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F1 Visa Experiences – Visa Interview Questions

I was looking through my documentation that I collected when I attended F1 Visa Interview. Here are a few real visa experiences that I collected for guidance. Some are latest from 2016, 2017 some are old from 2003 and 2004, they are old but they can give you some general idea. Hopefully it may help some of you.  These are experiences written by someone who attended the visa stamping and they have given their word of advice at the end. NOTHING is written by ME in this POST. It is just a collection.  All credit to those who wrote these. I am just posting their experiences here. If you would like to share your Visa stamping experience, please feel free to email me. You may also read these visa experiences shared by our users :

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Shared by our reader “ust”. Thanks to ust for sharing !

F1 Visa Stamping Experience – 2016 

My Profile:
B.Sc computers – 55% – 3 backlogs
9 years of work IT Work Experience
M.Sc Distance Education Kuvempu University – 74% – 2013
Certifications – Scrum Master, Java, ITIL, HIPAA, CRCR, Healthcare Managedcare IT Consultant.
GRE – 289
TOEFL – 79
IELTS – 6.5

L1B Visa sponsored by XXX Company in 2014 – Wroked in USA for 6 months on L1B Visa, returned to India as per company request.
L1B – Revoked since i left XXX Company
2014 B1/B2 applied by Some Noida based company – Denied at Kolkatta Consulate
Currently working for UAE – Govt of Health in IT Department

Steps that followed here in USA Embassy – Abu Dhabi Consulate
1. Security Check
2. Verifying your Ds-160 and Passport
3. Issue the token
4. Counter 1 :- Documents Verification
5. Counter 10:- Finger Prints
6. Counter 5 :- Visa Interview with USA visa Consulate Officer

Note:- In UAE ( Dubai/Abu Dhabi), Whole interview process will be completed on the same day, In India the process will be two days i guess.
I saw that there is one lady visa officer, around 40 Aged rejected so many visa applications. I can say success rate is 10%. I prayed to the god that my application should not be assigned to that counter. But luck/fate i was assigned to the same lady officer, which i am scared of. Heart beat increased i thought visa chances are only 50% with this lady officer.
F1 Visa Interview Questions and Details:
VO – Have you ever been to USA?
Me – yes On March 28 2014 i have been to USA on XXX Sponsored L1B visa
Vo – Duration of your Travel on L1B?
Me – 162 Days
VO – What is the purpose of your current USA Visit?
Me – To pursue masters in Information Systems Technology at Wilmington University
VO – When did you complete your UG?
Me – 2013 I have completed MSc from Kuvempu University through Distance Education which is equivalent to USA UG
Vo – Length of the program you want to pursue?
Me – 36 Months, actually we can finish that in 18 months ( 12 Courses – 36 Credits including Project and internship)
VO – Name few subjects which you’re going to study?
Me – I gave my course details
VO – Where are you currently working?
Me – Abu Dhabi Health Services – Govt Healthcare IT Company
VO – You will loose your job now for appearing the USA Interview, we will inform to UAE Health Authority and Govt.
Me – I was so tensed but still confidently said that i am interested in research oriented education and related jobs not Interested routine software jobs
VO- Are you ready to loose your job then?
Me – i am not loosing the job, i am going to resign to the current job since i am interested only in research oriented career.
VO – When you’re not interested in current job, why did you came from India and working.
Me – As i am not interested to take my family support, I came hear to earn money for my masters in USA
VO – when did you came to UAE, since when you are working with this company?
Me – I gave my recent india trip dates. she was angry and said don’t confuse me, make it clear with the dates, i thought she will deny. Then i told her that May 2015 i came to Abu Dhabi, Since that date i am working with the current company
VO – Since you are resigning to the current job, how do you pay for education?
Me – I have savings of XXX amount, worked for 8 years to save this money.
Vo – Can i see your financial docs?
Me – I gave all documents ( CA Net worth Letter, Affidavit Of Support, Bank Blance Certificates, Transactions Statement for last 6 months)
I told her confidently, please refer to the statements of UAE banks, i have sufficient funds in UAE itself, in addition to that my sister bank statements and my bank statements from India also there.
Vo – There is a problem with your visa application, Counter 1 officer put you under different category, you should go back to the counter1 and get it fixed.
Me- Went to the counter1 and waited for few minutes, heart beat increased, they fixed and gave back my passport
Came to the same lady officer counter and waited there for my turn, since another person is giving interview at that lady officer counter

