Thanks to Deeepak for posting following US F1 Visa interview experience for the post F1 Student Visa interview Questions and Answers.
Hi guys, my US F-1 Visa was approved just two hours back by US VO. This website helped me a lot to conquer the Visa interview despite of a low TOEFL score which is 81. Here is the interview experience:
I: Good Afternoon Sir
VO: Good afternoon Mr. Deepak
VO: which course did you apply for?
I: MBA in financial Management
VO: Which college/university?
I: Pace University Lubin School of Business
VO: Why only Pace? Why not any other university?
I: Pace university Lubin school of business is well renowned for it MBA program in finance. It has real time trading floor and provides you real experience rather than just theoretical knowledge. There are only few Business Schools ahead of Lubin School when it comes to MBA in finance. Business School ahead of Lubin School in MBA Finance ranking are Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, NY Stern, Rochester Simon ……..
VO interrupted me and said “Ok”
VO: What is location of your school?
I: It’s in Westchester but it has two more campuses in New York city & Pleasantville though Pleasantville is not for graduates.
VO: Which universities did you apply?
I: mentioned 5 names X, Y, Z …….
VO: Did you get any acceptance from them.
I: Yes, I got acceptance from three and mentioned X, Y, U with scholarship amounts.
VO: What do your parents do?
I: My father is a Haryana Govt. employee and mother is a housewife.
VO: Where are you from?
I: Haryana
VO started looking into my file on computer and I asked him for a query.
I: Sir, I have to say something. Can I?
VO: yes, sure
I: Actually, I forgot to mention some important information in my DS-160 so I filled a new DS-160 form which you have with you.
VO: thats ok, no problem. Your Visa is approved.
It’s pretty easy if you prepare in advance guys. Even if you have low scores or your duration of course on I-20 is more than the normal program length, it’ll not hurt your chances of getting visa. Only thing is that you should know how to justify your low scores.
One more thing, VO takes a great concentration on your information that you have provided into DS-160. Fill your DS-160 with great care. Some guys complain that VOs are dumb and they reject visas without any reason. Well, VOs are well trained and have vast experience. Just by looking at your DS-160 they can tell about you.
Here is one example:
In DS-160 one question is “How long do you intend to stay in US?” You answered “36 months” in DS-160.
If your course duration as mentioned on I-20 is 24 months.
Now during Interview VO will ask the same question in different style. Question might be like this “Will you come back to India as soon as you complete your course?”
Most of us will say “yes for sure”, but guys what about the answer which you have provided in DS-160. (It was 36 months)
VO is not dumb. He has your whole profile in front of him during interview and he is looking at the same thing at that time. The moment you said, “yes for sure”. He will say only these words’ “Sorry, we can’t give you a visa” because you’re lying. In DS-160 you’re saying you’ll stay for 36 months and now during interview you’re saying that you will come back after 24 months. VO is smart enough to find this.
So fill all forms very carefully and answer questions in DS-160 after thinking 10 times. Even if you’re planning to go to US one month before your course commencement date then include it in your intended length of stay.
I hope this information will help you.
Best of luck
Visa Interview Experience
I have one more visa interview experience to post, if you have already completed visa interview you can forward the experience, I will post it here. It will help many students.
Dear sir
i aplied just for try university for master
can i make interview if he ask me
how many apply for the university?
sir, I had applied to only two universities. and I got admit in one… will the small number of application be a problem.
hey i too have the same problem i have applied for 1 univ only bcoz the deadlines for the univ's are over,is this a major problem during visa
email for happyblog.com
hi,
i'm going to face my f1 visa interview for undergraduate course in 29 june 2010.
i succesfully complete my SAT with 1660/2400 + toefl also.
but………my problem is that,i've still not received my original SAt report in my given address. ( my SAT exam was in dec 2009 )
sO what can i do in this type of condition.
IS my printed SAT report for collegeboard.com worked?
please, reply me very sooooooooooon.
hey deepak, thank you so much for this post…. it gives me great confidence man! u know how much it means for me…
Hi Deepak,
Thank your prompt reply and the suggetion. Please, I have one more point to be cleared about, my TOEFL score was 51 and Northeastern State university which I chose requires 61, though I received an i20 from their language school which is an intensive English Programm I will attend to make up my Toefl score and then gain full admission to NSU at this fall to study MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
Hitherto, on my i20 from The Language school, it states that: course of study is ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.
