Articles with visa officer

US F-1 VISA EXPERIENCE #5

Here is an F-1 visa experience that, unfortunately, did not work. Make sure to take lots of lessons from it. We are stating this experience from the interviewee’s perspective.

Status : Rejected
Scholarship : $9k
Major : Chemistry

Me: {greets the VO in my native language]

VO: [greets me back] ! Pass me your documents.

Me: Here it is sir.

VO:Why Chemistry?

Me: Sir,I want to pursue my career as a Pharmacist but I want to start from the beginning so I selected chemistry as my major. Inside chemistry, I want to specialize in organic chemistry (interrupted)

VO: How are you going to pay?

Me: Well, my parents are going to sponsor me.

VO: What do they do?

Me: TOLD(listened fully)

VO: What is your plan after your graduation?

Me: Sir, after completing my graduation, I will work to advance the concept of manufacturing of drug(interrupted)

VO: Sorry boy you aren’t qualified for F-1Visa. You can try for the second time.

Me: Stunned and silenced

The officer did not fully listen to my answers. He just jumped to the conclusion of not granting the visa to me.

US F-1 VISA EXPERIENCE #3

Here is an F-1 visa experience that worked for a student. We are publishing this experience from his perspective.

Status: Approved
Major: Computer Science
University: [hidden due to privacy reasons]

It was probably one of the easiest interviews that I had ever faced. 1:20 pm was the time scheduled for my VISA Interview and I reached there at 11:30. I was nervous, beyond my limits. Shaken up by fears, I calmed myself by walking up and down a countless number of times. My I-20 had arrived 3 days ago and all that had built up my nervousness altogether.

Finally, it was time to enter the embassy. After the necessary security checking, I stood up in the line waiting for my turn. Still then, I was way too nervous. Finally, my turn came and I was led to counter number 6. A young V.O. greeted me.

Me: Good afternoon sir! Namaskar

V.O: Namaste, please pass me your documents

Me: Here you go, sir

VO: (Looking at my transcript) Computer science is a huge field, so in which field will you be studying?

Me: Okay, I have no idea, I just remembered the word AI in one of my answers and tried to fit that. Sir, I will be studying AI and using it in an application that would be made with the collaboration of the government to lower the corruption rate of [country name]. This application would be used by government officials and offices and thus transparency in every transaction will be maintained.

VO: Okay, this seems interesting

VO was busy typing for a while, he then looked at my transcript noticed the College and smiled.

VO: So, what did you do for a year?
Me: Sir, I worked as a content manager at xxxxxx.com, my main responsibility was working closely with the designers and managing contents which also has fueled up my passion for CS.

VO: Okay, so you have met all the requirements. Go and pay in Counter Number XX.

Me: overwhelmed Thank you, sir.

I was surprised that the interview lasted so less. Well, luck favored me I guess.

Here are some tips that may help you:

  1. It is easier said than done, but try and calm your nerves. Nervousness is the number one factor for failure.
  2. Don’t over-prepare your answers. Remember what you need to say but don’t memorize answers.
  3. Confidence and a good attitude is the key. Smile all the time.

If you a get a VISA, it is good for you. If not, don’t be discouraged. Things do happen for a reason.

US F-1 VISA EXPERIENCE #2

University : [hidden for privacy purposes]
Major: Information Science

Status: We will mention it at the end, but it’d be a little bit interesting if you yourself try to determine what it may be.

Scholarship: 25k + 2k Housing Grant for 1st year
Tuition: 27k (Almost)
COA in Form I-20: 20.5k (Not Including Housing Grant though)

12th Grade Marks: 94% in CBSE

VO: Namaste! Pass me your documents
Me: Hello Sir! *Passed him I-20, Passport & 12th result*

VO: So you want to study Information Science. Tell me why?

Me: Umm sir, I have actually always been interested in computers and maths since my childhood. However, it was only after learning to code in C++ and learning other stuff such as HTML and CSS that I had decided that it would be an ideal career for me. Furthermore, as you may already know, IT has been a very hot career in [country name], and there is a lot of job security in this field.

(To be entirely honest, my preparation was sub-par at beat and this is “literally” the most cliche answer one could give for this question)
VO: How many universities did you apply to?

Me: *smiling* 18

VO: List the ones that you were accepted into.

Me: Umm, there’s University of Cincinnati, University at Arizona, Drexel University, Juniata College, SUNY Buffalo

(According to you, do you think he would issue me a student visa based on our interaction so far?)

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VO: Okay, you have met the requirements for an F1 Visa. *Hands me my stuff back along with a green paper*

Me: *Frankly, a little bit shocked* Okay!

The entire interview lasted for around 40-45s.

Other details:

The scholarship is the maximum amount this University provides to an international student.

SAT R: 1470 (EBRW – 690 & Maths – 780)
SAT Subject Tests: 2300
TOEFL: 113

Grade 9 & 10: 10/10 CGPA
Grade 11: 83%

Here is a tip that may help you: Be as honest and confident as you possibly can. They have years of experience of interacting with all sorts of individuals, so they’d probably find it out when you’re not being honest or hiding something from them.

US VISA EXPERIENCE #1

Applicant: Good Morning!

Visa Officer: Good Morning! Please pass me your I 20, passport and transcript. Which university are you going?

Applicant: It is [Removed for privacy]

Visa Officer: I haven’t heard that before.

Applicant: It is a new school but is different than any other traditional university. It is preparing to graduate its first batch. The thing that attracted me the most was the Study Abroad program and courses in the Foundation year. I believe that these courses will not only prepare me academically, but it will help me gain invaluable life skills.

Visa Officer (angrily): You have great grades and you want to invest your life in an institution where there are no graduates?

Applicant (looking into his eyes): Yes sir. I have searched a lot about it and it was my top choice school. I even attended ….

Visa Officer (stopping in between): Did you take help of a consultant for applying?

Applicant: No sir. I searched and applied myself.

Visa Officer: How many other colleges did you apply to?

Applicant: I applied to about 20 colleges in the US and one in Hong Kong.

Visa Officer: I don’t care about Hong Kong. Did you get accepted by any other college?

Applicant: I got waitlisted in [Removed for privacy].

Visa Officer: My colleague denied your visa. Is there anything new?

Applicant: Yes sir. My CIE A Level final grades arrived a few days ago. You can see that in my transcript. Also, my plans after graduation were a little vague last time.

Visa Officer: So, what do you plan now?

Applicant: Actually, I want to improve the navigation system. I plan to study Computational Science and want to improve network and navigation in remote areas. Connectivity is poor in my country and…..

Visa Officer (stopping in between):  My concern is your intent…

Applicant: Would you like to see additional letters?

Visa Officer: No. (Handing the yellow paper) If you wish to reapply here is the reason.

Applicant: Thank you sir

Feel free to give your views regarding the visa experience. We wish you all the best for your visa process.