Visa officr called me again,
Vo – you have mentioned that you worked for XXX Company in DS-160, are you still working for XXXX Company ?
Me – No Currently i am not working, i left XXX Company in 2014 as soon i return to india from USA
VO – She was keep on typing for few mins, and said that i am going to inform your Current Company that you have applied for USA visa. Please be aware that you will loose your job.
Me – I was so scared, i said that’s fine, i am prepared for that.
Vo – Are you married?
Me – No i am single
Vo – What is your age?
Me – I said my age
Vo – Why are you not married yet?
Me – Currently i am focusing on studies and career not on marriage
Vo – Any chances / planning to marry US Citizen or GC holder?
Me – No, that will never happen
VO – Will your previous company or current company pay for your education?
Me – I left XXX Company job in 2014, current company for which i am working will sponsor only for UAE citizens not to expats. So both the companies will not sponsor for my education.
Vo – Finally golden words, your visa has been approved.
Me – Thank you Officer

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F1 Visa Interview Questions (actual Visa Experiences)

VO: Good morning.
Me: Good morning sir.
VO: Why r u going to US?
Me: Sir I have been working for the past 3 years now. I always wanted to do research and I think this is the best time to pursue my goals as I have the valuable industry experience and good academic background to support me as well.
VO: Hmmm. but why only this university.
Me: Infact sir I have got admits to other universities as well and….
VO: Which are the other universities.
ME: (I told him the list)
VO: Ok. So what’s special about this university U R going to.
Me: Sir, I have interacted with quite a few graduate students at all the universities and I realize that this university. I am going to has state of the art research facilities.
VO: Ok. So who is going to sponser ur education.
Me: My parents sir.
VO: Whats ur dad’s annual income.
I thought he said family….
Me: Sir X Lakhs.
VO: Thats ur dad’s income?
Me: Oh No sir. Thats my parents income. My dad’s income is YLakhs/PA.
He gives me a stare. Looks at me in disbelief. Looks thru my papers….
Me: I point out the various documents in proof of Y lakhs/PA.
VO: Where is ur bank transaction statement.
Me: I show him the printout which has the transactions.
Finds a letter which states that I work for Tata Infotech Limited.
VO: Oh. U work for Tata’s?
Me: Yes sir. For the past 3 years.
VO: So Tatas is sponsoring ur education?
Me: No sir. Tata’s dont sponser higher education.
VO: But Tata’s are very very rich.
Me: (just laughed).
Just passes all the documents below the window and says go and pay the visa fees at the counter.

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Suggestions
1] Dont put all your documents in the folder given by the tts people because that we will be giving it to counsellor he will not see the docs completely. This was the problem faced by me. if  i would have kept some of my financial docs with me I would have shown him as soon as he asked me.
2] He [counsellor] asked me about my dad’s annual income i told him he is earning about X lakhs per annum …then he asked me that how much he will be providing you in that X lakhs.. i told him that he will be providing me X-1 lakhs for my education.
3] Counselor after seeing my I-20 where it is mentioned my course duration as 3years including 1 year as grace .
he kept hanging to it saying that my course duration is 3 years and u dont have sufficient funds to pay for it . i told him that only 2 years is the course duration and 1 year is grace he not even tried to listen my words. so any one going for counselling keep that in mind what to answer if this question is being posed to you.

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Another F1 Visa Interview Experience . F1 Visa interview Questions

The interview was like this.

Con. Officer: Hiii!!! (with a broad smile)
Me: Hello sir (Smiling) Gave him my folder.
CO: Louisiana State University.
Me: Yes sir.
CO: Why this univ?
Me: My area of interest is VLSI and advanced research work is going on over there in this area.
CO: Look, the annual expenses are 16,000 USD and ur course duration is 2.5 years as per ur i-20, it comes to 50,000 USD. How will u meet these expenses?
Me: Sir, I am having a bank balance of 14.6 lacs and Fixed deposits of 2 lacs.
CO: what is your father?
Me: My father is ——– (told his occupation)
CO: What is his income?
Me: 4.5 lacs per annum sir.
CO: It is not sufficient I think.
Me: Sir, my brother is also sponsoring me for my education.
CO: What is he doing?
Me: He is working as ——— (told his occupation).
Co: where?
Me: In Bangalore sir.
CO: What is his income?
Me: 1.8 lacs per annum sir.
Co: So, He can also support you for ur studies.
Me: Yes sir.
CO: what is ur mother?
Me: My mother is a house wife and she is having property,
Con. Officer interrupted and said, property selling and all won’t happen…
Me: She gets rents of about 1.3 lacs per annum through her property sir.
CO: OK. So what will u do with ur electrical engineering degree.
Me: I will return to India and work in a big company.
CO: Why not in US?
Me: Usual sir, family ties and all our property is located in India.
CO: Take all your documents.
Me: OK
CO: Goto the last counter and pay the DD.
He didn’t check even one document of mine.
So be confident and tense free.

