F1 Visa Interview Documents: Have you enrolled in a dream university in the USA? Then, as the last phase in your academic journey, it is time for you to prepare for your F1 USA visa interview. Although the interview might be intimidating, being well-prepared is essential to doing well because it will determine if you are eligible to receive your F1 student visa.
International students who wish to enrol in educational institutions in the United States are granted the F1 visa, which is a student visa. It includes additional degrees and levels ranging from elementary school through university and graduate school.
The consular officer will decide whether to issue your visa based on your preparation of the required documents and compliance with all F1 visa requirements. You have come to the right place if you want to apply for an F1 visa and require information on the F1 visa interview documents on the day of your interview!
If you want to apply for an F1 visa and the nitty-gritty of it, you can contact our study abroad experts with 10+ years of experience who can guide you through the entire US visa process.
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Eligibility Criteria for F1 Visa
There are certain eligibility criteria that need to be met before you can apply for an F1 visa:
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You need to enrol in a program at a US university that requires a minimum of 18 hours of study in a week. All graduate and post-graduate programs come under it.
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You have to take admission to a SEVP-certified university in the US that accepts international students. Check your university website for Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).Note: SEVP provides approval and oversight to universities authorised to enrol F and M, nonimmigrant students.
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Proficiency in the English language is desirable to get a visa. To prove the same, you must have taken the TOEFL exam, IELTS exam, PTE exam or Duolingo English Test.
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You should be financially eligible to study in the US. Your funds should reflect that you can afford to live and study in the USA.
Application Process for F1 Visa
To apply for an F1 Visa, you need to follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Gather your documents from your institution that accepts SEVP.
Step 2: Get your form I-20. Without this, you will not be able to give your visa interview.
Step 3: Fill up the DS-160 form and provide the necessary information for visa application.
Step 4: Pay USD 160 as the application fee for the visa.
Step 5: Next, you will have to pay SEVIS I-901 fees. The amount is USD 200.
Step 6: Schedule and appear for your F-1 visa interview
Step 7: Submit the necessary documents and papers. The list has been given below.
Personal Documents for F1 Visa Interview
The FI visa interview is time-consuming and we advise you to carry all the following documents. The visa officer can unexpectedly ask for some documents which you might not carry with you. So to cope with any emergency situation, we will recommend you keep all the records close to you.
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Birth Certificate
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Passport
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Copy of the appointment letter of the interview
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SEVIS Fees receipt
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Print out of DS-160 Confirmation Barcode
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Form I-20 duly signed by the candidate and the authorized representative of the university. This is proof of your financial sufficiency.
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Applicant's copy of VISA fee receipt
Academic Documents forF1 Visa Interview
Here are the documents based on your academic background that you need to carry for your F-1 visa interview:
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Original mark sheet of class 10, mark sheet of class 12, mark sheet of bachelor's degree(for masters admission), and certificates of all main examinations passed till then.
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If results are pending you will need a provisional mark sheet.
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Co-curricular activity certificates
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Original scholarship certificate(if any)
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Copies of research work or projects
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Original test scores of entrance exams such as SAT exam, GMAT exam, GRE exam, LSAT, etc
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Scores of TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo
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Bonafide certificate from college if you have not received your degree
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Acceptance letter from the institution where you are going to be admitted
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Receipt of advance payment made to the university
Work-Related Documents for F1 Visa Interview
Here are the work-related documents that you need to carry for your F-1 visa interview (if required):
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Recommendation letter from employer
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Payslip/salary certificate of last 6 months
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IT returns of last 3 years
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Appointment letters
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Original documents of publications
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Resume demonstrating professional expertise
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Joining letter and release letter from the last office
Financial Documents for F1 VisaInterview
Given below are the financial documents required for F-1 visa interview:
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Bank statement for last 3 years
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Record of tax of past 3 years
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Proof of scholarship in the US
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Affidavit from sponsor (if necessary)
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Original income tax paper of the sponsor.
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Proof of approved loan if you have taken an education loan to fund your studies.
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Original bank statements of past 6 months
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Monetary proof to pay for a year of education and living cost
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Term deposit certificates of 3 years
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Property related documents
All the documents must be prepared and kept ready well ahead of time so as to avoid unnecessary problems later.
To prevent misunderstanding, it is advised that you neatly arrange all the files and documents in a partition file and name the parts. If you are required to provide any particular document, you can do it without difficulty. Most important, do not forget to get there a little early. Being late immediately creates a negative image. In addition, you may discover additional information about the F1 Visa application procedure on the official website of the US Embassy.
Furthermore, we are aware that these interviews can be quite unsettling, but preparation is essential. As a result, you may now participate in practice interviews and let all of your inhibitions go before the actual F1 US visa interview.
If you want to know more about the paperwork related to an F1 visa, get guidance from our team of experts who can clear all your doubts about an F-1 visa, from the application process to tips for a successful visa interview.
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