A Conversation Between a Visa Officer and an Applicant - IELTS Listening Sample Answer

The IELTS Listening section comprises four sections with a total of 40 questions. The candidates need to properly listen to the IELTS Listening audio then proceed with the 10 questions. These audio recordings will be in the form of monologues or conversations between two or more people. This topic is section One of IELTS listening and contains the following question types:

• Complete the notes
• Choose the correct answer

Audio Transcript

V = Visa officer; A = Applicant

V: Good morning, visa office. How can I help you?

A: Good morning. I’d like to apply for a visa to Australia , please.

V: Certainly, sir. I’ll just get a form and then I’ll need to take some details down. OK. Here we go. Right, can I have your name, please?

A: Yes, it’s Okamura . Kelly Okamura.

V: And how do you spell that, please?

A: K, E, double L.„

V: No, your family name, please.

A: Oh, sorry. It’s O-K-A-M-U-R-A.

V: O-K-A-M-U-R-A. And your address?

A: Apartment 106 Kingston. Kingstone Street. Hawaii.

V: Kingstone Street. Hawaii?

A: Yes, that’s correct.

V: So you’re an American ?

A: Actually, I was born in Japan, but moved to Hawaii six years ago.

V: And can I have your age please, Mr. Okamura?

A: I’m 32.

V: And are you married?

A: Yes. I am. My wife’s Chinese .

V: And will your wife accompany you to Australia?

A: Yes, she will. In fact that’s the reason we want, to go. Her sister lives in Sydney.

V: Do you have any relatives living in Australia?

A: I used to have an uncle, but he died several years ago. Now there’s only my sister-in-law and my wife’s cousin.

V: So the purpose of your trip is to visit your wife’s relatives . Am I correct?

A: Well, not exactly. Mainly because I have my own trading company and I will be looking for business opportunities. Although I do want to do some traveling as well. You know, see some of the sights, that sort of thing. Although 1 don’t intend to work in Australia.

V: And your wife? What will she be doing?

A: She’ll be studying English. She wants a student visa .

V: And how long do you plan to stay?

A: About one year, I guess.

V: Well, I’m afraid a standard tourist visa is only valid for 30 days , although in your case we can issue you with a business visa. Business visas last for six months. But you will be able to renew it. We can give your wife a twelve-month visa though.

A: Six months is OK. So what do I need to do now?

V: Come along to the office any time during weekdays. But it must be office hours. We close at 5:30. And bring along two passport size photos and your passport of course. Your wife will also need two photos. So that’s four passport size photos in total.

A: OK. Thank you for your help. Bye.

V: Bye.

Questions 1-5

Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
The applicant wants to apply for a visa to Australia (Example)

VISA APPLICATION FORM

Question 1.

Answer: Okamura

Explanation: The visa officer needs the applicant’s family name to fill in the form. ‘Family name’ in the transcript means ‘last name’ on the form. Then the applicant spells his family name clearly, it is O-K-A-M-U-R-A. So the answer would be ‘Okamura’.

Also, check:

Question 2.

Answer: Kingstone Street

Explanation: Here we need to fill in the middle address of the applicant. In the conversation, we can hear the applicant mentioning his full address which is ‘Apartment 106 Kingston. Kingstone Street. Hawaii”. So the answer is ‘Kingstone Street’.

Question 3.

Answer: Japanese

Explanation: The applicant states that “I was born in Japan, but moved to Hawaii six years ago”. This means that Japan is the place he was born and grew. The form asks for nationality, hence Japanese is the correct answer.

Question 4.

Answer: 32

Explanation: The Visa officer asks for the applicant’s age, he responds “I’m 32.” So the answer is 32.

Question 5.

Answer: Married

Explanation: The officer now wants to know if the applicant’s marital status. The applicant said ‘Yes. I am. My wife’s Chinese’. So the answer is ‘Married’.

Questions 6-8

Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C, and write answers next to 6-8 on your answer sheet.

6.  According to the applicant, who lives in Australia?

1. His cousin.
2. His uncle.
3. His sister-in-law.

Answer: C

Explanation: The applicant mentioned that “I used to have an uncle, but he died several years ago. Now there’s only my sister-in-law and my wife’s cousin.” This means that his sister-in-law is a relative that lives in Australia.

7. The applicant wants to visit Australia because he wants to

1. do some traveling.
2. develop his business.
3. work.

Answer: B

Explanation: The officer asks about the purpose of traveling to Australia. The applicant mentioned “Mainly because I have my own trading company and I will be looking for business opportunities.” So the correct answer must be B.

8. The applicant can have a visa for

1. 6 months.
2. 12 months.
3. 30 days.

Answer: A

Explanation: The visa officer informed the applicant that “although in your case we can issue you with a business visa. Business visas last for six months.” So the answer here is A.

Questions 9-10

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

9. The applicant must go to the visa office between _________________ and _____________________.
10. What two things must the applicant take to the visa office? _______________ and ___________________.

Question 9.

Answer: Monday; (and) Friday

Explanation: The officer mentions that “Come along to the office any time during weekdays.” Weekdays mean from Monday to Friday, so it could be any day from Monday to Friday.

Question 10.

Answer: photos; (and) passport

Explanation: The officer told the applicant to bring “two passport size photos” and “passport”. As we can only give the answer in no more than three words then the answer should be written shortly as “photos and passport”.