Top 60 Most Asked Questions during a Visa

Interview

Common interview questions available in this article are NOT solely intended for the Schengen
visa interview, hence they are usable for any type of visa interview of any world country.

A Schengen Visa interview isn’t only a meeting where you provide supporting documents for a
visa application to a visa official of a respective country. Matter of fact, a visa interview is
intended for a more in depth communication between the applicant and the representative of a
diplomatic office. The embassy or consulate of the Schengen country, in this occasion seeks
that by asking specific and detailed-oriented questions to perceive if the candidate is actually
worth given a Schengen visa.

During such an interview, the candidate does not get questioned solely about the provided
information in the visa application form and its supported documents. There are other particular
questions, sometimes even unusually personal, that the diplomatic official questions the
candidate.

Over the answers to such questions, the diplomatic official, just wants to collect a more across-
the-board information about the candidate’s situation, especially about its sense of answer-
ability, frankness, and accuracy. The diplomatic office does not want to issue a visa to someone
who does not have such qualities. This for the fact that the office wants to absolutely make sure
the visa holder will return home within the expected time, and that will not be prone to illegal
activities within the Schengen Area.

But,

How a visa candidate can successfully handle such questions?

 How not to become a failed candidate who gets a visa refusal because of its poor or
incomplete answers in a Schengen or other visa interview?
Which are these questions, whose accurate answers make the most of the candidate’s
representation in a Schengen interview session?

Below, you will find which are the normal questions the Schengen Visa officials make to their
visa candidates. Mind also our explanations and recommends presented underneath each of the
following questions, in order for you to easily plan an answer that helps you GIVE YOUR BEST
in a visa interview.

Note: The following questions exemplify all the possible questions that a representative of the
diplomatic office can make to visa candidates. Beware that not all the questions will be done to a
single candidate.

The General questions you should be expecting during an interview for a

Schengen Visa are the following:
Are You Married? If Yes, What Does Your Spouse Do? For How Long Have You Been Married?
Make sure to early enough commit to memorize the exact marriage date and marriage details (in
case of being married). Any wrong or insecure answer on years of marriage might be seen as
an attempt to give an untruthful answer. If not married, you might simply mention you are
unmarried or divorced.

Are You Traveling With Someone Else?

Answer simply with a yes or no. Also, be sure to clarify the relationship you have with the person
accompanying you in the trip.

Can You Reschedule A Shorter Trip? Why Do You Need Three/Month Visa?
Mention your interest to sightsee different tourist destinations within the Schengen Area, and
that you cannot do that in a short period of time. However, express your complete readiness to
reschedule your plans and shorten your trip if needed.

Can You Show Your Bank Statement?

Make sure to not show any hesitation when providing the document of your bank statement to
the official.

Do You Enjoy Any Scholarship?

This is another question you should directly answer with a yes or no. In case you have a student
scholarship, mention the name of the institution issuing the scholarship, together with the
amount of financial support it covers, as well as the period of it.

Do You Have A Covered Health Insurance For This Journey?

Provide the evidence of the covered health insurance for the period of stay in the Schengen
Area.

Do You Have A Girlfriend/Boyfriend?

Answer frankly with a yes or no.

Do You Have a Job-Leave Approval Letter From Your Employer?

Simply confirm the possession of this letter from your employer (signed and stamped) and offer
it to the official. In case you do not have such a document, it is worthless trying to verbally
convince the official about having your employer’s authorization to leave the job during the travel
period.

Do You Have Any Children? If Yes, How Old Are They, What Do They Do?
Sometimes you can have difficulties to quickly recall children’s job title, their exact birth date,
their exact name of the company, university or school. That is why we suggest you to prepare
yourself and memorize such information early enough, to avoid giving a hesitant answer during
the visa interview.

You might answer with I do not have any children yet – in case you are married with no children
you should state you are unmarried with no children (if single), or, simply state the number of
children and their gender – if having children. Anyhow, make your answer a natural one.

Do you Have any Family Member or Friends Living in the Schengen Area?
Make sure to make a list of all the family members and friends living in the Schengen Area early
enough before the interview. In case you have forgotten to mention anyone during the interview,
the embassy might consider it an attempt to skip the answer.

Do You Have Any Relation With Any Involved Person In Latest Terrorist Activities?
Try to not take it the question as a cautioning. Answer the question truthfully and without a
hesitation. Tell the official that you do not have any relative involved in these activities and
express your sad about such acts. Show the official you are completely against such awful acts
and individuals who commit them.

Do You Have Any Relative Or Any Known Person Studying In This University?
If seeking for a student visa, declare the names and relationship with the relatives or friends that
are currently studying in the university in the Schengen Area where you have been admitted to
study (if any).

