Getting an F1 visa is an important step in making your dream to study in USA universities a reality. And often, the part that most students are nervous about is the F1 visa interview.
Preparing for the F1 interview involves getting your documents ready and practicing for questions you might have to answer. This appointment assesses your suitability as an international student candidate for the USA, the validity of your documents, and your genuine intention to study abroad.
Let’s break down the steps you need to follow to get the F1 student visa and ace the interview.
How to Apply for an F1 Visa
The F1 visa is the student visa that authorizes you to study in USA universities. The F1 student status is an important one for you to maintain to continue staying in the USA for the duration of your program (and beyond, if you are doing post-completion OPT).
The F1 is a non-immigrant visa students receive upon acceptance into SEVP-certified US schools. These are universities with government authorization to host and instruct international students.
You can get the visa up to 365 days before your plans of travel. For the visa application, you must:
Receive an I-20
The first step is to get a Form I-20 from the university you plan to study in. The university first sends you a letter of acceptance, followed by scholarships and other instructions waiting for your reply. After you accept the program offer, you will receive the Form I-20 that you need for your visa application. The Form I-20 is one of the most important documents you will hold during your time as an international student.
Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee
After getting the I-20, the next step is to pay your SEVIS I-901 fee. To make this payment through the official website, you will need the following information:
• Personal details, including name, date of birth, and contact details
• Country of origin
• School code (as per your Form I-20)
• SEVIS Identification Number (as per the Form I-20)
Fill Up the DS-160 Form
The DS-160 Form is the start of any visa application process for the USA. You need to enter all of your important information in this online form, including the specifics of your purpose of travel, address of stay, etc. Through this form, students validate to US authorities that they received and accepted offers to study in US universities by meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.
Schedule the Visa Interview
After filling up the DS-160 Form, the only thing left to do is to schedule an interview at the US consulate or embassy in your country. You will need to pay a visa application fee of USD 185 to book the interview. The interview wait time can vary from a few weeks to months, so it is important to schedule the interview as early as possible.
Documents for Your F1 Visa Interview
Your F1 visa interview is going to be more intensive than a regular travel visa interview. You will need to carry certain documents with you on the day of the appointment. The confirmation mail you receive after scheduling the interview will contain instructions about what items you need to bring with you. These include your:
● Passport
● Form I-20
● Printout of the DS-160 confirmation page
● Interview appointment letter
● Visa application fee payment receipt
● SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
● Copies of recent passport photos
Additional Documents:
● Acceptance letter from your university
● Proof of financial solvency
● Academic transcripts
● Proof of relationship with sponsor
● Proof of plans of stay or travel (flight tickets, bookings of stay etc.)
● Any documents that support your willingness and ability to return to your country after completing your degree
Remember that you must carry hard copies of these documents to your interview. You cannot take any electronic devices into the session, including your phone. As you also cannot carry a bag into your appointment, you will need to place your documents in a file that security can easily check.
How to Prepare for Your Interview
Taking the time to prepare for your interview gives you the best shot at clearing it successfully. This includes both prepping for the kinds of questions you might have to answer, but also making sure you are punctual and presentable. Preparing ahead of time not only improves your chances of having a great interview but can also ease your nerves and build your confidence since you know you are ready for it.
Dress Properly
You don’t have to go overboard with your dressing for the F1 visa interview. Generally, it’s best to dress in formal attire, but there’s no need to go over the top. You don’t have to dress for a red-carpet event, but you also shouldn’t show up in a T-shirt and flip-flops. Try to look smart and put-together during the interview as you would for any other formal interview.
Be On Time
Punctuality is very important for your interview. Arrive with plenty of time on hand to account for clearing security procedures, and other unforeseen circ*mstances, like getting caught up in traffic. Being late to the interview not only makes a bad impression, but you could also miss your slot. Visa officers have multiple appointments a day and can’t fit you in if you eat into your time.
