What to Expect During a Student Visa Interview?
Once you arrive at the consular officer’s window the visa interview begins. For an F-1 student visa, it will usually be in English. The officer will greet you, confirm your name, and will start asking questions such as the following:
- Why do you want to go to the US?
- What will you study?
- Why did you choose that major?
- Why did you choose that school?
- Who will pay for school?
- What will you do after you graduate?
- Have you been to the US before?
- Do you know anyone living in the US?
- Who will you live with in the US?
Tips for Answering Qs for F-1 Student Visa
English or Native Language?
Some student visa interviews can be done in the native language if they are for ESL or if the I-20 shows there will be a period of English study before the degree program starts.
Most student visa interviews, however, are conducted in English because they officer must make sure you can speak and understand enough English to be successful in the program. If you are having trouble understanding the officer, ask them to please repeat or please speak more slowly. Don’t try to guess what they are saying. Don’t rely on memorized phrases.
What will You Do after Graduating?
When asked about what you will do when the program ends, it’s okay to say OPT, but it’s best to follow up by talking about your goals for using your degree back in your home country.
What is Your Goal in Studying in the US?
If you are an independent adult with a full-time job and will be taking a leave of absence to study with the support of your employer (either financial or time off or both), do not tell the officer your goal is to change careers or look for other work. Your ongoing employment is a strong indicator you intend to return to your home country. You weaken that strong tie if you tell the officer you want to change careers.
Tips & Tricks for all visa interviews :
- The officer wants to finish the interview as quickly as possible, either to issue or refuse. Make sure your answers are brief, direct, and give them a reason to issue.
- Only reply to the question that was asked and stay on topic. Don’t waste your limited time with the officer saying things that won’t help you get the visa.
- If the officer has the information they need on a particular topic, they may cut you off. Don’t be offended, they are trying to be efficient.
- Some officers may ask unrelated questions or seem to be just chatting. Be careful because they are always listening and collecting information no matter what you are discussing, including if they switch into your native language.
- Do not lie about anything, even if you think it’s not related to the visa. The officers will be typing while they are interviewing you. Their notes become a permanent record in the system. If you interview for any kind of visa in the future, the next officer will be able to see the notes from your previous interviews.
- Don’t tell an Asian officer that you want a White one, or a woman that you want a man, or a young one that you want someone “experienced”. This will be considered offensive and will make it more difficult for you to convince the officer that you qualify for the visa.
- Don’t be rude or abusive to the consular officer or other staff members you encounter at the consulate. Consulates can and do ban people from entering if they are abusive, offensive, or make threats.
