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Visa Interview Preparation
Documentation Required for the Visa Interview – Generally, you should prepare the following documents before your visa interview:
Passport – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements).
Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page.
Visa application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview.
Photo – You will upload your passport photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.
SEVIS Fee (I-901) Receipt – Make sure to pay the SEVIS Fee at least 3 days in advance of the Visa Interview appointment.
Admission Letter
Academic Support Documents – A consular officer will interview you to determine your qualifications for a student visa, and may request additional documents, such as:
Transcripts, marksheets, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended; and
Standardized test scores results (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, ACT, SAT, etc.) used for admission to your degree program.
Proof of non-immigrant intent – You will need to establish your intent to depart the United States upon completion of the course of study (see “Proving non-immigrant intent” below)
Proof of funding – You need evidence of how you will pay all educational, living and travel costs for your first year (scholarships, loans, bank statements) as well as how you anticipate paying for your study and living expenses beyond the initial year (evidence that the scholarships, loans, or funding will be available to you on a continuing basis).
Please refer to the U.S. Department of State Web site for more guidance:
• F-1 Students
You should also consult your U.S. Embassy or Consulate – http://www.usembassy.gov/ to see if there are any additional country-specific visa application requirements.
Visa Interview Tips
*Adapted from NAFSA’s 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Non-immigrant VISA
1.Proving Non-Immigrant Intent
F-1 visas are considered non-immigrant visas. Accordingly, during the student visa interview, applicants must establish their non-immigrant intent to the satisfaction of the consular officer.
Non-immigrant intent means that you have binding ties to your home country and have a home which you have no intention of abandoning, and that you will depart the United States when you have completed your studies.
It is impossible to specify the exact form the evidence of non-immigrant intent should take since applicants’ circumstances vary greatly, but generally, “Ties” to your home country are the things that connect you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, owning a house or apartment, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. As a student visa applicant, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific plans or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country.
2. English – The interview will generally 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!
3. Speak for Yourself – The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family or an agent, and a more positive impression is created if you are prepared to speak on your own.
4. Know the Program and How It Fits Your Career Plans – Be able to explain to the consular officer why you chose to study at South Florida Bible College and specifically in the major or degree program you have chosen.
Often the U.S. Consulate will also request the CV and publication list of the faculty supervisor or department chair. We also recommend that you bring the following to the visa interview: a copy of your degree study plan (https://www.sfbc.edu/catalog/), transcripts, and a copy of your resume/CV.
5. Be Brief and Maintain a Positive Attitude – It is important to dress nicely and smile during your interview. Keep your answers to the officer’s questions short and to the point, responding precisely to the consular officer’s questions and statements.
The best thing that you can do is to clearly articulate —
Why you want to go to South Florida Bible College
What you plan to study
How you plan to use your education when you return home
Be ready to cover this information in no more than about 3 to 5 sentences, and practice saying those sentences with family and friends until you become comfortable with the English.
Here are some of the types of questions that you might get asked:
Why have you chosen this college?
Who will sponsor your education?
Why don’t you study this in your own country?
Do you intend to work in the U.S.?
What are your plans after finishing the degree?
What was your English Placement/TOEFL score?
If you are denied the student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents they would suggest you bring to overcome the denial and try to get the reason you were denied in writing. For more information about responding to a visa denial, visit the U.S. Department of State’s web page explaining visa denials.
6. Supporting Documentation – There are a few supporting documents which are common among all students such as financial documentation, admission letter(s), and scholarship letters. Students should be prepared to take all documentation proving their financial ability to stay in the United States such as scholarships, assistantships or other letters issued by the school, sponsor or other organization. The financial information indicated on your Form I-20 should match the evidence provided to the consular officer.
If you will be a graduate student in the United States, consular officials may want a letter from your supervising professor or faculty member that explains your intended research goals (see above).
7. Different Requirements for Different Countries – Applicants from developing countries and from countries where many students have remained in the United States long-term rather than returning home often have more difficulty getting visas. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.
