Everything you need to know about e2 visa interview

Every interview requires thorough preparation. Whether it is for a work interview, a business proposal interview, and in this case, an E2 visa interview. These interviews seem so simple in structure, but unconsciously we are always afraid of what will happen in an interview.

The fear grows dramatically, especially if we don’t know what lies in the interview. How it will start and when it will end. Moreover, the things that you need to prepare seem incomplete even though you have established everything.

In that sense, we would like to alleviate this normal fear by giving you all the details that you need to know in an E2 visa interview. Make sure to reach the end of this article to complete the experience.

The E2 visa

Before you get to the interview process, you need to apply for one in the USCIS first. The moment they receive your application, they will inform you of the details of your interview proper. Moreover, the application will also help you prepare all the documents needed.

This type of visa is issued to applicants with substantial business or investments in the U.S. It doesn’t matter if the candidate is not in the country of his nationality. What matters the most is that he is a national of a country with a treaty with the USA.

Say, for example, you are in Canada but a Filipino national. In this case, you will be approved of the length of stay applicable for a Filipino National, 36 months. And this is what will go with any other country.

Maybe you are now curious as to how the interview proper goes. We won’t take too much of your moment; here it is.

The E2 Visa Interview

This interview is set to verify if you meet all of the requirements to pass the visa. In addition, this is to check your identity and if all the documents you have submitted are accurate and legal. We know that every interview is nerve-racking, but if your case is legitimate, then you have nothing to worry about. Just remain calm and be true to yourself.

The things that you need to bring

Before attending the interview, you must first fill out the DS-160 form online. In addition, the list below shows the other documents that you need to bring:

Your passport will be legitimate for at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the U.S.
You should have two photos in a passport-style base on the Department of State image guidelines.
A printed documentation sheet for your DS-160
The printed certificate of pay for the DS-160 fee
The I-797 approval report you obtained for your appeal
The Appointment Notification Report for your E-2 visa meeting
Any evidence that you have to confirm your eligibility for the E-2 visa. This may involve bank records, lease transactions, receipts, contracts, etc.
You should also bring proof that bears your strong ties to your country of origin, such as a contract, deed, or vehicle title that would incentivize you to return home after your E-2 has been completed.
Lastly, bring your business plan folder. It is always a great thought to have a business plan for your enterprise to demonstrate that it is not marginal and plans to generate new employment for U.S. operators. While a marketing plan is not required, few E-2 applicants are approved without one.

The list above is a general requirement. Depending on your case, your attorney might require to add up some other document to support your claim,

Set up your Expectation

On the day of your E2 visa interview, make sure to arrive at least twenty minutes earlier than the given time. This is to provide you with time to prepare yourself mentally and physically. Who would lie to attend an interview with sweat all over his face and still catching their breath? We think no one wants to leave this kind of impression.

In addition, you get to know where to go and what to prepare precisely inside. Once you are inside, you will check-in and wait for your turn. They usually call the names of the next applicant. When the officer called you, you will be asked for fingerprints and your passport for validation. After this, you will get to meet your interviewing officer.

All of these steps will take around ten to twenty minutes. This is for the interviewing officer to review the documents that you have submitted. The interviewing officer will ask questions about your business, the investment, or the enterprise. They will also question your intentions and plans once in the U.S.

After all of the questions, the interviewing officer will let you know whether you pass or not. If you pass the application, they will hold your passport to print out the visa in it. They will inform you once it is ready for pick up.

Questions that you may encounter

Having no idea what they will ask is frightening. Even though you know the answer, there will be times that you will stutter and stammer, which might lessen your confidence in answering. This might affect your application approval. Given this, we are glad to give you some sample questions that you can practice with.

Have you ever toured the U.S. already? If so, when?
Do you have a house, vehicle, business, or family in your country of origin?
What do you intend to do after your E-2 visa lapses?
What business are you investing in for your E-2 visa?
How do you intend to expand this business?
What are the financial forecasts of the enterprise?
How much amount has been invested up-front in the enterprise?
What portion of that money was used on obtaining necessary items for the business?
What will be your role in this business as it progress and success?

Bear in mind that you must answer in all honesty. If you don’t know the answer, be honest and say “I don’t know” instead of fabricating an answer. The “falsify it until you make it” way of thinking does not apply in this kind of interview.

If you fail because of this, you can reapply again. In this case, you already know the process and what you are lacking based on your recent failed application.

Our suggestion to appear organized during the interview is to have all the documents in a binder. Have a note on the side or top of it or a table of contents, so you won’t get flustered when looking for a particular document. You can always ask your attorney to help you set up a document binder to make it easier.

Conclusion

Interviews are always scary as it is, even though you are prepared. There will always be those loud thumps in your chest every time the interviewer will be on a poker face or randomly ask you some questions. But if you are well prepared, you can alleviate the stress of being asked some questions.

We hope that this section has accommodated you to prepare yourself for your upcoming E2 visa interview—all the best of luck. Feel free to share this with other applicants, such as your spouse and dependents.