The most important interview questions for US student visa

Preparing for (and dreading) your US student visa interview? You’re not alone. US is, after all, the #1 study abroad destination for students from around the world. In addition, the US student visa approval rate in 2021 was just 85 percent. 

Now let’s move on to the good part. Indian students’ F1 visa approval rate has been exceptionally good in the recent past. In fact, India had the second highest number of students studying in the US during the period of 2020/21.

To further allay your apprehensions, this article will equip you with critical US student visa interview related information such as:

• Question categories for US student visa interview
• Common US student visa interview questions and answers
• Expert tips on cracking your visa interview
• US student visa interview FAQs

US student visa interview questions: Main categories

F1 visa interview questions are primarily based on these 5 categories:

• Your academic plans
• Your choice of university
• Your financial status
• Your academic potential
• Your plans after graduating

There’s a good chance some of the US student visa interview questions will be related to your university application essay’s topic. Make sure you go through your essay before the interview. 

The most important US student visa interview questions and answers

When it comes to US student visa interview questions, there’s little room for surprises. Virtually all US student visa interview questions are linked to your academic plans and choices. 

Most US student visa interview questions are variations of the following:

Question: Why do you intend to pursue further education in the US?

Answering tip: In your response, clearly relay your main motivation for wanting to study in the US. Here are some of the best reasons to cite:

• US’ popularity as a top overseas education destination
• The flexibility of education system
• High ranking colleges and programs
• The support for overseas students
• The country’s rich cultural diversity

When answering US student visa interview questions, specific reasons are preferable to generic ones. If there are any special reasons for your decision to study in the US, make sure you voice these. For instance, you may have selected a program that’s not taught in Indian universities. It’s a response that perfectly supports your plan to study in the US.

Choosing the right university for your academic goals in another country can be quite challenging. With SelectRight, you can save on time and effort, and still select the perfect US University. SelectRight helps you explore, compare, shortlist and finally apply to the ideal universities based on your preferences. 

Question: Why don’t you want to continue your academic journey in India?

Answering tip: Here are some excellent reasons you can cite for choosing to study in the US over continuing your education in India:

• US universities’ higher ranking
• Specialized programs offered by US universities
• Preferable course structure/faculty in the US universities
• The field you intend to major in is not being offered by Indian universities, 

Make sure to look into the differences between the study structure and facilities available in India and the US. This will help you offer a well-informed and satisfying response to the US student visa officer. 

Question: What is your chosen field of study?

Answering tip: Tell the US student visa officer about the area you’ve planned to major in. Talk a little about how you intend to apply your education in future. 

Aiming to major in business studies? Speak of how well the program will prepare you for a challenging career in the business world. 

Planning to major in computer science? Talk about how the program will equip you to make a splash in your preferred career field.

Question: Have you visited the US before?

Answering tip:Tell the US student visa officer whether or not you have. The visa officer is also likely to inquire about the reason and duration of your trip. 

Question: What’s the reason behind your choice of university?

Answering tip:Your response to this question informs the US student visa officer how serious you are about studying in the US. A serious student is expected to be aware of details such as the university’s ranking, programs, and faculty.

In your answer, talk a little about the university’s student organizations and famous alumni. This will show the visa officer that you have duly researched the university and are serious about your academic goals.

SelectRight’s smart university recommendations are a great way of identifying the best suited study programs and universities for you. In addition, SelectRight’s alumni insights webinars will equip you with useful information about your preferred university’s most successful alumni.

Question: What are all the universities that you have applied to?

Answering tip: Tell the US student visa officer about all the universities that you’ve applied to, including the ones where you got rejected. 

Hiding or lying about the number of universities you applied or got accepted in will severely hamper your chances of cracking the visa interview. On the flip side, your honesty can impress the visa officer and improve your chances of success.

Question: What is the location of your chosen school in the US?

Answering tip:This is one of the most common US student visa interview questions. Its goal is simple—to test your research. 

You should be aware of the name of the city/town where the school you’ve chosen is located. You can also include related anecdotes or a few details about the area’s geography in your reply. 

