Dear International Freshmen:

Enrollment of foreign students in colleges, universities and other institutions of higher education in the United States is a key element in our nation's foreign relations.  Study in the United States provides the opportunity for students from other countries to experience the American way of life.  American-educated men and women play an important role in relating U.S. customs and values when they return to their home countries.

The following should help you as you prepare for your visa interview.  If you have not yet done so, please send the International Student Office your visa interview date, so that we can begin planning for your arrival.  The most important advice to pass along is to apply early! 

Here's what the U.S. Department of State recommends about obtaining a student visa.

Students who can show that they have consulted the local Education USA advising center may have an improved chance of obtaining a student visa.

In addition to the required passport, fee receipt, application form, and color photograph against white background, applicants for student visas must provide the following documentation:

I-20 Form: The I-20 Form (issued by the school in the U.S.) is mandatory for all student visa applicants. Please complete and sign the I-20 form.

Evidence of Prior Education: Applicants should bring original transcripts of prior education.

Financial Assets: Applicants should present full and complete financial documentation to show that they have sufficient funds to cover the cost of  their educational fees and living expenses while in the U.S. Fixed deposit accounts, current accounts, savings accounts and/or promissory notes belonging to the applicant's financial sponsor may be presented.  Original documents should be presented - the Embassy will not need to keep copies.
 
When applying for a student visa, applicants are applying for a non-immigrant visa. Before a nonimmigrant visa may be issued, an applicant must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that he/she is not an intending immigrant. Applicants can do this by showing evidence of their own family, economic, property, and/or other social ties to a country outside the U.S.  No relative, employer, or friend can "guarantee" an applicant's return in place of such evidence.
Among the factors a consular officer will consider are the following:

Does the student have the financial resources available to fund his education in the United States without having to resort to unauthorized employment or prolonged interruptions of study?  Is the education appropriate for the individual student in context in his home country?  Are there any external factors that would encourage the student to remain in the United States without authorization?  Be prepared to say how you happened to choose Wabash College for your studies.

Note: By signing the visa application form you are certifying that all the information contained in it is true and correct. If you misrepresent any facts, you could be barred from entry to the United States. Please double-check that all your answers are accurate. Please inquire with the staff in the Consular Section if you do not understand any of the questions on the application form.
 
Be prepared to tell the Consul how your major is going to help you when you go back home.  Take papers which show that you have something to come back to i.e. family, property, etc. Remember to take the letters the college sent you, the admission letter, financial aid letter and Mr. Clapp's letter.  You should be able to tell the Consul about your financial package and how it works. Remember to be polite, NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY TO YOU; sometimes they can be rude.

10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa

TIES TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY. Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. "Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country. Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter, which can guarantee visa issuance. If you have applied for the U.S. Green Card Lottery, you may be asked if you are intending to immigrate. A simple answer would be that you applied for the lottery since it was available but not with a specific intent to immigrate. If you overstayed your authorized stay in the U.S. previously, be prepared to explain what happened clearly and concisely, with documentation if available.

ENGLISH. Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview, but do NOT prepare speeches! If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.

SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there is case there are questions, for example about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.

KNOW THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT FITS YOUR CAREER PLANS. If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the U.S. relates to your future professional career when you return home.

BE BRIEF. Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION. It should be immediately clear to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated.  Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you're lucky.

NOT ALL COUNTRIES ARE EQUAL. Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the US as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the U.S.

EMPLOYMENT. Your main purpose in coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the U.S. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the U.S. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.

DEPENDENTS REMAINING AT HOME. If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.

MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.

NAFSA would like to credit Gerald A. Wunsch, Esq., 1997,then a member of the Consular Issues Working Group, and a former U.S. Consular Officer in Mexico, Suriname, and the Netherlands, and Martha Wailes of Indiana University for their contributions to this document. NAFSA also appreciates the input of the U.S. Department of State.

Good luck with your interview and mail us if you have any more questions.

Getting a VISA

How do I obtain a student visa?

Where do I apply for a visa?

U.S. visa policy

Visa Wait Times

Education USA visa assistance

What if I am denied a visa?

Obtaining a US student visa while in Canada