Is this/Will this be your first visit?

[tigerduck]

Hello

When scheduling an appointment on the telephone, can the receptionist/nurse ask either of the two tenses (present simple or will) below to ask whether it is the patient's first appointment?

Is this your first visit?
Will this be your first visit?

 

[much_rice]

Yup, both are correct. Even though the visit hasn't *technically* started yet, the present tense is often used.

An analogous example:
A. I'm flying to Hungary next week.
B. Wow! Is this your first time going to Eastern Europe?

 

[tigerduck]

Thank you very much for your reply, much_rice.

 

[natkretep]

Yes, I think both are fine, but I have a preference for the second option (Will this be ...?).