Question: What are your scores in English level proficiency and standardized tests?

Answering tip: You need to be able to tell the US student visa officer your exact scores in English level proficiency tests (IELTS/TOEFL). In addition, you should also memorize your scores in the standardized tests (SAT, GRE, GMAT etc.) that you’ve taken. 

Question: How good are you at speaking in English?

Answering tip:Your US student visa officer will converse with you in English. In addition, he/she will be privy to your scores in IELTS/TOEFL exams. This makes it impossible to lie about your English speaking skills.  

You should be perfectly honest about your English speaking proficiency. Students who aren’t good at speaking English can inform the visa officer of their continued efforts to improve in the area. For instance, telling the visa officer that you are taking an English speaking course or practice speaking English for a certain period every day can help boost your chances of success.

Question: Can you show me the transcripts for your high school education?

Answering tip:Your paperwork needs to be immaculate at the time of your visa interview. Not only should you be carrying all the required documents, you should be able to pull them up without effort. 

Make sure you’ve properly organized the documents yourself so you can promptly present them to the US student visa officer.

Question: How will you finance your education in the US?

Answering tip: This is one of the most frequently asked and critical US student visa interview questions. Failing to demonstrate the financial ability to cover the costs of studying in the US all but guarantees rejection. 

Make sure you’ve researched the costs of living in the particular US city/town in addition to the tuition and other expenses. Your response should address these costs and how you’re going to pay for these. If you’ve availed a study loan or scholarship, be sure you mention them. 

Question: Who is your sponsor?

Answering tip: US student visa interview questions almost always include inquiries about the students’ sponsor. You should be able to provide all the relevant details about the person that’s sponsoring your US education. This includes the sponsor’s name, the nature of his/her relationship with you etc.

Make sure you have a good understanding of your sponsor’s nature of work and income sources. This will help assure the US student visa officer that he/she possesses the requisite wealth to fund your education. 

The visa officer can further quiz you about the sponsor’s commitment to continue his/her financial support over the course of your education. This question is more likely to come up when the sponsor is someone other than a parent or blood relative. In your response, talk about your relationship and bond with the sponsor and the reason he/she is invested in your educational goals. 

Question: Do you intend to work as a student while in the US?

Answering tip:The F1 student visa allows students to work on your college campus on a part-time basis. This means that you can work for up to 20 hours a week during your term. Students are permitted to work full-time during their academic breaks. 

Your response should be based on the nature of your course, financial needs and personal preferences. You can tell him/her whether you wish to work to gain experience or to concentrate on your studies. 

Question: Do you plan on returning to India after completing your course?

Answering tip: This question requires a tactful response. Your answer should emphasize your ties to your family and home country. 

Talk about your family, friends, partner, family business or property etc. and your intent on returning to these. Assuring the visa officer that you have a strong motivation or reason to return to India will boost your visa approval chances. 

Question: Have you decided on the kind of job you’d pursue in the US post graduation?

Answering tip:This can be the visa officer’s tricky followup to the previous question. Your response should be in line with your last answer—you wish to return to India after you graduate. 

You can also mention your plan to pursue a particular career or join the family business. This will further emphasize your commitment to coming back home.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long is a US student visa interview?

A typical US student visa interview takes 10-15 minutes. The interview duration, however, can vary in case of any confusions or complications. 

Note that you should ideally reach the venue of your interview at least 15 minutes prior to the appointed hour. Before the interview, you’ll be required to provide biometric information. This process usually takes 10-15 minutes. 

2. Is there a dress code for the visa interview?

There’s no official dress code for a US student visa interview. That said, it’s advisable you wear comfortable formals and avoid accessories. Also, make sure not to wear a strong fragrance or overt bright clothing.

3. What are some tips to do well in a US study visa interview?

Be relaxed, make eye contact with the interviewer and don’t use a forced accent. Also, while it’s important to carry all the relevant documents, only present these if the interviewer asks for them.

So, that’s pretty much it—the most likely US student visa interview questions and answers. Remember to prepare honest, tactful and personalized responses, and be confident. This will help ensure you do great in your visa interview.