10 POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN APPLYING FOR A NONIMMIGRANT
VISA
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 PLAN
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.
