The Student Visa Interview – Do’s and Don'ts
One question students frequently ask Designated School Officials at U.S. colleges and universities is how to proceed with applying for the F-1 study visa interview at a U.S. Embassy. As International Student Director at Kilgore College, a two year community college offering the core curriculum for the first two years of a Bachelor’s degree, I have had many students write or call me asking for information about what is required for and how to prepare for the interview. The following information was derived from personal discussions with F-1 consular officers and research gathered from various U.S. Embassy Internet sites that I discovered through www.travel.state.gov To prepare for an effective interview, students should first understand the VISA process.
Why is there a Visa requirement?
The U.S., unlike many countries, is an open society without internal controls on most visitors, such as registration with local authorities. To enjoy this privilege of unencumbered travel, aliens have a responsibility to prove they are going to return home before a visa is issued. Immigration law states: “Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status….”
Who makes the final decision to grant or deny an F-1 visa?
The consular officers in the U.S. embassies overseas have the sole responsibility for issuance or refusal of visas. Therefore, it is imperative that students be knowledgeable and well prepared to convince the officer that their stay in the U.S. will be temporary and is for the sole purpose of study.
What is required to be granted an F-1 Visa?
Applicants must demonstrate that:
- The sole purpose of their travel is to pursue a program of study – this requires an I-20 form from the school that has accepted you, transcripts listing courses that prove the completion of 12 yrs. of school, and any score reports required for admittance to the school.
- They have the ability and intention to be a full-time student in the U.S. - you must exhibit appropriate knowledge of the English language to undertake a full course of study, or provide documentation that special arrangements for English language studies have been made by the receiving institution.
- They possess adequate funds to cover all tuition, living and anticipated incidental expenses without taking unauthorized employment – you must provide long-term, detailed bank statements and an employer’s statement of wages, showing your families financial ability to pay for your entire college expense. Working off campus is illegal without special permission from immigration.
- They have sufficiently strong social, economic, and other “ties” to compel their departure from the U.S. upon completion of the projected program of studies – “Ties” are the various aspects of your life that bind you to your country or residence such as your possessions, employment, social and family relationships. Returning home to use your education to run the family business or showing that you are the eldest child responsible for the care of your parents, are examples of cultural and family reasons for returning to your home country.
How can a student prepare for the Visa interview?
- Acquire knowledge of the process. Get free, accurate information from the U.S. embassy web site in your country. It will give you the specifics of what they will require and expect you to know. For example, you must know when to apply. Visas should be applied for no more than 90 days prior to the expected date of arrival at the school as listed on the I-20. You can find helpful information by visiting www.travel.state.gov .
- Be prepared. Take the I-20 form, all school documents, test scores, letters or e-mails from the school you will be attending, evidence of funding, business card if you work, letters of recommendation for your educational plan and any documents that you feel would help you prove intent to return home.
- Answer the questions the officer asks. Avoid prepared speeches. Don't use a prepared script. Know your career plan, why you are going to the U.S., what you plan to study and why you chose the particular college you want to attend, and what you plan to do at home after graduation.
- Tell the truth. If the visa officer thinks you are lying, you won't get a visa. If you don't know an answer, tell the officer you don't know. They are looking for evidence that you have given serious thought to your plans. Do you have an ambition, and is it believable in the context of your country?
What are the major reasons for Students to be denied
an
F-1 Visa ?
- Failure to prove “strong ties” that will compel you to return to your home country
- Lack of supporting documents showing sufficient finances to pay for your education
- Fraudulent documents
Is a Visa denial permanent?
No! Your case can be reconsidered if you can show further convincing evidence of ties to your country. You should contact your embassy for specific reapplication procedures.
You will have to show how circumstances have changed since your original application. Therefore, you should consider these things before the second interview:
- Did I explain my situation accurately?
- Did the consular office overlook something?
- Is there any additional information I can present to establish my residence and strong ties abroad and/or financial status?
Over the past eleven years of working with international students attending Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas, I have heard many stories about the distant, rude visa officer who holds the future of students in their hands.
However, after visiting with several officers who contributed information for this article, I would like for students reading this article to realize a few important details.
- Consular officers must follow U.S. immigration law
- Consular officers must consider all the factors they have at hand to try to make a sound judgment for the best interest of the U.S.
- Due to the large number of applicants, interview time is necessarily short, so it is vital that the student prepare, organize and present the proper documentation carefully and concisely.
- The success or failure of being granted an F-1 visa lies in the student’s ability to convince the officer that he intends to return to his home country and is financially capable of paying for his education.
Students wanting more information about the Embassy web sites or about ESL and academic educational opportunities and/or admissions requirements at Kilgore College should feel free to contact
You can helpful information by visiting www.intstudy.com/script/univ/kilgore.htm
WHAT DOES "STATUS" MEAN ?
F-1 Visa is granted to an individual to come and study in the U.S.
To receive your F-1 visa, you had to prove financial ability to pay for your education and living expenses while you earn a degree.
 "IN STATUS" Means doing what Immigration directs students to do.
- Have a valid passport at all times (You must renew your passport 6 months before it expires)
- Maintain a permanent address out side the U.S.
- Attend the school who issued you the I-20 & whose name is on the Visa
- Enroll in and complete a minimum of 12 semester hours each long semester
- Immediately notify your international student advisor of your new address any time you move
- Pay all financial obligations to the school.
- Follow the rules of the college, city, state and U.S.A.
- Make satisfactory progress toward a degree.
- Work only on campus (if jobs are available) or off campus only with INS approval
"OUT OF STATUS" Means not following INS rules.
- Not attending the college who issued you the I-20 & whose name is on the Visa
- Not completing 12 semester hours any long semester
- An expired passport
- Failure to pay tuition and fees or follow rules & laws of the land
- Failure to make satisfactory progress toward a degree
- Working off-campus without INS approval
AT KILGORE COLLEGE, ANY OF THE ABOVE MEANS YOU CANNOT RETURN TO ATTEND CLASSES AT KC THE FOLLOWING SEMESTER.
To return to KC after semesters’ absence, you would have to leave the country with a new
I-20 marked with “initial attendance” and return to the U.S. with your corrected status.
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