1. Interview rules differ by programme
There is no single global CBI interview standard. Dominica currently requires applicants aged 16 and over to attend a mandatory interview and says it is generally conducted virtually. Antigua and Barbuda states that an interview may be requested. Other programmes use mandatory interviews for main applicants, selected dependants or higher-risk cases. Check the current rule for every family member before filing.
2. Expect questions about your own application
An interviewer may ask about employment, companies, investments, previous residences, family members, the source of the qualifying funds or why a particular programme was chosen. The safest preparation is to know the facts already declared. An applicant who cannot explain a company they own or the origin of a large transfer can create a concern even if the paperwork looks complete.
3. Identity checks matter as much as conversation
Virtual interviews may require the applicant to show a passport, join from a private location or follow security instructions from the authorised interviewer. The interview is part of identity assurance as well as due diligence. Do not let an adviser answer on your behalf, prompt you off camera or substitute another person; official programmes can prohibit agent participation in the interview itself.
4. Difficult history should not be memorised away
A previous visa refusal, lawsuit, politically exposed role or complicated business transaction may lead to questions. Rehearsing a polished answer is less useful than reviewing the underlying documents and chronology. If the application disclosed the issue accurately, the interview should reinforce that account rather than introduce a new version of events.
5. Language arrangements can be available
Some programmes permit interviews in the applicant's native language or another selected language. That can reduce misunderstanding, but it does not reduce the need for accurate answers. If translation or language selection is offered, arrange it through the official process instead of relying on an unauthorised person in the room.
6. A short interview can still be important
Duration is not a reliable indicator of how well the case is progressing. Some applicants may be asked only to confirm basic facts, while others face detailed follow-up. The interviewer may also be one part of a wider review that includes databases, local enquiries, financial records and third-party due-diligence reports.
7. Practical preparation is mostly administrative
Before the appointment, reread the submitted forms, check dates of residence and employment, understand the ownership of companies listed in the file and have the identification or supporting documents requested in the invitation. Use a reliable connection and a quiet location. Do not invent precision when you genuinely do not remember a minor date; distinguish memory from documented fact.
8. The interview does not replace documentary proof
A convincing conversation cannot cure missing source-of-funds evidence or an undisclosed criminal matter. Likewise, awkward delivery does not automatically mean refusal. The interview should be viewed as one evidence channel within a broader integrity assessment, not as a stand-alone exam with a secret set of correct answers.
9. Prepare from the submitted file, not from a script
The most useful interview preparation is a clean copy of the application and the evidence behind it. Review the dates of residence, employment, company ownership, major wealth events, visa history and family relationships so you can explain them naturally. If an adviser has completed forms on your behalf, make sure you understand every material statement before the interview; signing a form does not shift responsibility for its contents. Do not memorise model answers or try to guess what the interviewer wants to hear. A straightforward explanation that matches the documentary record is stronger than polished language that introduces facts not found anywhere in the file.
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