F1 Visa Interview Questions and Answers

Tips for F1 Visa Interview

Here are a few tips and tricks one needs to keep in mind for F1 visa interview :

1. All the documentation that the consular needs to see should be provided. Prior to your visa interview, arrange your papers so that you won't arrive at the embassy or consulate with a complete jumble in your hands. 
2. Since the interview is brief, provide clear answers without spending a lot of time contemplating them. 
3. Try to be calm on the day of the interview. Be well-fed as you may have to wait for some time before your interview. 

Questions Asked in the F1 Visa Interview

Before approving an application for an F1 visa, the interviewer will ask the applicant a number of questions to the applicant. The inquiries are listed below :

• What knowledge do you have regarding American colleges or universities?
  This question is being posed to you by an immigration official who wants to know why you decided to pursue your studies in the United States. You want to make a list of the details you discovered while looking into suitable institutions for your application. 
• Why do you intend to pursue further education? Why are you unable to complete your study back home? Why do you want to live in America? Why not pick Australia or Canada instead?
  He or she will inquire as to why you selected the US over other countries for your study abroad destination. Try to provide more detailed responses. Avoid responding with platitudes like "US is a powerful nation" or "because it has a strong or developed economy" because the interviewer will assume that you admire the US to the point where you want to live there even after you finish your education. Try to focus more of your conversation on the institution or university you plan to attend. You can cite professors who are well-known experts in their fields and teach at that institution. You can also list some of its standout characteristics, such as its global ranking, its research capabilities, its faculty and alumni profiles, etc.
• Which colleges did you apply to the most? How many colleges have you been accepted to? How many schools have turned you down?
  The consular official is interested in learning more about your credentials as a student and potential professional. Remember that students accepted to universities of higher calibre will have a better chance of receiving a visa. When describing how many universities you applied to and were turned down for before this one, you should be honest. If you lie, the interviewer will likely find out, which could result in the denial of your visa application. 
• How much did you score in your tests (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, etc.)? How much was your previous GPA?
  The consular officer would want to know your chances of succeeding in college even if your university has accepted you.
• Why did you decide to pursue your studies in the United States?
  The immigration officer is testing your ability to provide justification for choosing the US over other countries as the location for your study by asking you this question. You must highlight the advantages that lead you to choose this nation over others. 
• What job aspirations do you have after earning your degree?
  During the F1 Visa interview approval procedure, the immigration officer will undoubtedly ask you this vital question. You must state that after completing your study in the United States, you'll go back to your own country.
• Have you ever visited the United States?
  Respond truthfully. Describe your previous visits to the US, including your travels, training, and medical needs. You can also claim that the reason you have never visited the United States is not that you didn't want to, but rather that you did not have the opportunity. Give the consular the sense that even if you are unable to study there, you would still like to travel there for leisure. 
• o you intend to return to your own country again? Are you certain that you won't remain in the US? After you graduate, will you stay employed by your current company?
  In your attempt to convince the interviewer that you would undoubtedly return, mention your close ties to your native nation. If you actually do, tell them you have family, close friends, or a lover back home. Tell them about any pets you have if you have any. Mention any assets you may have, such as businesses, organisations, or homes, for which you will return. 
• Do you currently have friends or family living in the US?
  Respond truthfully. Tell the consulate officer about your distant relatives, even if you only see them every three to four years. Or you will need to inform the consulate again if you have a friend, you have only met a few times. 
• You may have loans. How do you intend to pay back the loan?
  Simply state that you have no loans if you don't have any. Otherwise, be honest with the interviewer about the amount of the loan you have requested and the source of it. You can also claim that after graduating, you'll be able to get a good job in your native country and pay back the loan. By no means imply that you plan to repay the debt by doing odd jobs in the US. 
• What is the price of your school? How are you going to pay for these costs?
  Tell the consultant how much your education will cost, as well as how much you will need to spend on housing and other costs. Describe to them your monthly income and make an effort to convince them that it will be sufficient to pay for your courses. Even if you intend to work a student job on campus, it would be best to keep it a secret to avoid giving the interviewer the impression that you would be a financial burden on American taxpayers.
• How do you intend to pay for your education for its whole duration?
  The purpose of these questions is to help the interviewer understand how you intend to pay for your stay in the country. Present your savings to the consular officer if you have enough money to cover your full stay in the US. In the absence of a sponsor, such as parents, cousins, a partner, etc., you must explain how and whether the sponsor is able to pay for your stay in the United States. if you can provide documentation to support your claim that you were awarded a scholarship.
• How have you thought about where you would live while taking classes in the US?
  The immigration officer is interested in the specifics of your stay while you are studying in the US. 
• Why should a student visa be granted to you? 
  This is the very final query that will be posed to you. Make a good case for why you ought to be granted a visa. Be confident and attempt to create a compelling case for your position. Don't speak incoherently once more. Try to persuade the interviewer even as you are answering this question by giving him the idea that you have no intention of staying in America and that you will undoubtedly return home.

F1 Visa Rules and Requirements for Students

When a candidate submits an application for approval of the F1 Visa, there are specific guidelines that must be followed - 

Passport expiration date - It's important to keep track of when your passport expires. Make sure to renew your passport six months prior to its expiration, either at the embassy of your nation in the United States or in your own country.

I-20 form - The I-20 document is given out for a two-year term. You must be aware of the form's expiration date because you will automatically lose your F1 student status after that date.

I-94 card - Your I-94 card serves as a permit allowing you to remain in the country. The date and port of entry for the card holder are listed there.

Hours completed during the semester - To keep their F1 classification, each student must complete a minimum number of hours each semester.

Pursuing a full course - The student must be registered for a full-time course in order to keep their F1 student status. If not, American authorities have the right to file a complaint against the student with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Work (on-campus and off-campus) - An F1 student is permitted to work up to 20 hours per week on campus. Only those who have received official permission from the immigration office are permitted to work off-campus. You need to have held the F1 status for more than a year even if you receive authorization.

Withdrawal - Only specific situations will result in the US immigration department considering withdrawal. A student must determine whether they are qualified to withdraw for the number of hours requested.

Traveling outside US - The third page of the I-20 form's signature is only good for a year. If it does expire, you must renew it because you will not be permitted to travel without it. Additionally, your passport should be valid for at least six months after your arrival in the United States to continue your education.