Visa Interviews at the Australian Embassy

I think this is what scares visa applicants most of all. At Down Under Visa we get quite a few questions and concerns about this, even after the visa grant is received they will email and ask "So, when do I have to go to the Embassy?" The idea of a scared Filipina having to head to the Australian Embassy in Manila to be grilled by a Case Officer causes many a sleepless night. But are visa interviews mandatory? And if so, do you have anything to worry about? ## Will the Australian Embassy interview the visa applicant? The requirement remains as a possibility, but no it doesn't happen each and every time like it used to. In years gone by when visa applicants meant standing in a long queue ("falling in line", as the Filipinos call it) with a folder full of papers, and waiting for your interview. Ancient history, fortunately. No more queues stretching around the block. Electronic lodgments these days, and interviews are rare. Tourist visas: I've never once had an applicant for an Australian tourist visa have to attend an interview at the Embassy. Yes, on occasions, the Case Officer will call the applicant on the phone to clarify something. Of course it's possible to have a face-to-face interview, but for us it would the first amongst many thousands. Partner visas: Again, not mandatory. But yes, they do still happen on occasion. I think our last was a few years back now, so maybe 0.2% of applications through Down Under Visa. ## Why are visa applicants interviewed? The Embassy interview visa applicants if they have unanswered questions. Their job is to ensure that the visa applicant meets the criteria set for that visa subclass in the Migration Regulations. We as your Migration Agents do our very best to show that you do meet those criteria in the clearest way possible. What's the lesson in this? If you don't want to be interviewed, then please follow Down Under Visa's instructions and don't hold back with the information and the evidence! Present the strongest and clearest case that you possibly can. ## What is the case officer looking for? Lies and inconsistencies! If they find something shaky, strange and doubtful in your case, they will try to get to the truth. That means they will ask the same question in several different ways and see if the story changes. They're not mean, nor do they wish to give you a hard time. They have a job to do and that is to guard Australia's borders from people who shouldn't get in. Mila and I were interviewed in Hong Kong. This was back in the come-in-with-paperwork days. We had no problem at all. Why? Because we knew each other inside and out, and that made it easy. If your love for each other is genuine…..and if you know everything there is to know about each other….. then you too will breeze through.