与北京使馆领事官员的谈话 –

每每有时间， 我们都会有机会和我们其中的一位领事官员坐下来聊聊他们的工作。 这是一个了解面谈窗口另一面的很好的一个机会。 现在就让我们听听今天领事官员的谈话…

作为一位领事官员,你认为在日常工作中最有成就感/或最精彩的东西是什么？

有机会可以每天和很多有意思的人交谈！同样我也很感谢有机会可以从申请人身上学到许多有关中国的情况。他们代表着一个非常吸引人的群体－有学生，船员，退休人员，商人，蜜月中的年轻人，农民，政府官员等等　－　他们是这个伟大国家的活力和精神的体现。我想我欣赏的是与我们最年轻的申请人和最年长的申请人交谈。　许多年轻的申请人准备赴美留学或者去参加夏令营活动，很开心看到他们激动，主动并全神贯注地申请签证。　同样，我也很喜欢面谈那些年纪稍长的申请人，他们中很多人都是探亲访友或者旅游度假。

当你在做面谈的时候,什么是使你感到最具挑战性/（或者让你感到特别失望）？

当一个申请人只是演习背诵准备好的答案时, 这是很难确定其访美意图的。有的时候我只能直接让这个申请人停止背诵准备好的答案，让他试着自然地回答问题。他们通常都是学生。 我能理解他们的想法和动机 – 一些申请人很紧张，或者是英语不够流畅， 所以他们准备了他们认为是签证官员想听的回答。 可是，这样做的结果不但不能帮助他们的申请，反而影响了他们的申请。 我们在评估一个学生的申请时是要考虑诸多因素的。比如， 他是不是一个真正的学生？ 任何的人都可以事先记住一个面谈脚本。 我建议前来申请签证的申请人，要自然的回答签证官的问题，以表示自己是一个真正的赴美学习的学生，并且在面谈中真实地表述自己个人的实际情况。

如果请你给潜在的赴美申请人一句建议的话，那是什么呢？
做你自己，要诚实，不要只是说你认为我们想听到的东西。我们每一个官员面谈过成千上万的申请人，所有的信息我们都听到过！那些表现突出的，与别人不尽相同的申请人才是最真实的。请不要使用虚假材料。　贩卖材料的贩子们会把同样的材料卖给其他的申请人，我们以前已经看到过这种材料。所以，请做真实的你自己！

Conversation with an Embassy Beijing Consular Officer

Every once in a while, we get the chance to sit down with one of our consular officers and chat with them about their work. This is a great opportunity to get some insight into what it’s like on the other side of the interview window! Let’s listen in on today’s conversation…

What do you find most rewarding/or a highlight regarding your daily work as a consular officer?

Having the opportunity to talk to so many interesting people every day!  I also appreciated the chance to learn so much about China through our visa applicants.  They represent such a fascinating mix of people – students, sailors, retirees, businesspeople, young honeymooners, farmers, government officials and the like – and they embody the dynamism and spirit of this great country.  I think I most enjoyed talking to our youngest and oldest applicants.  Many of our young applicants are applying to attend school or summer camp.  It is wonderful to see their excitement, positivity and focus.  I also liked interviewing the older applicants, many of whom are going for family visits or tourism.

What do you find most challenging (or frustrating) when interviewing on the line?

It can be difficult to ascertain the intent of an applicant who only gives rehearsed answers.  Sometimes I would directly ask an applicant to stop reciting a rehearsed speech and to instead try to answer questions naturally.  They are usually students.  I understand the motivation – some applicants are nervous, or their English isn’t very good, and they have prepared a speech that they think the visa officer wants to hear.  However, this ends up hurting rather than helping their case.  We examine a variety of factors when evaluating student applicants, including, is this a real student?  Anyone can memorize a script.  I would suggest to future applicants, answer naturally so you can show that you are a real student, and in general can speak authentically to your actual situation.

If you could give potential applicants one word of advice, what would it be?

Be yourself, be honest, and don’t just say what you think we want to hear.  Each of us has interviewed thousands and thousands of applicants and we have heard  it all!  The applicants that stand out are the ones who are genuine.  And don’t use fake documents.  The document vendors have likely sold the same fake documents to other applicants, so we’ve seen them before.  Just be yourself!