During the visa appointment you are required to submit your application package. At this point the immigration officer will look through your paperwork to make sure that you have all of the appropriate documentation and that you meet all of the documentation requirements laid out by the Department of State. Here is also where the officer will collect your passport and keep it during visa processing. To avoid going back to the embassy/consulate to pick it up, make sure that you have provided a prepaid return envelope for your passport to the officer.
The immigration officer will conduct the visa appointment as an interview. Make sure not to make any sarcastic remarks, jokes that if taken seriously can lead to be a national security issue, or false statements. Any of these can lead to a denial of your visa. Even if the question seems irrelevant, or the answer seems obvious, clearly answer the question because it is important for the officer to know the correct answers to the questions he is asking.
The officer at this time will begin to figure out your intent for coming to the United States. If you are applying as a non-immigrant, he will be talking to you about your ties in your home country or current country of residence. The officer is looking to make sure that these ties to your home country are enough to bring you back home, and in effect leave the United States, after your visa expires.
During this time the immigration officer will review any supplemental paperwork that you have that verifies these ties. This can include documentation that verifies ownership of a business, franchise, home and investments.
At the end of the visa appointment, the immigration officer will stamp your visa and hand it back to you if the visa has been rejected. If the visa still needs processing (verification) or if it has been approved, then the immigration officer will keep the visa. Normally the visa will have be processed and placed within the passport in about two to three days.