You should review your country’s specific requirements on the U.S. consulate’s website. Also, several U.S. consulates around the globe have created YouTube videos which explain the visa process at their specific posts. Always check your specific U.S. embassy or consulate to see if a new YouTube video is available. A select list of consular YouTube videos is located below as a resource.
8. Employment – While many students work on- or off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental (secondary/optional) to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. As a student visa applicant you must be clear about your primary purpose being to study. Also, you must be able to clearly explain your plan to return home at the end of your program.
If you are applying for an F-1 visa and your spouse or children are also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with their time while in the United States. Volunteering in the community and attending school part-time are permitted activities for F-2 dependents.
9. Dependents Remaining at Home – If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to explain how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be especially difficult to explain if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that you intend to support your family with money you may earn during your studies in the United States, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied.
If your spouse or children decide to join you at a later time as an F-2 dependent, it may be helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa, but that is not always required if your family is living in another district. Also remember, F-2 dependent visa interviews are more challenging when an F-2 dependent is filing separately from the F-1 student. F-2 Dependents need to be able to clearly state their reason for joining you, their ties to the home country, and establish their non-immigrant intent.
10. Other Special Considerations
Tell the truth – do not lie during the interview, as lying is an act of perjury.
Social media question on the visa application – the “social media” question on Form DS-160, the standard online application used by individuals to apply for a nonimmigrant visa. The item requires applicants to indicate the social media platforms that they have used during the five years preceding their visa application, and to provide any identifiers or handles they used on those platforms.
Administrative processing delays – Some students may experience delays in obtaining a visa because of “administrative processing.” See information below in our Delays & Denials section. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State’s Administrative Processing Information web page.
Past visits to the U.S. – You may be asked to explain past visits and stays in the United States and/or any prior visa statuses held by you or your family members. Also, students who formerly held an employment-based immigration status (H-1B) or had Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT might also need to explain the reasons for additional study in the United States instead of working at home.
Third country applications – If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the country in which you currently live or the country where you plan to apply for a visa (i.e., you are a “third country national”), you may also have to explain your intent to return to that country upon completion of your studies in the United States.
Arrests and convictions – Documentation should accompany any arrests or convictions within the U.S. or abroad, including any arrests or convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Always check with an experienced immigration attorney if you have any current or past legal issues.
Visa Interview Video Resources
Many U.S. Embassies and Consulates have prepared YouTube video resources and have extensive social media support for student visa applicants.
Below are a number of videos on various visa application topics, organized by country location.
We strongly suggest that you follow the social media presence of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country or place of residence for helpful guidance on the visa application process.
You should also connect with your nearest EducationUSA Center or American Spaces office. They have fantastic resources for you as you prepare for your American education journey.
U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh
U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia
U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India
U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia
U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico
U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines
U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Attending your non-immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in London
A walk through visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy in London
Visa Delays – Security Clearances and Administrative Processing
Please note that when you apply for a visa, you may be subject to a security clearance that can cause delays of weeks or even months in the issuance of your visa and your arrival in the U.S. This clearance is most commonly known as Administrative Processing, and it is often connected to Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
You may be requested to provide additional information in order to receive clearance and be issued a visa.
Unfortunately, if you are selected for Administrative Processing, there is nothing that International Student Services Department or any other office can do to expedite the processing.
The following are two common types of Administrative Processing delay that you might encounter:
1) Field of Study: If a visa applicant’s area of study is on the U.S. federal government’s “technology alert list,” which includes many of the science and technology fields, the U.S. Consulate may seek a security clearance prior to granting the visa. This process may delay your visa application by anywhere from 10 days to 3 months. There is no way to know for certain whether you will be subject to this type of clearance.
If you study/work in a STEM field, we advise you to ask your faculty supervisor or department chair to write a letter that briefly describes the specific area of your study/research in layperson’s terms.
