Students usually tend to fret about the visa acquisition process. The reasons are many––getting appointments, attending interviews, meeting eligibility requirements, and so on can take a toll on you.  Let us look at some of the hurdles a student might come across while applying for a visa.

Getting Appointments:

Getting an appointment need not be a major hurdle at all. The US Consulate has confirmed that they will have enough interview slots open for students. Those applying to countries such as Australia and Canada may not even need an appointment. Instead, they will have to submit all their papers through the visa facilitation centers. For the UK visa, as well, you may not need an interview but you would still need an appointment to visit the visa center to provide biometrics.

Get Over Popular Misconceptions:

First, get rid of the common misconception that getting student visas for particular universities or majors is more difficult. In reality, consulates are not concerned with which colleges you have chosen; they only want to know why you have chosen a particular college, university, or program of study. This is to test your clarity of vision and planning.
Second, do not memorize answers for your interviews or write standard “appropriate” responses in your application. This is not a good idea as telling consular officers what you think they want to hear rather than the truth can lead to refusal of your visa. You must be honest, clear, and concise in your reasons to have chosen a particular school as well as have a clear explanation for your funding plan. By simply being genuine, you can get past several hurdles in the visa process with ease.

Clearing the Biggest Hurdle—The Interview:

Students applying for a US visa must appear for an interview.  Also, some students applying for a visa to the UK, Canada, or Australia may be called for an interview. The most important thing that you must carry with you for an interview is your self-confidence. Applicants who are well prepared and confident in giving answers are usually successful in getting a student visa. It is very important to know what your reasons to study abroad are and why you have chosen a particular university and what your career goals are.

An answer such as, “I chose the University of Texas at Austin because it’s a well-ranked school” is not convincing and can create doubts in the officer’s mind that you do not know why you have chosen this university.  However, an answer such as “The University of Texas at Austin has a strong business program with electives in international finance, international marketing, and entrepreneurship. The university has a trading room and I will get practical experience while I’m studying” is more convincing and is sure to please the interviewer. Similarly, saying, “My career goals are to set up my own company” is not enough. “My career goals are to return to my country and set up my own business dealing in plastics’.  “My business will cater to the needs of Southeast Asian countries and will be global in nature,” sounds like a more well thought business plan.

Be well prepared to answer these top 5 visa interview questions:

1. Why have you chosen this university?
2. What do you plan to do after you graduate?
3. Who is paying for your education and what is his/her income?
4. How do I know you will come back after your education?
5. Why don’t you do this course in India?

General Documents You Will Need:

1. Admission letter or I-20
2. Original passport, photographs, and fees
3. SEVIS fee receipt (US only)
4. Visa application forms duly filled out
5. Proof of funding including income tax papers
6. Past mark sheets and degrees
7. Standardized test score sheets (if applicable)
8. Any other document showing your financial stability

As the student visa season approaches, keep your anxiety levels under check and understand that there is nothing tricky about the student visa process Be genuine and follow these simple guidelines; rest assured, you will get your visa.