The F1 VISA interview is the final hurdle you'll have to clear before you are well, and truly, on your way. After all the documents you are required to show at the time of the interview, you have to be prepared for the normal drill that the VISA Officer will take you through.
Every applicant should take care of the following three things:
Bonafide Student:
The officer will ask about your educational background and plans in order to assess how likely you are to enroll and remain in University until graduation. Be prepared to discuss the reasons you chose a particular University, your anticipated major, and your career plans. Bring school mark sheets, college mark sheets, GRE & TOEFL scores and anything else that demonstrates your academic commitment.
Sponsor
Your chances are improved if your parents are sponsoring your education. If somebody is sponsoring you otherthan your parents, you should explain your special relationship with this person, who may be committing tens of thousand of dollars to your education.
Provide solid evidence of your finances. This will assure the Visa Officer that your sponsor has enough funds till the time you complete Graduation. If your sponsor’s income is from several different source (such as salary, contracts or consulting fees, acres of land, rental property, investments) have the sponsor write a letter listing and documenting eachsource of income.
Your ties to the Home Country
Economic Ties: These include your family’s economic position, property you may own and your own economic potential when you come home with a U.S education. The Visa Officer will be impressed to see evidence of your career planning and your knowledge of the local employment scene.
Family & Social Ties: How many close family members live in your home country, compared to those living in the States? What community activities have you participated in that demonstrate a sincere connection to your town or country?
Very often, the interview doesn't even last long enough for the Officer to ask you these few questions. As long as you can maintain your composure and come up with straightforward answers to whatever he asks, you should be fine.
Mentioned below are some of the basic tips, tricks and myths about VISA Interview.
Tips, Tricks and Myths Regarding VISA
- You can/should get all the I-20s of the admits that you've received and then decide which university you want to go. There is nothing wrong and the VISA Officer won't reject you on this basis.
- Book your VISA slot once you've received the I-20 and have confirmed on the final university.
- Do not lie to the VISA Officer as s/he has the basic information about you and your family. Be smart and tackle tricky questions.
- Prepare well if you've low academics, GRE and TOEFL score. Give reasons which sound sensible. Try to justify those reasons and at also show how you made up for the same.
- If you've a year gap post undergrad education and have done absolutely nothing in this period, make sure you've sufficient reasons to tackle their questions.
- Focus on the research work of the university that you're going to join.
- Always ask for reasons if the VISA Officer rejects you.
- A day (preferably 3 weeks) before the intreview, PLEASE check for all the documents required for VISA Interview.
- Some say university tag (which is absolutely true) matters a lot, some leverage on GRE, and some might have other reasons. But the best way to ace the VISA process is be CONFIDENT and SMILE (not giggle) constantly.
