Preparing for US F1 interview guides.pdf

Visa

1. Preparing for Your F1
Student Visa Interview
Presented by Cat Shannon a nom de guerre
Email:[email protected]

2. Who is Cat Shannon?
•Retired US Foreign Service Offcer
•Consular coned –worked in three different countries including two
years in Abuja, Nigeria.
•Adjudicated morethan50,000Non-Immigrant Visas
•Iwillneveracceptanymoney for consulting with Nigerian F1
applicants.

3. What are the requirements
1.Bona fide student admitted to a US school
2.I-20showing an accurate start date
3.Demonstratedabilitytopayfortheprogram
4.SEVIS payment
5.Demonstrated tiesthatindicateareturntoNigeriawhenthe
programiscomplete

4. 1. Bona fide student –what is theconsular
officer looking for?
•Whydidyoupicktheschool?
•How many schools did you apply too?
•Didyoutakeanytests?
•What will this course of study do for you?
•Whatdoyouknowabouttheareatheschool islocatedin?
•Maketheconsularofficer understand you are looking forward to
studying and living there.

5. 2. I-20 with and accurate start date
•Should be straight forward but many people mess this up.
•Bringahard copy and make asureall ofthe data is accurate.

6. 3. Demonstrated ability to pay
•How are you paying?
•Why is this relative paying that much for you to go to school?
•Whatissecuringtheseloansyou are taking out? How long to pay
them back?
•Scholarships or financial aid?

7. 4. Valid SEVIS Payment
•The receipt shouldmatchtheI20.Failure to pay ahead of time is
not a disqualifier per se, butcan lead the consular officer to
believe the applicant is hedingtheir bets.
•ThisisaUSCISprocessandIcannotgiveanyfurtheradviceonit.

8. 5. Demonstrated Intent to Return
•FamilyinNigeria?Whoareyoucomingbackto?
•What are your job prospects?
•Doyouownproperty?

9. Sample Case Note Approval
GoingtoMiddleTennessee State University, recent university
graduate here in Nigeria, parents own a successful business in Akwa
Ibom,demonstratedability to pay, valid I-20 seen, SEVIS paid, good
ties. Issue.

10. Sample Case note denial
Applicant admitted to Virginia International University, for MS in
Management, no travel outside of Nigeria, claims uncle is paying
and works in “business,” single, no children, weak ties, does not
have a specific plan, not a credible student. 214b

11. Common mistakes
•Saying the school has a “conducive environment” –sounds canned
to the Consular officer.
•Sayingtheschoolisaccredited. AschoolthatcanissueanI20 is
accredited.
•Notknowinganythingaboutthecityortowntheschoolisin.
•Short clipped anwersmake you sound evasive.
•Indefinite plans

12. Do’s -
•Talk in detail you have 90-180 seconds. Make them count.
•Usethephrasebonafidestudent.
•Rehearase.
•Talk until the officer tells you to stop.
•Answerthequestionstheyask,but make sure you check all five boxes. The I-20 and the SEVIS should be done so answer the questionsso they tick the other three requirements.
•Beconfident–thousandsofNigerians study in the US there is no reason you should not be one of them

13. End
•Emailquestionstome
•IfIhavethetimeIcandooneononeinterviewsessionsbut my
time is limited
•Goodluck