H-1B Visa Interview Questions

This analysis is based on 1,081 real H-1B interview questions reported by applicants. The data shows a clear pattern — H-1B interviews are dominated by employment questions:

This distribution makes H-1B interviews among the most predictable of all US visa types. Unlike B-1/B-2 or F-1 interviews, where questions span travel intent, finances, and family ties, H-1B stamping interviews stay tightly focused on your employment situation.

The reason is straightforward: your H-1B petition has already been approved by USCIS. The consular officer's role is to verify the information on that petition — not to re-adjudicate it. They want to confirm the job is real, the employer is legitimate, and you are who the petition says you are.

Employment questions dominate H-1B interviews, appearing in roughly 70% of all interviews. Officers use these to confirm that the position described in your petition is real and that you actually perform the work described.

Where do you work?

🟢 Asked in ~25% of H-1B interviews

State your employer name and work location clearly. If you work at a client site, mention both your employer and the client location — this is common for consulting roles and the officer expects it. See employer questions for how to handle staffing company situations.

What do you do / What is your role?

🟢 Asked in ~15% of H-1B interviews

Describe your role in 2–3 sentences using plain language. Avoid heavy technical jargon — the officer is not an engineer. "I design and build software systems that process financial transactions" is better than listing programming languages. See job duties questions for role-specific answer strategies.

What is your job title / designation?

🟡 Asked in ~7% of interviews

Your answer must match your petition and LCA exactly. If your LCA says "Software Developer" and you say "Technical Lead," you have created an inconsistency the officer will probe.

How long have you been working there?

🟡 Asked in ~8% of interviews

A straightforward verification question. State the duration clearly. If you recently changed employers (through an H-1B transfer), explain the timeline briefly.

What are your day-to-day responsibilities?

🔵 Asked in ~5% of interviews

This is a deeper probe of your role. Officers ask this when your initial job description was too vague, or when they want to verify the position truly requires a specialty occupation. Walk through a typical week without over-explaining.

Company questions appear in roughly 20% of H-1B interviews, but they are disproportionately common for applicants working at consulting firms, staffing companies, or small/startup employers.

What does your company do?

🟡 Asked in ~10% of interviews

Describe the company in one or two sentences: industry, size, and what it does. "Infosys is an IT consulting company with over 300,000 employees that provides technology services to enterprise clients" is clear and complete. See employer questions for company-specific answer strategies.

Who do you work for / Who is your employer?

🟡 Asked in ~8% of interviews

This question carries extra weight if you work at a client site. Officers want to confirm that the petitioning employer — not the client — controls your work. Name your employer clearly and explain the reporting structure.

Can you show me your LCA?

🔵 Asked in ~5% of interviews

Have a copy of your certified LCA readily accessible. Officers may compare the worksite location and wage level against your verbal answers. Inconsistencies here are a serious concern.

Where is your company's office?

🔵 Asked in ~3% of interviews

Your answer should match the LCA worksite. If you work remotely or at a client location, explain the arrangement clearly.

Background questions appear in roughly 15% of H-1B interviews. While less frequent than employment questions, they are important context questions that help the officer assess your overall situation.

Is this a renewal / Have you been to the US before?

🟡 Asked in ~5% of interviews

If you are renewing, mention your previous visa validity and continuous employment. A clean visa history works strongly in your favor.

What is the purpose of your visit?

🟡 Asked in ~5% of interviews — more common for first-time stamping

This might seem basic, but answer clearly: "I am going to the US to work as a [job title] at [company] on an H-1B visa." Do not over-elaborate.

Where do you live in the US?

🔵 Asked in ~5% of interviews

Your answer should be consistent with the worksite on your LCA. If you recently relocated, explain briefly.

Have you ever been denied a US visa?

🔵 Asked in ~3% of interviews

Be honest. Prior denials are in the system. If you were previously denied, briefly explain what changed — a new employer, different role, or updated qualifications.

Do you have any criminal history?

🔵 Asked in ~3% of interviews

A routine question. Answer honestly and briefly.

When a consular officer interviews an H-1B applicant, they are checking three specific things — all derived from the approved petition and supporting documents.

1. Is this a legitimate specialty occupation?

The H-1B visa requires that the position be a "specialty occupation" — a job that normally requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific field directly related to the work. Officers look for consistency between your stated duties, your qualifications, and the petition's job description. If you describe your job as something that does not clearly require a degree, the officer may question the petition's validity. See job duties questions for how to frame your role.

2. Does a valid employer-employee relationship exist?

Officers verify that the petitioning employer has the right to control your work — including what you do, where, when, and how. This is most heavily scrutinized for consulting and staffing companies where the H-1B worker performs work at client sites. If you work at a client site, be prepared to explain who assigns your tasks, who reviews your performance, and who determines your work schedule. See employer questions for detailed guidance.

3. Is the employer paying the required wage?

Every H-1B petition includes a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) that specifies the prevailing wage for the position. Your actual salary must be at or above this amount. Officers frequently verify this by asking your salary directly. See salary questions for how to answer confidently.

Beyond these three tests, officers also screen for standard admissibility issues — criminal history, prior immigration violations, and security concerns. But for most H-1B applicants, the interview never goes beyond employment verification.

H-1B stamping interviews are short — but a stumbled answer about your salary, job duties, or employer can trigger an administrative processing hold that delays your visa for weeks or months.

Our interview simulator is trained on 1,081 real H-1B officer-asked questions covering every employment, salary, and qualification variation documented here.

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