Do You Know The Annual Incomes Of Your Son/Daughter?

State the annual incomes that your children earn. Consult your child on his/her amount of net
annual earnings before the interview, in order to offer it correctly this particular information to the
official.

Do You Pay Income Tax?

Yes is the answer the official wants to hear from you. Additionally, you might provide an
evidence for that. So, show you are a responsible citizen who pays its taxes.

Do You Plan To Pursue Masters Or Doctoral Studies After You Finish Bachelor’s?
Express your concern regarding the current Bachelor studies, but mention that there might exist
the possibility for you to consider this opportunity in the long-term future.

Does Your Son/Daughter Have Any Children?

The answer should be simple, yes or no. Additionally, you might state the number and gender of
the children of him/her.

Have You Applied In Other Universities And In Which, Also Did You Get Admitted Into Other
Universities?
State names of the universities where you applied for admission to (if you applied in more than
one), agreeably mentioning if you got the permission to study at any of them, despite the one
you chose studying to.

Have You Booked Or Bought The Flight Ticket?

Give the answer simply, by offering the evidence of a booked or bought flight ticket (depending
which of the forms you chose to get it as a proof of scheduled transportation).

Have You Ever Travelled To Other Places?

Answer with a yes or no. Also, you might tell countries where you have travelled outside of your
living country.

How Did You Choose This University Or College?

Indicate your interest in the specific study field that the chosen university offers. Do some
research about the university and talk about distinguishing potentials that the institution has,
compared to other alike institutions. In case you have a scholarship to study in this university,
prove it with the letter of scholarship. Generally, try to highlight the fact that you were attracted to
study there because it fulfills your educational expectations.

How do you heard about this university?

You might explain honestly the way you heard about the university, such as from the internet,
friend, family, local informative agencies, or other forms.

How Do We Know You Will Return Home Within The Visa Allowed Period?
Mention to the representative of the diplomatic office your important relationships and
educational/professional/personal affiliations in your home country that give you reasons to
return. Such can be your family, ongoing studies, a candid ongoing job position, business,
property, or other.

How Long are you Going to Stay?

Give an answer that is fully in compliance with your travel itinerary – mention your time of
departure and your return. Remember that your visa will be issued depending on the time you
plan to stay in the Schengen Area.

>> How to make a flight reservation without paying the full price for the flight ticket?

How Long Have You Been Working In This Company?

Answer by stating the number of years working for the current company.

How Many Siblings Do You Have? Where Do They Live? What Do They Do? How Many
Children Do They Have?
State the total number of sisters and brothers (if any). Give all the other asked above information
correctly and with no hesitation. Be as much natural as possible in your conversation.

How Many Employees Do You Have?

As an employee, you should offer information about the true number of employees, and if
needed divide female and male employees in numbers.

How Much Is Your Salary Or How Much Do You Earn?

State your net monthly salary, in case you are an employee. If you are an employer mention the
net earnings.
How Much This Journey Will Cost You?
Your calculations must be done early enough the interview. Calculations must include all the
investments you do before and after the arrival, as well as during your return to your home
country. So, show you are a convincing candidate that properly has projected its financial aspect
and is able to deal with them when abroad.

How you will spend your time when you daughter/daughter-in-law go out to work?
Tell you will explore the neighboring area, you will take care of the garden, children, or else.
Make sure the answer to be convincing and not a projected one.

How Much Pension Do You Get?

This is another question you should give it right away without not much of thought, stating the
monthly amount of money you receive from your accrued pension fund.

Is this your First Time in Schengen Area?

Answer the question with a yes or no, but you can also give details about the number of visits,
dates, places you’ve been. Try to be exact with the information you provide.

Is your daughter/daughter-in-law currently pregnant?

Simply reply with a yes or no. If you know the gender of the baby you might state it in a natural
way.

Is Your Son/Daughter Married?

Yes or no is enough as an answer.

What are your plans after your return?

In case you are applying for a student visa, tell that you will be likely to apply for a job related to
your gained education abroad. In case you are seeking to pursue further studies than the
answer must be truthful. Also, in case you are expecting to get professional training or jump up
in a start-up company you will state that similarly.

What did you say does your mother do?

Explain the profession and the job of your mother (if a working mother). In case your mother
does not work, you should indicate her daily activities, including hobbies and passions.

What do you do in your living country?

Discuss about your activities in your home countries, i.e. education, family, work, hobbies, and
other.

What do you know about the country you are visiting?

