What they actually ask at the visa interview

Pick your interview

The question set differs sharply by category — a visitor interview and a work-visa interview barely overlap. Start with yours.

By consulate

Posts with enough reports to break out separately. Officers at different posts lean on different parts of the script.

Across every visa type

Share of the 1033 reported interviews where the topic came up at least once. Percentages do not add to 100 — most interviews cover several topics.

1. 1Social media handles25%
   260 of 1033 reported interviews
   • “Do you have social media?”
   • “Are your accounts public?”
   • “Is your social media public?”
2. 2Purpose of your trip13%
   134 of 1033 reported interviews
   • “What does your friend do?”
   • “Are you travelling alone?”
   • “How long are you staying?”
3. 3What you actually do13%
   132 of 1033 reported interviews
   • “What is your job profile?”
   • “What is your current job?”
   • “What do you currently do?”
4. 4Who is paying11%
   114 of 1033 reported interviews
   • “Why are you self funding?”
   • “Who's paying your salary?”
   • “Are you working as a GTA?”
5. 5Your salary10%
   108 of 1033 reported interviews
   • “How much do you earn now?”
   • “How much are you earning?”
   • “What's your annual salary?”
6. 6Who you work for9%
   91 of 1033 reported interviews
   • “Which company is this for?”
   • “What's your company called?”
   • “Is it at the medical school?”
7. 7How long at this employer8%
   78 of 1033 reported interviews
   • “How long have you been working?”
   • “How long have you worked there?”
   • “How long have you been employed?”
8. 8Relatives in the US8%
   78 of 1033 reported interviews
   • “Who will you be visiting?”
   • “What does your sister do?”
   • “Where does your son live?”
9. 9Your degree7%
   72 of 1033 reported interviews
   • “When did you complete it?”
   • “Did you go for a master's?”
   • “What is your final degree?”
10. 10Client / project details7%
    69 of 1033 reported interviews
    • “What does the company do?”
    • “What is the project name?”
    • “Do you have an end client?”
11. 11Your course / major6%
    63 of 1033 reported interviews
    • “What did you study there?”
    • “Is there a specialization?”
    • “What was your degree plan?”
12. 12Sponsor's job and income6%
    61 of 1033 reported interviews
    • “What does your family do?”
    • “What does your father do?”
    • “What does he do for work?”

What the December 2025 rule changed

H-1B interviews reported before and after the universal social-media vetting rule took effect on December 15, 2025. Only topics that moved by 6 points or more.

• Social media went from absent to routine. It is the dominant new question, and it is usually phrased as an instruction — make the accounts public — rather than a question you can answer wrongly.
• A new safety question appeared. “Do you have any threats in your home country?” and “Do you fear returning?” show up across every visa category after the rule, and in none before it.
• The substantive job questions did not get harder. Employer, salary and duties are asked at roughly the same rate as before. The interview got a new topic, not a higher bar.

Quick answers