VISA Interview

Passing all of the documents that are required for an F1 visa may all lead up to an interview or two by the U.S. Embassy or educational institution in question. The chance to meet you in person will help them determine whether you are fit for travel and live inside the United States, as the F1 visa will enable you to pursue or to continue your studies inside an educational institution situated in the United States of America.

While different universities, colleges, and other educational institutions may have varying standards and requirements for application, an F1 visa typically has a set list of requirements an applicant must meet before even being considered for one. Complete documentation as well as an interview is required for all applicants, so be prepared to speak and look your best when the time of the interview comes along.

F1 Visa Application Process

While you may have your mind on the interview, the application process for an F1 visa entails so much more than that. Filling out all the necessary documents, visiting your local U.S. Embassy, making calls to your educational institution in the United States, as well as arranging travel plans with your agent, friends and family all lead up into a tedious and long application process.

Every college, university or whatever educational institution you may be planning on attending in the United States may all have varying standards and requirements for potential international applicants, so making sure you meet the establishment’s criteria for enrollment should be a first priority. Most colleges and universities should list their requirements on their websites but if they do not, give them a call or send them an e-mail.

When you complete your requirements, the institution may call you for an interview, followed by the issuance of an I-20 form. This I-20 form is required for all international students of any educational institution; this form provides information for a Student Visa needed by many United States Government offices.

Going to your nearest U.S. Embassy should be next on your to-do list. U.S. Embassy offices are present in many nations around the world, as are embassies of other nations, so finding one should simply be a matter of doing a simple internet search or looking it up on your local yellow pages. Interviewing someone who has gone to one before can also be an option to consider.

You’re not at your F1 visa interview yet; at the U.S. Embassy, you may have to submit a few more things first, such as a valid passport, additional photos, and documents like the DS-156, DS-157, and the I-20 form. Some of these forms are free of charge, while others may have fees which are, more often than not, non-refundable, meaning they will not pay the fees back whether you get rejected or not.

Sometimes, the U.S. Embassy will require that an applicant has noticeable ties to people already living in the United States, such as family members or friends. Proof in the form of immediate family, as well as ownership of any property or letters from future employers can also help you get approved for the F1 visa interview. Proof of any assets you own, such as written contracts for a house, car or other forms of property may also be good for this purpose.

Once you have all of your requirements in order, you may be called for your interview. Shape up and prepare, as many of the questions may be about everything from your plans for and after your education, matters of your criminal record and even national security depending on the person interviewing you.

The Visa Interview

This part of the F1 visa application process may very well be one of the most tedious; one can easily get nervous and end up saying something he or she might not mean, putting more risk on the chance to study abroad. Simply relax, take a deep breath, and be prepared to answer any question the interviewer may ask; not all of them will be overly personal or concern anything extremely sensitive.

Some of the questions the interviewer may ask you may be very basic, and can relate to an F1 visa very well: Questions like why you intend to study abroad, and whether it is wholly necessary to in the first place may come up. Truthfully answering these questions can mean the difference between getting your F1 visa or getting rejected, and may reflect upon yourself later.

Part of the interview may also involve getting to know the university, college, or other educational institution you are choosing to attend in the United States. Why did you choose this college or university? What makes it special? They may also ask you why you chose to study the field you have chosen in order to assess your potential and growth while you are in the United States.

The interview may also include questions about your stay in the United States in general. Questions about your family, their immigration status, as well as your ability to sustain yourself can all be part of the questions that are included in an interview, so hearing a question about who will be paying for your sustenance and education while in the United States are to be expected. Other, more personal questions such as about a previous criminal record can also be asked while taking your F1 visa interview.