On the i20, the Programm duration is 19 JULY 2010 – 15 JULY 2011 and this is what the VO who conducted my last interviewed mis-interpreted saying that the programm was for one year but the programm director said Iam to receive class for one month to make up the 61 TOEFL Score, that the class is being run monthly should the student could not make the 61 mark, can re-take class again. It is also written on the i20 that, if a student could'nt make the 19 July 2010 class, i20 is still valid for 16 August 2010, and 13 September 2010. I don't know if this will prove to VO that the programm is done monthly.
Moreo, in DS-160, I filled 4yrs as length of stay. Will it contracdite course duration on my i20?
Also, NSU gave me a letter of conditional admission saying upon my completion of the Language programm, I shall be eligible to enrol in class at this fall.
Please, I am looking forward to receiving your reply on what to say a I am due to appear on 29 June 2010.
Sincerely,
James Samuel.
Salam…
If anyone amongst you can inform me about what things are required to get admissions in US universities or else in the world. I am an ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT doing my Becholars. I wanna the methodoligies to apply for 100% scholarship in unversities in abroad.
Kindly do reply my issue analytically.
With regards
Muhammad Bin Tahir
James, you still have this query?
what is this form 221(g)? do you have any idea.? for whom it applies?
plz help me out guys..
in my last interview i got rejected may be for hacing excess of backlogs in my engineering.. i.e., 17.. now the second time i want to bluff saying that i have a less no. of baklogs.. i know its risk if he checks my documents.. bt stil i want to risk.. my doubt here is, will the counslate note down what i've answered in my last interview?? if yes, then i wil not risk myself.. if no. il try this..
plz guys i ve my interview tomrw mrng..!! plz clear my doubt asap..
thanks
It depends on last visa interview. In you last interview if they reject the visa because of too many backlogs, they will make a note of it. they will mention the reason for rejection. So be careful about it..
Hey dude ….. if u can don't lie …. coz while u lie u don't seem confident and since they have much more experience on dealing with every situation they will now easily that u r lying … so I better recommend u telling the truth … Good Luck
I have appeared 4 visa interview in mumbai consulate on 15th June 2010. i will b sharing ques with u.
Q.1 What is the purpose of ur trip?
Q.2 Which school?
Q.3 Why this university? Tell something abt research and try 2 name professors 2 show that u r a genuine student
Q.4 Who is sponsering you? My ans was "my sister **** ****". (I m informing u that my sister is working in US on H1 visa.)
Q.5 Why did ur sister convert her visa 2 H1?
Q.6 From where did ur sister bring this money?
Q.7 Is she working?
Q.8 Was she working on L2 visa?
Q.9 Is she working on H1 visa?
Since Ihave work experience, she asked me about my job. She didn't ask about salary and experience but asked about my profile.
She also asked me about my research experience in india and what i will b doing in us since i have RA. Don't consider projects as research exp. Then she gave me form 221(G).
Hope this helps .
Dear all, here is one valuable piece of information for those who specified the loan amount in their bank document for Visa Application. If anyone of you has specified the loan amount of over 15 lacs, then don't lie during interview that you're planning to come to India as soon as you finish your studies. Visa officer know that you can't pay this loan amount by working in India. They also know how many of us really return. So better say the truth that you intend to work in US for 1-2 years and then return to India.
Dear All, I must say one thing to you that Visa Officer doesn't know anything about you except the information which you provide in forms (DS-160, Sevis, etc.). But if you provide contradictory answers in these forms then VO thinks that you're a potential immigrant/trying to hide some facts which leads him to reject your Visa application. Even if you provide incomplete information then VO thinks that you don't have require skills to complete the program for which you have applied.
So first thing is to complete the forms accurately and then prepare answers for possible question which might pop up during interview depending upon your case.
Hello guys, I had an interview just a week ago (I got an MBA program in one school … and my father will cover all of the expenses) and I was rejected by the VO, we were arguing on my transcript. I took 3 and 2 courses in different times but I am still a full time student (he suspected me I am a part time student and he also thought that I am going to be a part time student in the University which accepted me)….. after saying that he asked me this questions:
1)Where is ur school … I said Virginia
2)What other schools u applied, name them, did they accept u?
3)Do you have family in US? … I said I have no family in US but I have one relative/he is my uncle
4)where do he lives? …. I said Virginia ….
5)Where do ur dad works? …. I said he works in US …. Sorry he works in UN …(here I panicked a little bit) ………..
After this he told me that I am not going to learn in USA … and he said Sorry ur Visa is rejected and gave me 214(b) … which states that … I look like an immigrant and I have not tie to turn back to my country….I asked him what kind of documents to bring the next time…. And he said “nothing” … the problem is not with your documents … it is u didn’t convince me …. And since I was angry at that time I didn’t hear what lastly he said and I leave the interview by saying thank you sir ….