Take time to do some research about the specific country you are about to travel and the
Schengen Area in general. Focus talks a little bit about the freedom of movement, law uniformity
and collaboration between Schengen countries. Additionally, mention traveler areas of your
interest found in the Schengen Area (i.e. Eifel Towel, German castles, Amsterdam) and why
you chose the specific country for your visit.

What do you know about the country you are about to study to?
Take the time to explore a little about the benefits the education of the country where you are
about to study to offers compared to other surrounding countries.
What Does Your Company Do?
Talk about company’s main activities in short. Tell the official in short your company’s main
accomplishments in the local or international market. Do not over-talk about each activity of the
company just because you are the owner, leading to an over-elaborated and tiresome answer.

What Does Your Son/Daughter/Son-In-Law/Daughter-In-Law/Sponsor/Brother/Sister Do In The

Schengen Area?
Make sure to get such information from your relatives enough before the interview, about her/his
job, studies and living in the Schengen Area. Write down and try to memorize their university
and department they’re studying to, job position and the company working for, and location
details. You will not leave an impression of a serious candidate not being able to recall your
children’s occupations, so it is of a great importance providing a genuine information in this
regard.

What is the legal status (what visa) of your son/daughter?

Indicate correctly the legal status of your children. Contact them early enough to get the correct
information, in order to not give unfitting information in the interview.

What Is Your Educational Qualification?

Give an answer by stating your highest received degree from a school or university. Do not start
talking about every school and educational institution you attended before, only in case the
official asks you to do so.

What is the Purpose of Your Visit?

Being confident when explaining the purpose of your visit is important. Give details to the official
why you want to make the visit by offering also the supporting documents evidencing the
purpose of it (i.e. Sightseeing France’s tourist areas, professional training, therapy appointment,
studies, or other).

What Is Your Daughter’s, Son’s Birth/Wedding Date?

Make sure to offer the correct information. Confirm these dates early enough the interview.

What Is Your Father’s, Sponsor’s Income?

The level of earnings of the father or sponsor should demonstrate to the official their ability to
cope with your travel and stay costs abroad for the planned period of stay.

What Is Your University Yearly Cost?

Take the needed time to calculate early enough yearly study and living costs during your stay in
the Schengen Area for study purposes. Any misinformed information might seem suspicious to
the official.

What Property Do You Have In Your Home Country?

Name assets you own, try to not forget any (i.e. House, car, other).

What Will You Do If Your Visa Will Be Rejected?

The official wants to hear you have things to do in your country. Tell him/her you have
commitments you should take care of, by mentioning your important engagements and relations.
When In Schengen Area, Are You Going To Seek Employment?
If you are seeking for a study or other visa which prohibit seeking employment in the Schengen
Area, you must absolutely not hunt for a job. Therefore, you should be clear in explaining that
your aim is not to find a job there by emphasizing you completely understand specific visa
limitations.

When Was Your Last Time Seeing Your Son/Daughter?

Try to recall earlier than the interview the last time you have met your son/daughter, stating the
correct year and month.

When You Will Travel To Schengen Area?

There are many reasons the embassy or consulate representative wants to get your
straightforward answer to this question, despite having such information in your booked flight
ticket. Mainly the diplomatic office wants to make sure you understand the visa’s validity
limitation and that you will not remain in the Schengen Area more than allowed. So, give an
answer that goes along with the dates of your booked round-trip flight itinerary or flight ticket.

Where Are You Going To Stay?

Because you might be traveling across the Schengen Area, during your stay in Schengen Area,
make sure to mention the place where you will be accommodated during this time, instead of
giving detailed information about all the places you will visit. Make sure of the answer to be in
full conformity with the proof of accomodation provided amongst other application supporting
documents.

Where Did You Finish Under-Graduate/Graduate Studies?

State the name and the location of the university or college where you completed your studies.

Which Company Do You Work For?

Tell the official the name of the company where you are currently working as well as its main
area of activity.

Which Countries in the Schengen Area are You Planning to Visit?

Refer to all the countries which you plan to visit when in the Schengen Area. Still, you must state
which will be your country in the Schengen Area where you plan to stay the most during your
visit.

Who Will Pay For Your Visit?

This is another important issue. Give your best frank answer! The diplomatic office analyzes
your financial statements or sponsor’s anyways, and any misled information will prove them you
are not a worthy candidate to be given a visa.

Why You Want To Go To The Schengen Area For Three/Six Months Where You Have A Job In
Your Living Country?
Specify the exact reason leading you to give up work for six months. Such can be a sick family
member, a job training abroad or else. Anyhow, the answer must be true and incontestable.

Other questions might be:

Who Lives With You Now And What Do They Do?
Who Will Take Care Of Your Business/House/Property When You Are Visiting The Schengen
Area?