Practicing Your English
Your interview will take place in English, and one of the things visa officers may look out for is your proficiency in the language. Proof of your English ability is a staple requirement in applications to study in USA universities. Your ability to communicate clearly and confidently in English indicates your likelihood to succeed in a higher education program. Practice speaking clearly, fluently, and calmly as you prepare your interview answers.
Speak Naturally
While you should practice for the F1 interview, beware of memorizing your answers. If you come off as too robotic during the interview or repeat answers from memory, you might leave a bad impression. Instead, use the practice to build up your confidence in your ability to communicate the ideas you want to discuss. Remember, the visa officers want to assess your authenticity as a prospective international student with the genuine intention to study in the USA. Parroting sentences you memorized might be a red flag that sets your visa back.
Interview Questions for the F1 Student Visa
Let’s get to the main focus of the interview, the questions. Before the interview, you will have to go through a series of security checks and show your appointment confirmation. Once you enter the interview area, you will need to submit your photographs and passport for scanning. You will also need to scan your fingerprints. The final stage of the entire process will be the interview with a US visa officer. The main things the interview will focus on for your F1 visa are:
Immigration Intent
Not being able to prove your immigration intent is the most common reason behind F1 visa rejections. Note that the F1 student visa is a ‘Non-Immigrant Visa’. The rules state that you can’t go to the US more than 30 days prior to your classes and can’t stay for more than 60 days after completion of your program. Despite this, many international students plan to immigrate permanently to the USA.
The visa officer will ask you some questions to assess your intentions regarding immigration. You will need to tell the officer what you intend to do after graduation. Here, you should refrain from mentioning post-graduation immigration plans. If visa officers sense that your motivations have more to do with work or migration than studies, they might suspect that your intention to study in USA universities is not genuine.
You will need to explain your ties to your home country, e.g., family, assets, property, and/or future jobs lined up back home. Common questions you may need to answer are:
● What are your plans after you complete your study in the USA?
Share plans not involving immigration to the USA.
● Do you plan to return to your home country after you finish your studies?
Always say yes.
● What are your career plans after your education in the USA?
Discuss career plans involving job prospects and opportunities in your home country.
● Do you have family in your home country? Tell me about your family.
Be honest about your family members and explain your ties with them.
Your Program and University
The visa officer will ask questions to gauge your intentions to complete your university program. One of the ways they assess this genuine intention is by testing the depth of your knowledge about what you’re studying, where, and why. Questions will involve asking you about your reasons for choosing the university and program, your reasons for choosing the USA, and your plans after study.
Your responses should be natural and you should explain clearly your reasons for pursuing options to study in USA universities.
● What is your reason behind choosing to study in the USA?
Your reasons could include the quality of education here, the diverse list of university courses to choose your ideal program from, options to get hands-on work experience, the opportunity to study under leading experts, etc.
● Why did you not continue to study in your home country?
Explain why studying in the USA is the better option for your program – e.g., unavailability of programs you want to study at home, outdated curricula, lack of experiential learning options, etc.
● Which university/program will you be studying? Tell me about it.
Describe your program and university and answer conversationally. Don’t memorize facts, but speak naturally about the key highlights of the program, like your major and any minors, the program duration, standouts in the program structure, etc.
● Why did you choose this university/program?
Describe your personal motivations and goals that tie to this program, e.g., your interest in the subject, future career plans involving the degree, etc.
● What other universities did you apply to?
If there are any other universities you applied to, mention these
● Which universities sent you an acceptance? Why choose this university over them?
Mention the reasons that drove your reason, e.g., scholarships, faculty, experiential learning options, etc.
Finances
Proof of your financial ability to support your studies is one of the key criteria you need to fulfil to study in USA universities. The immigration office will already have financial data about you prior to the interview. On top of this, they may ask for supporting documents as proof of finances during the interview.
The questions assess whether you can afford to study in the USA for the entire duration of your program. Your financial ability to support your studies indicates your genuine intention as a student who intends to complete their program, instead of, for example, using the F1 visa to seek unauthorized work.
● How much is the cost of your study in the USA?
Describe the tuition fees for your program and the cost-of-living expenses you estimate for your time as an international student.
● Who will pay for your education and stay in the USA?
