International students, who want to pursue their study in US, have to go through a F1 visa interview in English. This somewhat browbeats almost every one is experiencing the interview for the first time in his or her life. Showing up with all the required documents on the interview day does not necessarily guarantees you a visa, rather you have to convince the visa officer that you are a lawful student whose sole purpose is just to study and do research in his/her intended field.

There is no bible for F1 visa interview questions, but knowing what sort of questions might be asked will put on vantage point. Most of the questions can be categorized as follows:

• Your study plans
• About your university and program
• Your academic credentials
• Your financial status
• Your post-graduation plans

The purpose of the article is to introduce you about the type of questions that you might be ask. You don’t have to memorize answers any of it; but if you know about the type of questions that you will be asked, then you will have a fluent interview. Follows are some sample questions that might be ask during your interview.

Questions about your study plans:

Why are you going to the US?

Tips — tell them whether you are going for MS or PhD and why? Answering the “why” is critical — you might say that US offers the world’s best education and also you will have ample opportunities to do and learn about research in your field.

What will you specialize in for your degree?

Tips — You might mention about your desired track of your research from your major.

What will be your major?

Tips — Mention in which field you will be studying. Do not project too much in future plan. Just answer to the point.

Who is your current employer? What do you do?

Tips — if you do a job just tell about it, if you don’t then say you don’t do a job. But don’t say that you do nothing rather you can say that you used to do job, but for your higher studies you took a break and prepared your self. If you did not do a job, then tell them what you did to earn your livings e.g. tutoring, free lancing, don’t feel shy about it — there is nothing wrong in doing some petty works.

Why are you planning to continue your education?

Tips — obviously coming back to home. Never ever express your intent of immigration, you can be rejected for that as F1 is a non-immigrant visa. If you plan for PhD after your MS, then just tell them you want to go for PhD.

Can you not continue your education in your home country?

Tips — you know well about your country, not we. So just say it.

How will this study program relate to your past work or studies?

Tips — if the degree will help you to get a promotion then tell them that, if you want to be a researcher then tell how this program will help you to grow as a researcher.

Questions about your university and program:

• What is the name of the college or university you are planning on going to and why did you choose to go to this specific university or college?
• To how many universities did you apply to and why?
• What are the names of the universities you have applied to?
• Did you get accepted by all of them?
• What are the names of the universities you got accepted to?
• What is the name of the university where you completed your undergraduate or graduated degree, and where is it?
• Let us know more about your university: Where is it, which degree did you study or which degree are you planning on studying?
• Tell us the name of the professors you are in contact with from the US university.
• In what year did you get your Bachelor’s degree and from which university?
• How long are you planning to stay in the United States?
• Why did you apply to this university and not to another one? And how do you know about this university?
• Tell us more about your academic background.
• Are you also planning to study a Ph.D. in the US after having completed your master’s degree?
• The major which you are taking is also available at other universities, why did you decide to go to this university and not to one of the others?

Questions about your academic credentials:

Your test scores, previous GPA and other relevant credentials will be evaluated to determine your ability to be a successful student during your program. You may be asked any of the following questions:

• What are your test scores (GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS)?
• What is your undergraduate Academic GPA or Percentage?
• How will you manage the cultural and educational differences in the US?

Questions about your financial status:

This is the most important part of your F1 visa interview, and you should be able to prove that you are financially capable of supporting all kind of expenses during your program. If you are funded by the school, then you don’t have to worry that much; but if you are self funded then you need to prepare all the supportive documents such as bank statements, transactions, passbook, latest transactions and other finance related documents.

• Who is paying for your education?
• How are they able to pay for it? What is their professional background?
• Tell us more about your father’s/mother’s job and income and how long they have been working for the company.
• What is the monthly income of the person who is going to sponsor your studies?
• Apart from that, tell us more of your sponsor’s annual income?
• How much does your university cost for a year?
• Does your sponsor pay for all of it or did you also get a loan?
• Please show us your current bank statement.
• If you are planning to stay for two or three years, how will you finance your education and your living?
• On your bank statement, we can see large portions which only have been deposited recently. Please explain!

Questions about your post-graduation plans:

Technically, your F1 visa will only be approved if you establish the fact that you will return to your home country after your graduation. Though everyone stays in the US after graduation through programs such as OPT and H1B, but to get the F1 visa it is important for you to establish your ties and obligations, such as family, property, or a career plan, that will lead to your return to your home country. You may be asked:

• Do you have relatives or friends currently in the US?
• What are your plans post-graduation?
• Do you have a job or career in mind after you graduate
• Do you plan on returning back to your home country?
• What are your plans after graduation?
• Are you sure you won’t stay in the US?
• Will you continue to work for your current employer after you graduate?

You do not need to memorize answers of the above questions for your F1 visa interview. The purpose of the article is to give you a brief idea what might be asked during your visa interview. We don’t know the number of questions that will be asked, but you will not be bombarded by 30–40 questions during your interview. So, don’t panic. No matter what they ask, always be open and give your honest answer — remember, there is no alternative of being honest to get a visa.

Disclaimer: No A.I. was used to generate any portion of this content.