Mistakes That You Should Avoid During A Visa Interview

By Justin Mays:

A visa interview is the most crucial part of the entire visa process and only a successful interview can get you the visa. While several applicants get through the interview without much problem, some are denied and asked to come back for a second attempt which can take very long. The visa approval haunts the applicants like students in exams. The good news is that we have a guide to what not to do during a visa interview to keep off trouble. 

Avoid these mistakes during your visa interview

While you have been preparing yourself for the big day, keep the following things in mind to avoid:

Delaying for the interview

When you apply for a visa, the embassy or consulate will tell you the exact date and time for the visa interview. Postponing or delaying it leaves a bad impression on the officers. You don't want them to form an opinion about you as a neglectful candidate. We suggest you arrive at the embassy or consulate at least a few minutes earlier before the interview. This will help you calm yourself down from the natural nervousness and relax while answering during the interview. Also, finding a free parking lot is a time-consuming task so you can hire a cab.

Inappropriate answers

It's another reason the officers might not take you seriously. Not being prepared enough and not having any idea about visa-related questions can provoke visa officials to not think of you as a serious applicant. When you do not know what questions you will expect, there are risks of giving inappropriate answers therefore, you need to be familiar with the common visa interview questions. To avoid this situation, try to get a brief idea about the visa questions and answers, and prepare all this early enough before your interview date. You can also write them on paper to run through them before the process. One more thing, do not take too much time in answering, otherwise, this can be perceived as a lack of truthfulness.

Skipping questions or false answers

The interview is simply a way for the officers to meet with you and understand more in-depth if the information provided in the visa application form is correct and honestly presented. Even if the question is sensitive, don't try to avoid it as it's going to do you no good. Also, giving fake information can be very bad because the diplomatic office will reconfirm all the information you provide during the interview and in the application form and if it doesn't match, you will be rejected. Instead of avoiding or falsifying the answer, be open and direct with the visa official. 

Inappropriate appearance

The way you appear during your interview might penalize your application if your outfit, shoes, makeup, body language, and even the amount of perfume you wear are not right. The first impression is everything and a second chance is not easy at the visa office so do it right the first time. Don't dress carelessly or informally. Show that you have a sense of consideration for the interview by wearing proper formal clothes and shoes with minimal accessories, minimal makeup, and a slight perfume. Your body posture also plays an important role. A face that expresses fear and tension and not sitting properly, might lead visa officials to think you're a dishonest candidate. Try holding a neutral body position by sitting tall and keeping your arms open to show you are open and ready for a proper interview. Also, try to keep eye contact with the official during the interview to come across as confident. Keep eye contact normal when listening to questions and answering instead of odd and consistent eyeing.

Incomplete Supporting Documentation

Documentation is one of the main reasons you are called to the office. Appearing in the interview without proper documentation gives a negative impression to the officers. To avoid this unpleasant situation, stay prepared with all the documents early enough. Have a proper folder, organize all the documents and bring them along to the office. Carry all the necessary documentation with complete and accurate information. Read all the requirements and prepare all the folders accordingly. This will help leave a positive impression on the consulate officer.

Unnecessary Information

It's advisable that you don't share too much information. Oversharing information that the interviewer didn't even ask for in an attempt to come across as confident and honest. This may trigger the official with additional questions about you that may not work in your favor. For instance, if you are asked why you want to visit Europe, don't say you want to explore it and might even stay with your relatives if you like it. Just be crisp and tell them that it's for tourism.

Nervousness

Your nervousness can ruin your answers during your interview. A trembling voice, speaking a lot about yourself, interrupting the interviewers in the middle, etc. are the core mistakes that generally happen. To ignore this unwanted situation, we suggest you relax and stay calm during the entire process. Just consider it as a normal meeting so you don't take it as a stressful event.

Disagreeing With The Visa Official

One more thing you must not do is argue. The visa interview can go wrong if you keep disagree with the visa officer during the process. A higher tone of voice and a poor approach to the visa official only reflect that you are a destructive individual who doesn't respect the authority of the representative of the diplomatic office.

Why has my Turkish visa been rejected?

The government of Turkey provides foreigners with various types of visas based on their reason for travel and their country of origin. The e-visa is issued to people en route to other countries, traveling for tourism or business. If you have to travel to Turkey, you can apply for an e-visa online. Mostly, visa applications are accepted. However, based on some reasons your visa application may be denied without providing you with the ground. 

Here are the reasons one may be denied a visa:

1. You already have a currently active visa (not expired) so there's no need to apply for a new one.

2. You are suspected you intend to overstay your visit to the country. The authorities may have a reason to speculate this based on your travel history, your country of origin, or even your age. For example, if you are quite young and don't not state clear intentions for visiting Turkey, you may appear as someone who can decide to overstay.

3. Your name may be similar to one who is already on the "entry ban" list to Turkey. Now, this error is not your fault but might take quite some time to fix.

4. Your travel reason may lack permission for the e-visa. The e-visa allows one to travel for transit, tourism, and business and if you're traveling for something else, you may need to apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate.  

5. The citizens of your country might not be eligible for an e-visa from Turkey.

6. You failed to provide accurate information on your application, for example, the reason for your visit, the conditions of your stay, and how you will support yourself financially.

7. If you have a criminal record like not returning to your country.

8. There is false information in your application or you failed to present all the essential documentation needed for your application.

9. Your passport may not be valid for up to 150 days after you enter Turkey.  

What do I do if my Turkish e-visa application is rejected? Can I apply again?

It's best to contact the Turkish Embassy or Consulate in your country upon visa rejection. However, may take some weeks or even months to book an appointment with them for a new visa application or renewal. Therefore, it is advisable to apply for a visa in advance before planning your travel.

Now the question is if you can apply again. Yes! You can apply for another visa online after fixing any errors that may have been there in the previous application within 24 hours of rejection. If all the information is correct and there is no other obstructing reason from the above discussed, you could receive your visa in the next three days after applying.

Unfortunately, if you experience rejection once again, we suggest you should visit the embassy or consulate to understand the reason for the rejection. The representative at the embassy may help with your issue and get it solved either promptly or in some time.

This time, be sure that you carry all the important documents to dodge unnecessary back and forth. People who are financially dependent on their partners need to prove their marital status through a marriage certificate. Those who are working may need to provide proof of current employment. If luck is on your side, you may receive your visa on the same day!

Blogs you might also be interested in: Types of Turkish residence permits and Extension Of Turkish Tourist Residence Permit