Latest reported interview data
#Applicant-reported research
Interview research snapshot
- Visa group:
- H-1B and Employment Visas
- Release:
- 2026.07.18-us-v1
- Release date:
- July 18, 2026
- Source period:
- 2024-03–2026-07
315+
qualifying h-1b and employment visas interview reports
| Question theme | Reports | Prevalence |
|---|---|---|
| Employment questions | 185+ | 58% |
| Current employment | 130+ | 41% |
| Identity verification | 70+ | 22% |
Applicant-reported findings are observational and are not official government data or a prediction of what any officer will ask.
Common Salary Questions
#These are the top salary and compensation questions in H-1B stamping interviews.
Commonly reported
State your exact annual salary. Do not round, do not approximate, do not give a range. "My annual salary is $135,000" is the correct format. Officers may compare this number against the LCA wage level in your file. If your salary matches or exceeds the prevailing wage, this is typically a single-question exchange with no follow-up.
Commonly reported
Know the prevailing wage amount from your certified LCA. This is the minimum wage the Department of Labor determined for your occupation in your work area. You should know both the annual amount and the wage level (Level 1 through Level 4). If you do not know these numbers, it creates an impression that you are unfamiliar with your own petition.
Commonly reported
If you receive bonuses, stock options, RSUs, signing bonuses, or other compensation, mention them briefly. The prevailing wage comparison is based on your base salary (or base salary plus guaranteed bonuses, depending on how the petition was filed), but additional compensation reinforces that the position is well-compensated and legitimate.
Commonly reported
A simple verification question. State your pay frequency — biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly — and your gross pay per period if you know it. This helps the officer cross-reference with pay stubs if they request them.
LCA Wage Requirements: What You Need to Know
#Every H-1B petition requires a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) from the Department of Labor. The LCA establishes the minimum wage the employer must pay, based on:
- Occupation — The specific job classification (using SOC codes)
- Work location — The metropolitan statistical area where you work
- Wage level — One of four levels reflecting experience and complexity
The four wage levels are:
| Level | Description | Typical Position |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Entry-level | Junior or beginning professional |
| Level 2 | Qualified | Experienced professional with some specialization |
| Level 3 | Experienced | Fully competent professional |
| Level 4 | Fully competent | Expert or senior-level professional |
Your actual salary must be at or above the prevailing wage for your LCA's wage level. If you are paid below the prevailing wage, this is an LCA violation — and one of the few things that can result in a visa denial at a stamping interview even with an approved petition.
What to know before your interview:
- Your exact annual base salary
- The prevailing wage amount from your LCA
- Your wage level (1–4)
- The worksite location on your LCA
Have a copy of your certified LCA accessible during the interview. Officers may request it to verify the numbers you provide verbally.
How to Answer Salary Questions Confidently
#Salary questions are the easiest H-1B questions to prepare for — and the easiest to stumble on if you have not reviewed your numbers.
Be exact. "My annual salary is $142,000" is better than "about $140K." Officers may compare your answer to the LCA filed wage, and a mismatch — even a minor one — creates unnecessary concern.
Know your LCA wage.
If the officer asks about the prevailing wage, state it directly: "The prevailing wage on my LCA is $128,000 at Level 2 for the San Jose-Sunnyvale metro area." This level of specificity signals that you understand your petition and the legal framework.
Do not volunteer salary history.
Answer only what is asked. If the officer asks your current salary, give your current salary. Do not explain your salary progression, previous raises, or what you earned at a prior employer — unless specifically asked.
If your salary is close to the prevailing wage minimum, do not be nervous. Meeting the prevailing wage is full compliance. You do not need to be significantly above it. However, be prepared for the officer to verify the exact numbers more carefully in these cases.
Mention pay stubs only if asked.
Bring recent pay stubs to the interview, but do not proactively offer them unless the officer requests documentation. If asked, hand them over immediately — fumbling for documents suggests lack of preparation.
What If Your Salary Changed Since the LCA Was Filed?
#Salary changes between LCA filing and the interview are common and usually not a problem — as long as the change goes in the right direction.
Salary increased since the LCA was filed:
This is straightforward. You are still compliant because you are being paid above the prevailing wage. State your current salary confidently. If the officer notes the difference from the LCA, briefly explain: "I received a raise in January. My salary went from $130,000 to $145,000. The prevailing wage on the LCA is $125,000, so I am above the requirement."
Salary decreased since the LCA was filed:
This is more concerning. If your current salary is still at or above the prevailing wage, explain the situation clearly and emphasize compliance. If your salary dropped below the prevailing wage, this is a compliance issue that your employer should have addressed by filing an amended LCA. Consult your immigration attorney before the interview in this situation.
You changed roles or got promoted:
If your title or duties changed significantly, your employer may need to file an amended petition. Minor title changes within the same occupation (e.g., "Software Engineer" to "Senior Software Engineer" doing the same work) are generally not an issue. Significant role changes (e.g., moving from engineering to management) may require a new petition.
You transferred to a new employer:
If you changed employers through an H-1B transfer, your new employer should have filed a new LCA with the correct wage. Know the salary and prevailing wage for your current petition, not your previous one.
Example Answers
#Strong answer: "My annual base salary is $155,000."
Clean, direct, and exact. No hesitation. This is a 3-second answer that resolves the officer's question completely.
Weak answer: "Umm, I think it's around $150K or something. I'd have to check." — Not knowing your own salary is a significant red flag. It suggests you may not actually hold the position described in the petition.
"What is the prevailing wage for your position?"
Strong answer: "The prevailing wage on my LCA is $138,000 per year. It is filed at Level 2 for the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area. My salary of $155,000 is above the prevailing wage."
Weak answer: "I'm not sure what the prevailing wage is. My company handled the paperwork." — While it is true that your employer files the LCA, not knowing the wage details signals you are disconnected from your own petition. Officers may question whether the employment relationship is genuine.
"Do you receive any other compensation?"
Strong answer: "In addition to my base salary, I receive an annual performance bonus that has typically been around $15,000 to $20,000, and I have a stock grant of approximately $40,000 vesting over four years."
Weak answer: "Yeah, I get some stocks and stuff." — Vague compensation knowledge does not harm you as much as vague salary knowledge, but specificity always helps your credibility.
Practice Your Salary Answers
#Salary is the most predictable H-1B interview question — and one of the easiest to prepare for. But under interview pressure, even simple questions can cause hesitation if you have not practiced.
Our interview simulator is trained on 1,081 real H-1B officer-asked questions, including salary, prevailing wage, and compensation variations.
Practice until your salary details come out automatically and confidently.