In order to study in the USA in a full-time degree seeking program, international students will need an F1 visa. The process of getting your F1 Visa can be a long one but it is worth it! Before you can receive your F1 Visa, you must complete an intensive in-person interview with a consular officer. While this interview might seem intimidating, we have three tips to help you prepare for your F1 Visa Interview.

Be Able to Articulate Why You Want to Study in the USA

Your interviewer will be asking you very specific questions regarding your thought process about the decisions you’ve made in your life. For example, a common question asked is, “Why do you want to study in the United States? Why not Canada or the UK?” This is why you need to know your reasoning regarding the decisions you make. If you’ve made a career transition and are seeking a degree in a different field than you previously studied, you need to explain why you want to transition to a different field. You will need to explain why you chose the specific school you’re going to attend. Your interviewer will ask you many questions regarding why you decided certain things so do some self-reflection prior to your interview and be able to articulate your reasoning.

Bring All Documents Required

Your interviewer will ask to look at your required documents during your interview. It is very important to bring all the required documents, particularly financial documents that show proof that you will be able to afford to live in the USA while studying. More importantly, you will need to know the information on these documents, such as your parent’s income, your grades, and other personal information. Your interviewer will want to see that you have invested time into being familiar with the details relevant to your application.

Be Confident

When you are speaking with your interviewer, remain calm and confident. The best way to be confident is to prepare in advance of your interview. Think about the questions your interviewer might ask you and practice answering the questions out loud or with a family member. Practicing your speaking abilities will increase your confidence. Being confident will show the interviewer that you have prepared for the interview and are committed to your goal of furthering your studies in the USA.   

Brianna Burrows is a freelance marketing specialist and alumna of Northeastern University. She specializes in event management, social media management, and content branding. Follow her on Twitter here.