ACE THE US STUDENT VISA INTERVIEW
If you have just been accepted into a US university, you are probably wondering about the US student visa procedures. Being accepted in itself is a huge achievement, so we want to congratulate you on that! For the steps ahead, it’s okay. Don’t be intimidated, we have got you covered. Before reading this, you have to first read this article here on the general US student visa procedures. In this article, we will specifically discuss the interview process.
US student visa interview is for some people even harder than getting into a university. The process tends to favor the wealthy and the well-off, which isn’t the majority of us Nepalese. So, in order to make up for that, we need to follow certain guidelines to ensure success in the interview. Find below of the list of such guidelines that will guarantee you your well-deserved US visa
SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR NEPAL
This is the most important part of getting a US visa. It is absolutely crucial that you keep everything in this section firmly imprinted into your mind. Failure to do so will quite certainly result in your US student visa being denied.
US consulates assume you want to stay in the US as an immigrant until you can convince the consular officer that you are not. You must, therefore, be able to show that you have reasons for returning to Nepal that are stronger than reasons for remaining in the United States and that you intend to depart the United States at the conclusion of your studies.
You have to find “ties” to Nepal. These are things that connect you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, owning a house or apartment, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective student, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific plans or promise of future employment and career prospects in your home country. DO NOT under any circumstance say that you plan to work in the US.
If you have close relatives who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, it may be harder for you to demonstrate that you are not an intending immigrant. So, don’t mention any ties to the US and focus on your own country instead.
Prepare career plans beforehand
In the interview, you should be able to explain how studying in the United States relates to your career goals and employment prospects when you return home. If you will be a graduate student in the United States and have a research focus, be prepared to talk about your research plans. Generally, it’s better to just say you are going to return after finishing undergrad. Again, keep in mind that the consular officer will be looking for signs that you might want to work in the US. You are sitting on a US student visa interview, not the immigrant visa interview. So, think about career prospects in Nepal, and how you will use your knowledge back home.
Know why you chose your intended major.
I get it, some of us simply have no idea what they want to study. It is completely okay to explore your options once you’re in college, but not in the visa interview. Even if you are not sure what you are going to study, frame your interview like you do. Talk about your major and what you plan to do with it. Be sure to mention why you chose that particular major and how the US can help you prosper in that. Be careful not to extend it too much though, remember that you are still returning back to Nepal.
Keep it short and sweet
Because of the large number of applications they receive, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute of the interview. What you say first and the first impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer’s questions short and to the point, responding precisely to the consular officer’s questions and statements. Do not have an argument with the officer. If you are denied a US student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring to overcome the denial and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.
Keep these four things in mind and you will definitely succeed in your US student visa interview. Don’t be too nervous, you got this!
