questions at the interview (29)Questions about your plans in the US (25)Family questions at the visa interview (11)Military service questions at the consular interview (9)Other questions at the consular interview (30)Marriage-visa interview questions (K-1, CR-1) (71)Interview preparation Form DS-5535 Real interviews

All interview questions

Community experience and reference information, not legal advice. Answer truthfully and in your own words. Official requirements are on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov.How to prepare