The Department Wants More From The Visa Applicant

The Current Administration is adding more questions in the visa interview process “to implement additional protocols and procedures” focused on “ensur[ing] the proper collection of all information necessary to rigorously evaluate all grounds of inadmissibility or deportability, or grounds for the denial of other immigration benefits.”

The requested supplemental information on the application include:

• Travel history during the last fifteen years, including source of funding for travel;
• Address history during the last fifteen years;
• Employment history during the last fifteen years;
• All passport numbers and country of issuance held by the applicant;
• Names and dates of birth for all siblings;
• Name and dates of birth for all children;
• Names and dates of birth for all current and former spouses, or civil or domestic partners;
• Social media platforms and identifiers, also known as handles, used during the last five years; and
• Phone numbers and email addresses used during the last five years.

U.S. consular officers will be enforcing the additional supplemental questions during the interview process. The additional questions may be sent electronically or presented orally or in writing during the interview. Failure to provide the requested information will not mean denial if a consular officer determines the applicant has provided a credible explanation why he/she cannot answer the question or provide requested supporting documentation regarding the situation. Disclosure of social media will not be used to deny visas based on the applicant’s racial, religious, political views, gender or sexual orientation. The consular officers will ask these additional questions if the visa applicant’s visa application or responses in the visa interview require more in-depth scrutiny.

Call to Action: To avoid long delays in the visa issuance process, we recommend you know and compile the additional information before your interview. Before your interview, review the information related to the basis of your application and practice and rehearse your answers from your application. This will provide you with more confidence and will relieve nerves during the visa interview. Preparation and confidence is the key to success. For assistance, contact Scarborough Law for consultation. Toll Free: 8443296469

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/04/2017-08975/notice-of-information-collection-under-omb-emergency-review-supplemental-questions-for-visa