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USA F1 Visa Interview

Once you have been accepted to an American college or university and received your Form I-20, then it’s the right time to schedule your visa interview with the nearest United States embassy or consulate.

  • This visa interview is the most important part of your visa application. The visa officer may ask you questions related to  your past qualifications, test scores, financial strength, family  background, interests, why you want to study in that country,
  • your interests , your future plans etc to determine that your  intentions are genuine and your only reason to go abroad is to  study and gain a qualification. The visa interview can be between 5 to 20 minutes during which you will need to prove that your
  • intentions are to genuinely study.

While every interviewer is different and there are no set questions the visa officer might ask, we have outlined some commonly asked visa interview questions which will give you some idea:

 

Why have you chosen this specific University?   

What do you know about the University?

- How will studying this course benefit you?

- Which other universities did you apply to?

- What are your career plans after you complete your degree?

- What are your expectations after completing your degree?

- What job or career do u have in mind?

- What is your score in TOEFL or IELTS or GRE? 

- What is your undergraduate Academic GPA/Percentage?

- How many backlogs did u have?

- It appears as if you won’t be coming back!

- What will you do if your visa is rejected?

- Did you ever apply for student visa before?

- Did you apply for any sort of visa before?

- How many members are in your family?

- Who is sponsoring you?

- What is the income of your father/mother? And What do they do?

- Can I have a look at your bank statements?

- Do you know anyone in the country & Are you planning to stay with him/her?

- How do you intend to repay the education expenses you will incur?

- Why should you be given a Student Visa?

- What got you interested in It or business or the specific subject you want to study ?  

- Why don't you do this course in your country (India)?

This interview will make or break your entire process of obtaining a US student visa. 

Proving you have good English skills during the interview is important and would make a good impression. Be honest: Do not give vague answers, don’t memorize a speech and do not make overstatements. The visa officer is looking for students who are honest, well prepared, confident and positive attitude and body language.

The visa officer is looking for students who are honest, well prepared, confident and positive attitude and body language.  Being prepared for the interview day beforehand will reduce the pressure you are likely to feel on that day.

Here are some of the tips to get yourself ready:

Keep all the necessary documents ready in a neat folder. In many cases documents are rarely asked by an interviewer, but it is better to be prepared and have them in case they ask.

The important documents that you may need to carry with you include the following

  • *Your passport copy
  • *Your printed DS-160 confirmation page
  • *Your printed I-901 SEVIS fee confirmation page
  • *Your visa application fee payment receipt
  • *Form I-20 for F-1/M-1 students, or Form DS-2019 for J-1 students (make sure to bring the original form — not a copy!) You will also require other documentation, such as:
  • *Official transcripts from colleges/universities you’ve attended & Diplomas/degrees from high schools/colleges/universities you’ve attended
  • *Standardized test scores (TOEFL / IELTS or GRE / SAT whichever is applicable)
  • *Proof of sufficient funds
  • Bank statements or any other documents you believe will support your application and which give credible evidence that you have enough readily-available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study and that you have access to funds sufficient to cover all expenses while you remain in the United States. M-1 applicants must demonstrate the ability to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of their intended stay.
  • Note: Photocopies of bank statements will not be accepted unless you can also show original copies of bank statements or original bank books. If you are financially sponsored by another person, bring proof of your relationship to the sponsor (such as your birth certificate), the sponsor's most recent original tax forms / payslips and the sponsor's bankbooks and/or fixed deposit certificates.
  • *Evidence of any work experience if any (Appointment letter, payslips and salary statement)

 

Hints for the interview:

  • --Be well-prepared and well-informed about the university, program of study, costs and sum up your educational objectives
  • --Be able to justify his/her choice of studying in the United States and how it will benefit in career prospectus back home in India
  • --Demonstrate strong economic, social and cultural ties in India
  • --Be aware of sponsor’s (preferably parents)income and nature of work
  • --Be well acquainted with own education qualification including university / college credentials in India
  • --Finally, be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds currently available to pay first year tuition fee and living expenses and that funds will be available for additional years until the course of study in completed

 

BEST OF LUCK

Contact us for US admissions, scholarships and student visa guidance

info@uni2go.in