To tell u the truth all of my documents are honest and I spoke the Visa officer with a good English … I even asked him freely …………
So guys I have a plan to attend the interview again on July 19, 2010 … and as you know the problem with me is not convincing him that I will go to learn not to do other things and I will get back to home after graduation …. I got one letter from my school which will show that I am a full time student … hey guys I have 3 days … so help me what to do and say to the VO …
Thank you
Hello frnds………..
In my I20, course duration is mentioned as 3yrs but in DS160 form, Intention of length mentioned as 2 yrs only am I going to face any problem?
How should I give reply?
Mr. Charan, I think I have replied to your query. You need to fill new DS-160, print the new confirmation page and bring two copies of new DS-160 at the time of interview. You need not have to cancel your Interview appointment. When you're called for interview then just before your interview starts tell Visa Officer that you want to use new DS-160 form and give him new confirmation page. There will not be any problem. I did the same thing at US Embassy, New Delhi. Still have queries then just drop an email at [email protected]
But don't forget to bring the old DS-160 confirmation page with you otherwise they will not allow you to enter into the embassy.
hello
i have a question regarding the duration of the stay in the US. some where on this blog i read, if asked about the duration of the stay we might say to VO that after graduating from the Uni., i m going to party hard or first i would like to get acquainted to the US corporate culture, gain an experience of 4-5 years and then return back.
my question is, say i go with the option no 2 (obviously to gain exp and exposure). what should i write about the stay in the US or i should not bother about it as one has to get his visa changed from student to work permit. pls guide me through this.
Mr. Apoorv, you can say either but you should have strong points to convince VO that whatever you're saying is truth and you will return to India. Like if you gonna say that you want to gain experience and exposure first for 2-3 years before you return to India then VO will definitely say that you can get the same experience here in India too. You should provide some unique facts to VO to convince him.
Apurva, just say that u will work for 1 yr after M.S. In ur i20, course duration is 36 months which includes 1 yr opt ie. work exp.
U can also say u will b working in vacations, but avoid starting new topics in ur visa interview.
By d way r u from mumbai? Will u b travelling 2 California? if so, contact me on my email [email protected]
ALL D BEST.
Can anyone guide?
I’m around 40 yrs old engg graduate, have experience in IT industry (govt of India) for about 10 years. I quit my job due to family issues. I’m not interested in living in India but not getting job in US at present. Now I want to go for Higher Studies in US. Is it possible at this stage of life? If yes how to proceed?
Thanks in advance.
Yes, It is possible u can convience the VO by saying dat u want to gain much more experience in the I.T field and here u have to select a good university and gud course curriculum were it really helpfull to u to gain much more practical knowledge and yes u can apply for U.S visa..
The thing is you have to convience the VO..
Can anyone guide?
I'm around 40 yrs old engg graduate, have experience in IT industry (govt of India) for about 10 years. I quit my job due to family issues. I'm not interested in living in India but not getting job in US at present. Now I want to go for Higher Studies in US. Is it possible at this stage of life? If yes how to proceed?
Thanks in advance.
You can get MS admission at any age. US have no objections for it. Select a good university and try to apply for 3 to 4. If you find problem take assistance from consultancies. be confidant. I know one lady who came here for masters at the age of 52 . All the best…..
Hey, plz help me out.
Actually my father expired when i was in my 9th standard. frm there on my mom and brother in law making it up for my education. can i put my brother's in law pan card in hdfc bank. what ever it is? n will this bcom a problem during my visa interview. But we are having enough funds to study in usa. Help me out
Thank you
As long as you show enough funds to study and say valid reasons there will be no problem in visa interview…
Hello HSB and Deepak ,
It was good reading the experience of Deepak , Thanks HSB for sharing this which ll be a great help to many ppl . Keep going with the great job !!!
Thanks to HSB and Deepak for sharing the most important question of all!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was looking for an appropriate answer for this question and Deepak provided it very well,but still i have one question regarding it that is if we directly say to them that we intend to stay for a year more after the course duration will that be ok bcuz they might reject our application filing us in immigrants.???????????
1 yr is alright Deepak, in ur i20, course duration is 36 months which includes 1 yr opt ie. work exp. So, it won't contradict. Don't worry.
Shilpa, in my I-20 course duration is not 36 months, it's 30 months & yes it does contradict. Read again carefully what I wrote.
The two contradictory things are "your intended length of stay i.e 3 years" and "your answer at the time of interview i.e 2 years".
Thank you for the good advice you are giving to we FI-visa Student. It has really be helpful.
