What to do before the interview:

Learn your rights. There aren't many, and you should have a translation with you - this question is asked often.

Gather all the documents your agent recommends. In practice, I haven't seen anyone check anything other than the DS, but you never know...

Wash up/comb your hair/put on makeup (moderately) - remember that the consul only has a few minutes to evaluate you, and looking like a mess has never helped anyone in such an important matter.

Practice answering questions. Don't memorize answers; it's silly, stupid, and ridiculous. It's better to just think about what you really think about cultural exchange programs, America, and Americans... Thought about it? Now filter out everything your parents, friends, and Zadornov have filled your head with, and say only what the consul might like. If you are going to America, you must love it for something, right? So be prepared to explain exactly what that is.

Dress comfortably. Guys, jeans and a t-shirt are perfect. Everyone, from you to the consul, understands that you are going to work, essentially, as a guest worker. No one expects a suit! By the way, there was a young man in our group in a three-piece suit. He didn't get the visa. And girls, choose your shoes carefully! You will have to stand for a long time.

Don't take many things with you. This is a question for your agent, as many firms provide the opportunity to leave bags in their cars before entering the embassy. Lockers only accept electronics.

Take a paper book with you. Or, if you are preparing for an exam, take notes, textbooks, etc. You will have plenty of time to prepare.

Learn the information from your offer!!! Dates, employer name, work address, agent name, sponsor group - very popular questions.

What you need to know for a successful interview with the consul:

The consul is also a human being. This is the main postulate; once you accept it, you will realize how much easier life has become.

The consul understands that English is a foreign language for you. He doesn't expect brilliant complex sentences from you - in fact, they might even make him suspicious. If you forget a word, just replace it or try to explain it. The consul won't think less of you for it.

The consul is a subtle psychologist. I read about this before, but I was quite skeptical. If you are not truly set on the trip, or are already thinking that you are about to be handed a little green refusal slip - the consul will feel it.

The consul asks the same questions for many hours in a row to teenagers who were told to memorize the right answers in advance. He is bored. Surprise him, engage him in a dialogue - most consuls are open to it.

The consul misses home. If he asks you why you like America, answer as you would like to hear a story about your Russia. The Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, Niagara - these are all wonderful, and they are likely true for you. But I answered that I wanted to visit Broadway (which was the absolute truth), and only then did the consul's eyes light up...

The consul has some knowledge of the Russian language. I think if you truly panicked and said something in Russian instead of English, he would understand you.

You must appeal to him personally. SMILE like an idiot. Most idiots approach him scared, and because of that, friendliness somehow sharply evaporates.

Don't believe those who say that the consul has everything decided in advance, even before you approach the counter. I am telling you this as a person who was given a visa only after a passionate "please, don't tell me no!" (see previous post).

By the way, it's a good sign if the consul writes something by hand - especially if it's in your DS. A bad sign is if he types something into the computer for a long time (not 20 seconds to enter your data, but really long) - it means he is typing a refusal or an additional check. If a green slip appears in his hands, things are very bad. But you have a chance at all these stages. Just tearfully beg him to talk to you a little longer. It helped me!

The consul might turn away, leave the workstation, return after a few minutes, and ask something like: "What was I saying?". This is not rudeness, this is a stress-resistance test. Or maybe he really needed to be distracted. Be calm and polite; if he apologizes, say that nothing bad happened. Don't click your tongue or sigh heavily!!! Remember, you are in a dependent position.

One girl I saw had an interview with a young consul who constantly turned his head and asked questions quietly and to the side. Since they were separated by glass, the girl had to keep asking him to repeat. She got very confused and barely answered. She didn't get the visa.

One young man I saw was asked an unexpected question: "What did you eat today?". Seems simple, right? In reality, it would have thrown me off balance too. He tried for a long time to remember the names of the dishes, after which he cracked, and blurted out: "I was at McDonald's" - and then he couldn't stop talking))) The point is, it's not always worth answering a complex, insignificant truth when you can answer such a non-essential question briefly and thoughtlessly.

Come up with an answer to the question "Why W&T?". Come up with it in advance. This is the only question you need to prepare for seriously. What you need to answer: firstly, about cultural exchange (I will bring a matryoshka and a bear, I will take away a magnet with the Statue of Liberty); secondly, about English (right now I don't know a thing, but later I will return and speak fluently, because it is very important for my profession); thirdly, about work (but in reality, I am a very serious dude, I intend to scrub pools day and night).

Believe in yourself, SMILE, speak, even with mistakes, but quickly, not by putting sentences together syllable by syllable, joke with the consul. Be yourself, and everything will work out!

If you have questions about passing the interview, we will be happy to answer them: we have already suffered through it, and we wish the same for you, friends!

by Ryboginyushka