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Studying abroad is a dream come true for so many people. Once you get a letter of acceptance, the real thing begins. From packing essentials to booking flight tickets, moving abroad for studies is a huge task. Among these, applying for a student visa application is the most important task demanding time and preparation. Many applicants struggle with the student visa application procedures, especially the study visa interviews. We have covered the essentials if you’re looking for some visa interview tips!
Over 6.5 million Indian students went abroad for higher studies in 2022 as per the Union Education Department of India. Indian students are making their way to some of the top universities in the world, from the UK to Canada. However, this journey is far from easy.
Riddled with documentation, financial planning, accommodation and intense visa requirements, many students are overwhelmed by the process. Top this with an interview that can make or break your visa procedure, it is no easy breeze!
Immigration laws of many countries including the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada are pretty rigid and visa applicants must meet all their visa requirements to get the visa stamp. However, with the whole process being so matter-of-fact, most people consider the visa interview the most challenging. We hope to cover everything related to student visa interviews, especially the most commonly asked questions by the immigration officers:
You should be able to go through your university and programme details and have a clear idea about them. Show how much your choice of programme is helpful for your future plan.
Be confident about your programme and tell them about your reasons. Don’t beat around the bush or say things that may show doubt or confusion regarding your course. They have many applicants waiting for this opportunity.
Unless asked, don’t show them any documents or blabber needlessly. You can briefly share your scores, GPA, SATs/ACTs when prompted and any other skills or qualifications if they ask.
This is one of the determining factors as often student visa applicants may not have sufficient funds to pay for their tuition or daily living expenses. It is a red flag for them as they may also drop out of college, thus wasting a precious seat. If your family can’t fund your education, make sure you can prove your financial ability by securing an education loan or scholarship. You should also share any intentions of part-time employment if your visa category allows you to work with study.
Another very important question, many students naively express their desire to work and ultimately settle in that country. This is a huge red flag for immigration officers especially if they have rigid immigration policies. As a student, you should finish your education first and plan for future work or settlement later. You will then have to obtain another appropriate visa (such as a US work visa or permanent residence)
There is no guaranteed hack to ace a visa interview, or any other interview. Other than answering all questions honestly, there are a few other things to prepare for your visa interview:
Make a good impression by being punctual and dressing appropriately. The visa officer forms their impression in the first few minutes, as they have to go through many applications.
Go through your university website, brochures, or handbooks to learn important things about your university or college. Find out important details like your course fee, its duration, commencement and end dates, etc. Aspiring applicants are expected to know these basic things and how they plan to navigate through their courses, timeline, finances etc.
Don't blabber or say things needlessly. Stay calm and confidently answer the questions. If you need clarification on their query, feel free to ask again. Instead of guessing the question and replying about something else, the officer will appreciate the cut and quick responses without wasting time.
There can be several reasons behind a visa rejection. Error in documents, translation issues, incomplete or in the case of student visa interviews, lack of sufficient funds can delay or reject your student visa application. Take a look at some of the most common reasons behind student visa rejection:
Not only do they have to leave their home country for a faraway place, but there is also a lot to prepare for. Suddenly moving to a new place with no family or friends, the culture shock and the study pressure can be overwhelming. Things can get serious if they fall sick or find themselves in financial emergencies. For this reason, many universities across the world have made it mandatory for international students to have student travel insurance.
Countries like Germany, Australia, the US and France have made it mandatory for students to have reliable overseas travel health insurance for their course duration. Even if it is not mandatory in the country, many universities require foreign applicants to buy international health insurance while studying abroad. So make sure to compare travel insurance on Policybazaar.com before buying any international health insurance.
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*Price shown is for a 30 day trip to Thailand with 1 lakh dollar coverage for an adult of age 25 years