8 Do’s And Don’ts At The F1 Visa Interview

Hello again! Am back with another blog on 8 Do’s And Don’ts At The F1 Visa Interview. This is the 10th blog of my Masters and other related topics. The days are just passing by and getting annoyingly cold out here. Let’s heat up the session by blogging about the more asked questions about Visa Interview. I have around 8 Important Tips for the Visa Interview. Let’s get started. Rub your palms and warm your fingers up before scrolling down.

Before I write on tips, let me brief you how important is one’s body language during the Visa Interview especially when you stand at the front of the line and you are expecting you to be called. When you stand at the front of the line, there will be 4-5 counters where the interview will be going on. You can be called from any of the counters. Visa Officer will look at you before you are called. It’s really important you maintain good body language.

Body confidence doesn’t come overnight. It should be developed over time. However, nearly 90% of students don’t possess right body language. At least try to develop these habits a month before you go for the interview. Following these tips on the interview day will make you look artificial, so practice well in advance. Here are few tips to show body confidence.

Let’s start the blog 8 Do’s And Don’ts At The F1 Visa Interview:

1. Avoid your pockets

The first tip on our list is to keep your hands out of your pockets while standing in line before you are called by Interviewer. We put our hands in our pockets when we’re uncomfortable or unsure of ourselves. And as long as you have your hands stuffed down your pant, that’s how other people will view you. Institutionally we tend to hide our hands when we’re nervous; keeping your hands out in the open indicates confidence and shows people you have nothing to hide. Also, recognize that putting your hands in your pockets encourages slouching, which isn’t good. As an alternative, try putting your hands on your hips; it’s a far more confident posture.

2. Don’t fidget

Fidgeting is a clear sign of nervousness. A student, who can’t keep still, is a student who is worried about visa, tense and certainly not confident. Your hands can be your worst enemies – fight to keep them still and steady. You can definitely talk with your hands but keep your gesticulations calm and under control. Also, when seated, avoid that rapid leg-vibration thing that some students do.

3. Keep your eyes forward

Keeping your eyes level might be one of the trickiest ways to show confidence in body language during your visa interview. When you’re walking towards VO, its often feels natural to lower your head slightly and watch your step, but this posture communicates that you don’t want to engage in conversation or afraid of talking to VO. Keep your chin up and your eyes forward look into VO’s eyes while walking.

4. Stand up straight with your shoulders back

Standing up straight is one of the most important tips to project confidence through body language during your F1 interview. It can be a challenge especially if you’ve been a sloucher all your life but get over it. Standing up straight is perhaps the most important means of communicating confidence. Concentrate on pushing your shoulders back slightly when standing and walking. Nothing major, just a little. That one simple motion does wonders for your posture. Again, don’t try on the day of the interview it will look funny. Try it in front of the mirror – you’ll be surprised how much more confident it makes you look.

5. Take wide steps

A confident student will never be described as “scurrying,” “creeping” or “sneaking,” so pay attention to the way you walk when you are called. If you want to show confidence in body language you want to take large steps. Wide steps make you seem purposeful and suggest a personal tranquility, which denotes confidence. When you walk towards VO see that you take wide steps. Not too wide…You know what is I am talking about right?

6. Proper grooming

Grooming is an essential component of communicating confidence through body language. You want your hair, face and even your smell to work for you, not against you. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new products to find the ones that work for you couple of weeks before the interview. Cut your hair 4-5 days before your interview, not the day before or on the day of the interview.

7. Don’t cross your arms when standing

Crossing your arms over standing is a protective posture. VO does glance at people who are standing. So don’t cross your arms. We do it when we’re cold, nervous or on guard. Your job is to look likable, open and confident. So relax a little and keep your arms uncrossed.

8. Smile

Confident students smile because they have nothing to worry about. Try this as an experiment: smile at someone as you pass them on the street or walking around your college. Chances are good that they’ll smile back. Now wouldn’t you like to use it during your F1 interview? As you walk towards VO give a smile (not a big one )

All these things matter during your visa interview. Practice this body language in everyday life before your interview. See how your confidence level is after a week.

Ideas to Convince Visa Officer

• Show your confidence in your body language, speech and in answering Visa Interviewer
• Always look into person’s eyes before answering
• To show confidence while answering you could move your hands within your body space.
• Your answers should be straight, simple and to the point in 1-2 sentences
• He or she doesn’t have time to look into all your documents. So arrange your documents and identify your documents with flaps.
• Your answers should be clearly structured.Go through top 50 questions in this document.
• Avoid giving unnecessary leads in your answers unless asked.
• Always be defensive in your speech. Never show your anger, frustration even if your visa is rejected.
• Take I-20 from good public schools. Don’t take I-20 from unknown, not so reputed colleges. Just by looking at the university the Interviewer will know what the reputation of your university. So be careful with your selection and acceptance of I-20.
• Always provide a smile when answering. Not too big.
• Dress up for your best. Formal is the right attire for the F1 visa for both Men’s and ladies. Remember you are going to higher studies in the US.
• Try to make VO job easier. Arrange your documents neatly and be ready to submit if asked.
• You have 2 minutes to convince VO. Every word you say must have a positive impact on the outcome of your visa. So practice, practice and practice
• Tune your ears to hear the questions properly. Don’t ask to repeat questions
• Stand straight in the window. Don’t lean
• Develop eye contact at least 2 months prior to your F1 interview. Try with your siblings, friends, when shopping etc…Bring that attitude…

How to dress up for F1 visa interview?

Dress Your Best When going for F1 Interview. Dress to Impress but in a sober way.

Does it really make a difference how you dress for an F1 interview? In many cases, it does.Of course, there is no written policy or immigration rules that describe how one should dress for the F1 interview. It’s better to be conservative when it comes to dressing code for the F1 interview. This is your final chance and hurdle that will determine not only your academic future but pretty much your life.

Women’s F1 Interview Attire:

• Solid color, conservative suit (Professional Salwars available for Indian students with one side shawl, some HR executives do wear such dress.)Saree not advisable for F1 interview
• Coordinated blouse
• Light colored lipsticks (light pink, very light red)
• Manicured nails and polish matches your lipstick color (light pink or very light red)
• Moderate shoes, heels not more than 1 inch (color matches with your dress, black fits for all color)
• Limited jewelry (avoid nose piercing, flashy necklace).
• Neat, professional medium length hairstyle (not too short, not too long)
• Tan or light hosiery
• Sparse perfume
• Nice slim watch
• Professional file (dark brown leather matches pretty much for everything) Avoid colorful files

Men’s F1 Interview Attire:

• Suit (solid color – navy or dark grey).Suit not really required if you live in hot region
• Long sleeve shirt (white or light blue coordinated with the suit)
• Belt(Black, dark brown, no big loops style)
• Tie (matching white or light blue shirt)
• Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
• Little or no jewelry (hand ring ok, bracelet & ear stud not acceptable)
• Neat, professional hairstyle (not too short or too long).Cut your hair 4-5 days before the interview. Just trim.
• Neatly trimmed nails
• Professional file or Portfolio matching your dress (dark brown). Avoid colorful files
• Decent watch with leather strap (not Timex style sports watch)
• Make yourself fresh by having decent aftershave and light perfume

Breath a mint till you enter consulate to make you fresh. This is not it. Your confidence level will show up when you are sitting and when you stand on line. Yes, it does matter. Do you think the officer will not watch you Visa officer does watch every one before you go to a window.