Visa Issues: Obtaining Visa

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Neo
Major: International Business
Status: Light Keeper

A person with strange ideas in my head and strange feelings in my heart...

Visa Issues: Obtaining Visa
Andy Neo

Visa Procedure
As far as the visa procedure is concerned, they may change it at their own whim and fancy. So please verify from the consulate office.
CAUTION: Do not take electronic equipment with you. Also the documents that you carry should be in a folder so that you can easily remove when asked. Keep the folder in a plastic bag if you wish. Leather bags, suitcases are not allowed in the consulate.
The problem is that the line is common for all Non-Immigrant visas (Students F1, visitors B1, Business L1, Work H1B etc.) in most countries. You may reach there at around 6:00am. Though embassy officials exhort you to come around 9-10, the wait is simply too long if you attempt this (trust me, I've been there). This is a good time to fill up the form given by the guard, to write your name, address and telephone number behind your Demand Draft and then read a book you bought along.
-- As you enter, a guard will search you and your bags for suspicious objects. He will give you an application form for an immigrant or non-immigrant visa as you may desire. This is the only way to enter. Even if you return the third time in ten minutes, he will search you :) Just keep your l bags open and papers ready for scrutiny to speed things up.
-- Now you go in, you give your passport at a counter, (obviously after finding the correct counter) the fellow there will staple a token to the passport, and give you another part of that token.
-- Now stand in queue (ask the security) with this token and your DD ready. The cashier will give you a receipt. Take this and get yourself a place to sit and relax.
-- Pay the application fee at a counter.
-- Sit in the waiting room.
-- You will be called for an interview sometime.
The visa officers are looking for 2 things:
1) Whether the student has sufficient funds to support himself in the US.
2) His intentions to return on completion of his education. (This does not however imply that he cannot work in the US after s/he finishes his/her education, they just want to check that the student is not using the student visa as a means of entering the US).
The interviews start at around 9:00am. Be very attentive as they call out the token numbers (or sometimes just your name). It is very difficult to hear the numbers in the din. You will be asked to report to a particular counter. Wait for your turn to come. Give the pink token and call out your name. Be ready now with your documents for the SHOWDOWN! Again, the key to a successful visa interview is preparation. Be ready with all the necessary documents. And convince the visa officer. Another trivial thing: You cannot take with you any electronic equipment, rest all is ok.
The most important thing to remember is not to get nervous. Yeah, it’s easier said than done, but try to exude some confidence when you speak. If you want you can practice answering some questions in front of an audience at home. It may work wonders for some. Show that you know English. Sound confident. Don't be hesitant, don't be nervous, and don’t stammer. Try to be casual, and make small talk.
In the interview answer all the questions verbally; don't show documents as an answer for any damned question. This might annoy the visa officer. If only asked show the documents. But keep all the documents ready with you. & be sure where which document is. The officer might ask for any document, don't waste his time looking for the right document at the interview window. For those with aid it should be no problem. No need for financial documentation in this case.
Yeah now the section you have been waiting for. What do the visa officers ask??? Well, it is not easy to say what they will ask. It also depends on whether they want to give you the visa or not. Yes, usually they may have decided that before the interview!!! But over the past years some of the common questions that have been asked are given for your reference.
Your first aim will be to convince the officer that you are not using the students F1 visa to enter the US, you are very 'sincere' about returning to India and you have 'no intention' of immigrating to the United States. There must be concrete arguments regarding this and what you want to do after coming here.
You can prepare for some questions like:
-- Does the program make sense?
-- Why study abroad?
-- Why now, at that point of your career?
-- What are your career goals?
-- What after this?
-- What does your father do?
-- what skills do you have?" (for an H1)
-- Why exactly that university/college?
-- What course are you going for?
-- What are your reasons for coming back to your home country?
For showing your intention to return to Home country. Basically they want to be sure you are not using the F-1 visa just to enter the US. So this shouldn't be much of a problem for any of us. They don't judge the univs, as long as they are really good ones.
Visa officer can see all the papers required by the Embassy. But he first sees the I-20 (or offer letter, for H1 guys; sponsor letter for visitors to family etc) and the Passport. Only if he doesn't like something will he look at other papers. Though he usually leaves that for the counters.
After your interview is over the visa officer will tell you whether the visa is issued or not. If your visa is granted, the counter will keep your passport and I-20 form, and will give you a sticker (called a token) that you need to bring in the evening to collect your passport.
If visa is refused the officer will give a refusal letter and return the passport immediately. If such is the case you can apply again after 3 working days.
Once the visa is obtained you must leave for USA within a period of three months.
Your school will have a designated school official (DSO) to help you with immigration issues. Please note that you (the F-1 student) are solely responsible for following U.S. immigration laws. Above are standard things I can recommend, but I can't guarantee if you follow these you will succeed. There're dozens of other reasons US Embassy officer can tell you that can destruct all your efforts.

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