We also recommend that you bring the following to the visa interview: a copy of your degree study plan (https://www.sfbc.edu/catalog/), transcripts, and a copy of your resume/CV. These materials will not necessarily deter a security clearance, but they will help address most of the common 221(g) inquiry details.
2) Country of Citizenship, Nationality or Birth: A security clearance may also be required by the U.S. Consulate if a visa applicant was born in or is a citizen or national of certain countries. The list of countries is not published, but seems to include the following: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the territories of Gaza and West Bank.
What to do about Visa Delays
Students who have been selected for Administrative Processing and believe it will delay their entry to the U.S. beyond the start date listed on their I-20 should contact International Student and Scholar Services. Generally speaking, if a visa issuance delay extends beyond the first week of classes, our only option will be to defer your admission to the following semester and update your I-20 accordingly.
If you have been waiting for more than one month for the results of an Administrative Processing clearance, contact International Student Services Department at issd@sfbc.edu to seek assistance. In the email, please include the following:
A copy of the DS-160 Confirmation Receipt (for yourself and any F-2 Dependents who applied with you)
The date, time, and Consular location where your visa interview took place
Please be aware that there is nothing that can be done to expedite the case, but ISSD can submit an inquiry with the U.S. Consulate processing your case in case additional information may be needed.
Executive Order Suspending Entry of Some Chinese Graduate Students and Visiting Scholars
On June 1, 2020, the Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China went into effect.
While we believe the scope of impact from this proclamation will be relatively low at South Florida Bible College, International Student Services Department will continue to monitor the situation and update the community.
Until ISSD is advised otherwise by the U.S. government, we will continue to process immigration documents for all F-1 students and visiting scholars from China.
Who is NOT impacted?
All new and continuing undergraduate students
All legal permanent residents
A spouse of a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
F-1 graduate students in a field involving information that would not contribute to the PRC’s military‑civil fusion strategy”
Who is impacted?
New graduate F-1 students who:
Currently receive funding, are employed by, study at, or conduct research at or on behalf of “an entity in the PRC [People’s Republic of China] that implements or supports the PRC’s ‘military-civil fusion strategy'”
Have previously been employed at, studied at, or conducted research at or on behalf of “an entity in the PRC [People’s Republic of China] that implements or supports the PRC’s ‘military-civil fusion strategy'”
The U.S. Secretary of State shall determine if current F-1 graduate students and visiting scholars who are in the United States and have a valid visa meet the criteria regarding involvement in “military-fusion strategy” and determine whether their visa should be revoked.
How will this be determined?
The Department of State indicated in a June 16 phone call that individuals subject to the proclamation should be notified immediately at the consular interview (refusal based on INA 212(f)), rather than having their applications placed in administrative processing.
As noted by DOS, an individual will only be subject if there is an identified association with an entity that supports China’s military-civil fusion strategy, AND the individual is studying in one of the fields of concern. Both criteria must be met.
The proclamation defines “military-civil fusion strategy” as “actions by or at the behest of the PRC to acquire and divert foreign technologies, specifically critical and emerging technologies, to incorporate into and advance the PRC’s military capabilities.”
The proclamation did not specify the list of the affected institutions or entities in China. Instead, the proclamation directs the U.S. Secretary of State to identify the affected people as well as certain fields of study or research that would contribute to China’s military-civil fusion strategy.
During a June 16, 2020 teleconference, the Department of State indicated that the list of entities will not be made public. However, DOS did mention the following resources that could give individuals a better background understanding:
Military-Civil Fusion and the People’s Republic of China, U.S. Department of State Fact Sheet.
Technology Transfers to the PRC Military and U.S. Countermeasures: Responding to Security Threats with New Presidential Proclamation. Arms Control and International Security Papers, Volume I, Number 9, June 5, 2020. Christopher A. Ford, Office of the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
China Defence Universities Tracker, by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (note: DOS offered this only as an example of how one country, Australia, flagged entities on a risk scale; DOS was clear that individuals should not assume that the U.S. list of entities will mirror or be based on the Australian tracker).
Additional resources on the Executive Order:
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