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Another F1 Visa Stamping experience.

hi friends my visa appl was rejected on nov 15 the mistake i did was when he first asked me my dads annual income which i told was 5.26 lacs which was ok. But i got confused when he asked my fathers monthly income after asking what does he do i told him his salary only thats 25000 nd not the other incomes this where i got caught. And as told by rajesh fridays really r not advisable this is how my interview went
vo: hi Mr. ali how r u
ali: i am fine sir good morning
vo: do u know anyone in the US
ali: my senior friends are in the US
vo: why do u want to go to US?
ali: for master of sciences in Inustrial & system engg
vo: Which university u r planning to go?
ali: the university of memphis
vo: why univ of memphis?
ali: the industrial prog in the univ of memphis consist of topics  like operation research and forecasting techniques
which r of my  interest
vo: ( interrupts ) but these subj are taught in other univ also but why only memphis
ali: sir i thorougly studied the website of univ of mempphis and i am satisfied by the facilities being provided there also i had some conversation with the grad advisor michel race
vo: oh
vo: but Mr ali will u be able the high fees , who is sponsoring  u?
ali: my father
vo: what does he do
ali: he is a telecom engineer with the dept of telecommunication
vo: What’s his annual income?
ali: 5.26lakhs
vo: how hes going to support ur education tell me his monthly income
ali: 25000 also he has a steady agricultural income
vo: i dont think he can support U
ali: sir he is working for the past 27 years with  the dept. He has  sufficient bank balance to support to me
vo: show me ur bank docs
( i gave me my bank statement)
vo: not this one show me the transactions
(i gave him my passbook he sees all the pages of passbook)
vo: so do u think he is going to spend all his hard earned money on u (nodding his head
ali: yes sir
(i try to speak he interupts)
vo: mr ali i am sorry according to me(speaks a long sentence which  they do while marking the 214B)
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Please share your experience as comment, I will update the article…

   

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212 Comments

  1. hello guys
    I got rejction on 26th august 2020, i appeared with university of new haven.
    vo; gm
    me: gm
    vo: pass me your I20 and sevis;
    me passed
    Vo: why are plan in us
    me; To study my masters in computer and INformatio science, it is integrated degree where i get entire knowledge about sosftware development cycle.
    vo: what about fees;
    me : i mentioned about my faher savings and scholarship amount
    vo: gre score?
    me; 289 (152 in quant)
    vo came inside and bring 221g slip and handed over me i don’t know what happend but she rejected me .
    i asked her 2-3 times for question repeptiation and her tone was low pitched maybe it’s also matter
    but now i am reapplying again any suggestion guys

    Reply
  2. 15 Nov OFC
    16 Nov Mumbai 8:15 rejected

    me: good morrning sir
    vo: give me your passport

    vo: which state are you going?
    me: california

    vo: university?
    me: cal state uni eastbay

    (not a single word typed in conversation)

    vo: for what degree?
    me: masters in computer science….stopped ( ….with focus on Ai but couldn’t complete)

    vo: how many admits you have?
    me: 4

    vo: something speak and gone
    (after 5 min, came with cofee )

    vo: how will you pay for it?
    me: my parents have total savings of x rs. from that

    vo: savings or assets?
    me: total savings

    vo: which type of savings?
    me: bank balance, provident fund, fixed deposit… (stopped)

    vo: (again repeat) How?
    me: my dad works as GM in X company and annual salary is ….( X rs before i complete gave me 214b )

    (i noticed he nothing asked me about university, future plan. savings are thice thn i20 so no financial issue)
    (only typed at time of giving 214b)
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    5 dec OFC
    6 dec chennai 9:15 rejected

    me: good morrning sir
    vo: give me your passport and i20

    me: sir here it is

    vo: which university? are you going?
    me: california state uni eastbay
    (vo oh east bay possitively)

    vo: when did you gradu.?
    me: june 2018

    vo: any backlogs …….score?
    me : no sir, 8.45 cgpa
    (vo: ha ha )
    vo: whats your gre score ?
    me: sir 292 with quant 160.