Describe the source of your funding, e.g., from parents or relatives in your home country, scholarships, etc.
● What do your parents do for a living?
Be honest and clear about their profession and their yearly incomes. You might need to describe other assets and income streams they have access to.
● Do you have any scholarships? How will you pay for the rest of the tuition?
Discuss any scholarships you received and explain your sources of funding to cover your tuition. Do not mention payments from part-time jobs as a valid source of funding.
Employment
The F1 student visa allows you to study at your university and take on-campus jobs like teacher assistantships and research assistantships. You cannot take off-campus jobs while on this visa unless this is an explicit requirement for your degree.
If you have any dependents (spouse or children) traveling with you, they also cannot take on employment in the USA. Visa officers strictly assess the intention of interviewees to work in the USA during their stay, since this might be an indication that they have non-genuine intentions as students.
● Do you plan to work alongside your study in the US?
Mention on-campus jobs only and mandatory work experience that is part of your degree only.
● Who will pay for your spouse/children during their stay in the USA?
Tell them about your sponsor in your home country or your savings that you are using for your time abroad. You will not be able to earn a living for yourself or your family in the USA as a student.
● How do you plan to pay for your living expenses in the USA?
Describe your funding options, be it your own savings or funds from a sponsor. Part-time jobs are not a valid answer here and can be a red flag.
● Do you plan to work in the USA after you finish your studies?
Describe your intention, willingness, and ability to return home to pursue your career after graduation.
Dependents
Your dependents may include your spouse or children who will travel with you and stay with you in the USA. If your dependents can accompany you, they will receive the F2 visa. However, note that you must be aware of the conditions of bringing dependents with you to study in USA universities.
For starters, they cannot work in the USA and can only do volunteer work or part-time study. To take a full-time course, they will need an F1 visa of their own. If you have dependents at home, it is important to state that you will not be sending any money back to them from the USA. You also need to state the income source that is supporting them in their home country.
● Do you have a spouse/children?
If yes, you may have to answer questions like the ones below.
● Will they be living with you in the USA? Who will be paying for their stay?
Discuss financial support from your sponsor in your home country, your savings, or other revenue streams for your family that can support them. These revenue streams would not involve you sending them funds from the USA.
● What do they plan to do during their stay in the USA?
They can do voluntary work and engage in part-time study. Your dependents cannot engage in part-time work, or full-time study or work.
● Do you have a spouse/children/family in your home country? How are they supporting themselves financially?
Describe the earning members of your family or other income sources at home supporting your them.
● Do you plan to send back money to your home country?
Always answer no.
Things to Consider
Even with all of these preparations, it is important to know that a visa interview can be unpredictable. Every applicant is different and has a different profile. The visa officers adapt their questions depending on the applicant and their responses. No matter the questions, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Be Straightforward and Respectful
Confusing, long-winded answers that don’t address the question can set you back in your visa interview. Keep your answers short and to the point, directly addressing the question clearly and honestly.
Always be respectful - especially for non-native English speakers, it is important to keep in mind the tone of your words and sentences. Don’t speak overly casually or use slang or colloquialisms.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
A positive attitude is a must for the interview. One of the factors visa officers assess during the interview is your motivation and determination to study in the USA. Let your attitude reflect your motivation to study abroad!
Avoid Misrepresentation
Answer all the F1 interview questions with accurate and complete information. Do not lie in any part of the visa application process. All of your documents must be real and consistent. Any inconsistency in your paperwork or interview responses will lead to suspicion. Don’t bend the facts, and don’t try to answer what you think the visa officer wants to hear. Be transparent when sharing any information about yourself and do not withhold any crucial information that could later jeopardize your visa.
Rounding Up
Preparing for your interview and practicing responses to the questions can be the difference between F1 visa acceptance and denial. Take the time to prepare and practice for the interview – you can sign up for mock visa sessions to simulate the real thing! Be confident and honest in discussing your goals, plans, and motivations to study in USA universities. Make sure your answers do not misrepresent any facts, and all your supporting documents are complete and consistent too.
