Preparing for the F1 visa Interview

After getting accepted into a college, one of the major hurdles that any international student has to overcome is the Visa interview. Visa interview can be very intimidating for many people given the fact that so few people get accepted. However, as daunting as it may seem, Visa interview is a relatively simple process.

Visa application procedure: (For students from India, for other international students, procedure might slightly vary)

§ Prior to confirming a visa interview appointment online, you need to pay the following fees and obtain a Visa Fee Receipt from HDFC Bank.
§ After you have paid the fees wait for 2-3 days (compulsory) before scheduling interview.
§ Visit https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml to pay the SEVIS Fee.
§ Now go to www.vfs-usa.co.in
§ Click on "Apply for Non-Immigrant Visa" link. Click on "Continue" Question will be asked, "Do you have BEP User Id", and if you have it click YES. Most of us don't have it so click "NO" Click "Create a new application" link and fill up the relevant details.
§ You will now asked to fill up the visa application forms (DS-156,157,158) VFS office by taking a print out. Fill the forms and schedule an interview date. Please Note: You will be required to enter SEVIS details before scheduling.

What happens in the consulate before the interview?

Step 1: You stand in the "Q" outside the visa consulate until they call out for your time slot.

Step 2: When your time slot turn comes, they will check the passport and appointment letter and let you in.

Step 3: You will pass through a metal detector and there is you will be frisked. (Ladies by ladies and gents by gents). Your files and folders will be checked for metallic objects and storage devices.

Step 4: You will be asked to wait for a while and then they will put you in 'Q's where your I20, DS156,DS157, DS158 and passport will be put in a folder and be given back to you.

Step 5: There is again a wait involved after which you will be asked to do the finger printing. (Left index finger and right index finger)

Step 6: After some more waiting, you will be finally asked to come to the VO.


What types of questions are asked in the visa interview?

There are really only very few variants of questions being asked at the Visa interview:

• Why do you want to go to United States?
  (Flexibility in curriculum, diversity of student body, international recognition an reputation)
  
• Which college are you applying to?
  
• Why this college?
  (Rankings, Faculty, innovative programs)
  
• Do you have any backlogs?
  
• How do you plan to finance your education?
  
• What are you planning to do after completion?
  
• Why would you come back?
  (Family ties, Properties, Business)
  
  

What are the documents needed for the visa interview?

Mandatory:

• Passport
• One color photo with white background ( 50mmX50mm)
• Visa application forms DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158
• I-20 form from the university you wish to attend
• SEVIS fee payment receipt.
• Visa application fee payment receipts
• Visa interview appointment letter
  

Supporting documents:

Education related:

• GMAT score report
• TOEFL score report
• College degree certificate and mark sheet
• High school certificates and mark sheets
  

College related:

• College acceptance letter
• College rankings
• College faculty profile
• Correspondence with faculty.
  

Finance related:

• Original tax returns for the past three years.
• Original bank statements for the past three years.
• Scholarship letter (if any)
• Loan sanction letter (if any)
• Liquid assets
  § Fixed Deposit
  § LIC policies
  § Mutual Funds
  § Shares Bonds
  § PF / GPF
  § Proof of rental income if any
  
• Property Documents
  § Residential
  § Commercial
  § Ancestral
  § Farm Land
  
• Affidavit of support from Parent

General tips for the Visa interview:

• Organize your papers neatly in a small binder separated with sections like College related, Transcripts, finance related, work related etc., this will help you retrieve documents faster when the VO asks
• Smile and greet the Visa officer. Create a positive first impression.
• Three things you should keep in mind during the interview: Confidence, preparation, truthfulness.
• Not getting the visa is not the end of the world. Be indifferent to the result. (It can help calm you). It also helps if you don't pay attention to Visa applicants appearing before you. If they get rejected, your confidence level goes down so don't pay attention.