    vo: how many uni apply for?
    me: 7 uni and start to mention…( b/w that stopped me)

    (only typing and typing conversation)
    vo: how many admits from that
    me: sir, 4
    ( smiled )

    vo: your top 3 priorities?
    me: mentioned

    vo: what will you do after that?
    me: my ambition is to work with infosys ind ltd as project leader.

    vo: you are not qualifing this time
    me: oh, thank you sir.
    ( before I complete gave me 214b )

    (nothing asked me about university, savings)

    im going for 3ed time anyone can give me suggestions ?

    Reply
    • There could be many reasons for the 214B, it is very hard to guess. Not sure, how you presented yourself, you should be confident and create the feeling to visa officer that you will return back. If they believe that you do not come back, they may not issue visa. If you believe, you have a better school admit, you can try using that…

      Reply
  3. Is a Bank Loan Mandatory for a 2 Year MS program in the US. I have got liquid cash for the entire First Year. For the Second Year i have got liquid cash and Fixed Deposits. But for the sake of VISA interview should i go for a Bank Loan .

    Reply
  4. Name: priya
    U.S. Consulate: Hyderabad
    Time: 11:30
    Counter: 14
    Course: Compute science
    Verdict: denied

    i have been working for an IT company from past 4.5 years applied for F1 visa as my fiance working on H1B so after my marriage i want do master instead of sitting ideal so applied for F1.

    Vo: Good Morning madam
    Me : Good morning ,How are you officer (dint get any reply from him)
    Vo: Did you see me before ‘
    Me : No I didn’t see you
    Vo : Okay alright Smiled
    Me : Smiled
    Vo : He asked me what is binomial theorem
    Me : I was blank (because i dint even remember that ) and told sorry i dont have any idea of it
    Vo : You have completed UG In computer science you don’t know Binomial theorem
    Me : I told him that i have completed my UG in ECE (completed my UG in 2011 1)
    Vo : What is semi conductor
    Me : this is also blank ( becuase i have forgot all those thing it been 5 years )
    VO : You can study in Indian schools why you go to USA waste of money (Very rude )
    Me : I was telling him that i am working for IT company from past 4.5 years ….
    Vo : Dont tell stories (very rude)

    See i have completed My UG in 2011 how can i remember this binomial and semiconductor concepts .He didn’t ask anything about university,research,financial documents ,future plans with in 2 questions he has decided .

    Reply
    • Priya,
      Well, I hate to say this, you need to at least answer what is a semiconductor, if not the binomial one…you have a bachelors in ECE…Look at it from VO side, if you do not even know the basics like what is a semi conductor, then how did you get a degree in ECE. Electronics is all about semiconductors….does not matter what you work on now…

      Reply
  5. My F1 visa interview question was, “which subject would be challenging in first semester and why.”
    I couldn’t explained ‘why’ well. I wasn’t prepared for this question. How should I answer same question will be asked again. Can I tell different subject this time or should I stick to one I already answered?

    Reply
    • Hello.
      I am from Bangladesh and I got refused for my f1 visa today on 25th may 2017.
      My papers, academic profile and financial background were pretty strong. But at the interview, when the VO looked at my i20 and saw that my father will be my only sponsor, and that he’ll be paying an entire $37000 as my cost of attendance at Texas Tech University… she asked me hus monthly income and profession. I said he owns a garment factory and earns $30000 /month. She refused me. I dont kbow just what went wrong

      Reply
  6. Hi admin,

    I have appeared for my f-1 visa 4 times(3-Kent state university and 1 wright state) in june and july 2016 and got rejected now im having admits for wright state, kent sate, lamar and UCM.

    Now i am tinking to apply for Lamar university. what are the chances that il get the visa and also which university will be better to go for visa

    Reply
  7. I GOT VISA ON DEC-2015,BUT I DIDN’T ATTEND . NOW I AM GOING TO ATTEND VISA AGAIN WITH DIFFERENT UNIVERSITY ADMISSION.IF VISA OFFICER ASK ME ABOUT MY 1ST VISA WT I HAVE TO SAY ?
    PLS SUGGEST ME

    Reply

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