International Students, Part II: The US Student Visa Interview

The US student visa interview lasts under two minutes. According to Inesa, a US visa consultant who has prepared many F-1 and J-1 applicants, consular officers make their decision in that window, and most of it doesn't come down to your documents. The interview is not to recheck your papers. It's to check you.This is Part II of a 3-part series for international students. Last week, Christian Akwara walked through Canadian study permits. This week, Inesa breaks down what consular officers may ask, the difference between F-1 and J-1 visas, why one-word answers are the most common cause of denials, and her three-sentence formula for answering interview questions in a way that demonstrates ties to your home country without sounding rehearsed.Next week, Megan chats with us about her experiences studying abroad in California and compares them to growing up in Indonesia.