If you’re an international student and from all indications, it’s looking very likely that you’ll be studying in the United states of America, here are useful tips that’ll help you present a better you at the American Embassy and bring yourself closer to clenching that Study Visa no matter how tough the Visa officer seems to be!
While the tips here are no guarantee that your Visa is going to get 100% granted, you’re certainly going to stand with more confident and help the Visa officer see a more knowledgeable Candidate when you speak.
Just follow the tips below
Tips that’ll Help you stand with Confidence at the American Embassy!
No matter who you are, your country of origin, always make it a rule to first have these things ready and be best prepared before presenting yourself at the American Embassy!
1. Ensure you are with all Documents
Your documents should be your number 1 Priority. They’re proofs of who you are, what you have and what you’re about to do and when you fail to carry them, getting them again might just be you walking out on your Visa Officer. Never walk out on a Visa Officer unless he or she asked you to!
Consider the list of documents below and ensure you’re with all as you cannot afford to fail to present any when requested.
- I-20 signed by you
- Study leave signed and stamped by your company
- Sponsor statement
- Confirmation appointment
- Admission letter
- DS-160 confirmation page
- SEVIS FEE
- Sponsor statement
- Proof of relevant work experience
- Proof of funds
- Proof of projects executed at your undergraduate or work done at your employment
2. Look the part and Look clean!
Well starched and ironed shirt and trousers, with a fine fitted blazer (important), I wouldn’t advise anyone to go with your traditional Attire. two guys in front of me were denied and they wore native.
I could be wrong but then dressing is a strong determinant of first impressions. This was a personal experience, everyone has a different experience at the embassy and the reasons for Visa approval/Refusal varies from one applicant to the other.
3. Confidence is Everything
If your visa is in 3days, 1 week whatever time you have before your interview, watch CNN, BBC, Aljazeera not your local network news please, hear how the reporters in these international news networks speak fluently with articulation, if possible record and repeat after them, trust me this speaks volume about your person.
same way I would enjoy speaking my local dialect with a fellow state indigene, the consulate also will enjoy speaking English with someone that speaks well and communicate on the same level not forming fake accent but speak clearly loud with articulation and confidence .
4. Know the tiniest Details about your school
Before presenting yourself at the American Embassy, ensure you’ve read on what makes the school attractive and tell the Visa Officer this is why you’re deciding to pitch with the school despite receiving offers from other institutions. Read on list of professors that will be teaching you and the courses to be taught, Read on an executive summary of the course you intend to study. Read and if possible cram and prepare well. Read on everything you put when filling your DS-160 form.
5. Valid Reasons for your sponsorship
Have a cogent reason why your sponsor is sponsoring you. If not your parents. then anybody else should have a valued reason for sponsoring you not because for example, he saw value in me, my mother helped her when she was small. Reasons like I was amongst the best staff in the office so selected for sponsorship (with a company letter to back it up).
Good Example => my uncle in oil and gas, real estate, shipping, export sponsors each member of the family every two years for a masters abroad and its my turn as part of his personal contribution to the family (you are showing continuity). Things like that. not based on emotions.
6. Have a Sensible Explanation of What you’re going to do when you return to your country after studies
This was the deal breaker for so many Visa Officers, I observed lack of depth in student explanation, One thing we should understand is that Visa Officers are trained like every three months on tricks, new development and new tactics student use to get visa so they even know better than us.
possible answers to this questions below:
If you are working, get a study leave from your company’s Human Resources department
Answer: The opportunity of returning to working my current place is open for me.
The Visa Officer will ask your proof.
Bring out your study leave letter. Visa officer will understand you’re for real.
I also intend to float my own Bleep business in this sector because there is a huge gap and opportunities in Nigeria in this sector and it will thrive seriously ( You are now providing insights to the Visa officer as opposed to answering his / her questions). This is what makes them realize you’re not running away!.
ii. Establish ties to Nigeria, I and my siblings are managing the family business “Norton Digital Enterprises” (you can get a CAC document of your own business or friend and tell them). you are an integral member of management and you cant afford to stay too long away.
8. You Received Multiple Admission Offers
Even if you just have admission for one. This makes a Visa officer realize you’re good enough to have received offers from different institutions within the United States.
9. Know your GRE scores and IELTS result by heart, have a printed copy handy.
It is important because you do not want to sound blank when the Officer pops the question. Having a print out of these results, memorizing the score details makes you speak confidently and since you already have the print outs, no much stress.
10. Be Polite and Friendly
The American Embassy is not a war front. It does not bring you closer to some Terror gang member or someone to punch. So while appearing confident and showing same by the way you respond to questions, ensure you wear a smile and sound polite when you respond to questions directed at you.
11. Give Fine details about your Job –
If you are working, give in fine details about your job description when asked. You’ll know when you’ve done this effectively as the Visa officer will nod their head and say “Its ok” while you’re giving your details.
Remember, the American Embassy is a place where you fine and beautiful American dreams could be cut short. Not because you are not fit to get the Visa but because the details you’ve provided are not convincing enough to the Visa Officer. So you may want to take this page seriously and share to friends who might need it too!
Post Credits: Twitter @Cherrychristie2
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