| 1. TIES
TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY. Under U.S. law, all applicants for
nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending
immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not.
You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to
your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United
States. "Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you
to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family,
financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you
are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about
your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other
relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career
prospects in your home country. Each person's situation is different, of
course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate,
or letter which can guarantee visa issuance. If you have applied for the
U.S. Green Card Lottery, you may be asked if you are intending to
immigrate. A simple answer would be that you applied for the lottery since
it was available but not with a specific intent to immigrate. If you
overstayed your authorized stay in the U.S. previously, be prepared to
explain what happened clearly and concisely, with documentation if
available.
2. ENGLISH.
Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your
native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a
native speaker before the interview, but do NOT prepare speeches! If you
are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be
prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home
country.
3. SPEAK FOR
YOURSELF. Do not bring parents or family members with you to the
interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A
negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your
own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need
your parents there is case there are questions, for example about funding,
they should wait in the waiting room.
4. KNOW THE PROGRAM
AND HOW IT FITS YOUR CAREER PLANS. If you are not able to
articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the
United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that
you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should
also be able to explain how studying in the U.S. relates to your future
professional career when you return home.
5. BE BRIEF.
Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are
under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient
interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the
impressions they form during the first minute of the interview.
Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are
critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions
short and to the point.
6. ADDITIONAL
DOCUMENTATION. It should be immediately clear to the consular
officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify.
Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember
that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you're lucky.
7. NOT ALL
COUNTRIES ARE EQUAL. Applicants from countries suffering economic
problems or from countries where many students have remained in the US as
immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically,
applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending
immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities
at home after their study in the U.S.
8. EMPLOYMENT.
Your main purpose in coming to the United States should be to study, not
for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do
work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to
their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to
clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If
your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that
F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the U.S. If
asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or
her time while in the U.S. Volunteer work and attending school part-time
are permitted activities.
9. DEPENDENTS
REMAINING AT HOME. If your spouse and children are remaining behind
in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves
in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the
primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains
the impression that your family will need you to remit money from the
United States in order to support themselves, your student visa
application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to
join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same
post where you applied for your visa.
10. MAINTAIN A
POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Do not engage the consular officer in an
argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of
documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the
refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.
Taken from NAFSA website.
NAFSA would like to credit Gerald A. Wunsch, Esq., 1997, then a member of
the Consular Issues Working Group, and a former U.S. Consular Officer in
Mexico, Suriname, and the Netherlands, and Martha Wailes of Indiana
University for their contributions to this document. NAFSA also
appreciates the input of the U.S. Department of State.
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