Pls. I have an F1-visa appointment for on the 29th June, 2010. I have been denied twice in Lagos Nigeria embassy both on the ground that I do not have sufficient fund to cover my educaation according to section 214(b) of the US immegration and nationality act. So, I spoke to an attoney who now interprete the above section to me saying that I need a notry public to certifer my documents and he took deposition(oath).
Hitherto, during my last interview I was ask who my sponsor was and I responded he is my guardian and he has been there for since I was 4yrs old because I loss both parents at that time but the VO denied me visa saying it is not possible for a guardian to spend $17500 on my education.
Pls now that my guardian and I had sworn a seperate affidavid before a notry public inregards to my gaurdian declaring to take full responsibility of my up keep and me declaring that I will return to Nigeria upon the completion of my studies in the US, of what help we this affidavid be ?
Also, due to the fact that as at when I got my I-20, there were nomore appointments date open in Lagos embassy for June 2010, I deceided to apply at the Abuja embassy. Pls what do you think about this step?
Iam looking forward to receiving your prompt reply.
Sincerely,
James Samuel,
Lagos, Nigeria.
Hey James, One most important thing is that VO never relies on affidavits. You need to give a solid answer to him during the interview that why your guardian is sponsoring you. Maybe like, after your parents death your parents property is handed over to him. He has been getting profit from all this. So now he is just returning some percent of that profit. Just think about it James, you will find a good answer.
Hello,
Congrats Deepak. Even my US F1 Visa was approved today. My interview was pretty straight forward as well. I had the same questions but my replies were different. My VO asked what universities I had applied to and I replied that it was so and so university. Then she asked me why did I select this specific university out of all of them to which I honestly replied that this was the only one I got an admit into. She asked me why do you think that happened( Making a face this time) to which I replied (as honestly and as objectively as I could) according to the rejection letters, there were too many over qualified applicants this time (She made a face again). This was followed by a question about my future plans and then she we seem to be ok here and your visa should be stamped in another 2-3 days if everything is fine and then handed me a orientation pamphlet.
None of my supporting documents were checked either.
I think the key is to keep it short, so that the VO has more obvious questions to ask, rather than getting into details(after all they have to make a decision in a very short time). Also rather than giving your opinions about what happened and why, just say things the way they are.
Deepak, am rili happy for you and I must say a big congratulations for scaling that hurdle really. Just that, I would really love to know what you filled in ur duration in ur DS-160, with regards to the time u wud stay in the US, and also I wanted to find out, how long u ve gained work experience in that particular field..thanks
Dear Sonia, In my I-20 the duration of course is 30 months and course commencement date is 08 Sep, 2010. But in DS-160 I planned to enter into US on 10 August, 2010. That makes my trip and intended length of stay equal to 31 months. That's what I filled in duration of stay. I have two years of work experience as a Mechanical Engineer in Manufacturing and Power Sector.
Hello sir, I would like to inquire about something please ?
I got a low score on the TOEFL, and I selected one university to work for with. right now I'm working with the university for getting I-20. In the interview, If the VO asked me how many universities you have selected what should I say ? and If he asked me do you have relatives there in the US ? what should I SAY too ?
Kindly do an input, and thanks for any your nice TOPIC, it helps . good luck and have a nice trip to the states.
mohmad just tell the truth if u have anyone like brother or sister or parents or spouse or child say yes otherwise say no.
u need not tell abt. the univs. that rejected u but try 2 say 5 univs. at least. Large nos. show ur keeness in studying in US.
Hi,, I applied for F1 Visa today from UAE,, VO has informed me that the Visa has been approved, but we cant issue it now,, we need some adminstration process?
What dose it mean? why some student get their F1 within 3 days !!
Jamal, maybe you have applied a bit earlier or they need additional documents. If they need additional documents they will let you know.
OOPS ! That info regarding DS form was never been told by anyone.nice pick pal.good luck with your future…hey HSB hows it going mate !!
WHOAAAHHH, i have been reading alot of visa interview experiences lately but i must thank you "deepak" . that info regarding DS
sir, my gre score is 960 n i m starting to apply for univ's in ee field n my agre is 65%(2 bk logs)
will dr be any pblm during visa time
hi deepak i just got my I-20 , my course length is 36 months and i intend doing OPT for another 12 months. I have to report at the college 3 weeks before class starts, what should i fill in my DS-160 as length of stay. I need your reply Interview coming soon! thanks a lot
Oassi: Three weeks is not a big deal. Almost everyone goes 10-15 days ahead and wants to have some fun. Even if you put 30 months, its fine as long as you defend it with a reasonable response like you would take summer classes and finish your course early. Many students do that. But if you’re planning to stay for 48 months then put 48 and explain that you’re planning to utilize your OPT period and gain some valuable experience.