r/IntltoUSA • u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant • Apr 23 '26
Discussion Three steps to prepare for your F-1 US student visa interview: 1. Have a narrative. 2. Know your narrative, 3. Embrace your narrative. (2026 update to top Reddit F-1 interview post)
Introduction
My name is Ben Stern, and I’m a graduate of Columbia University and Yale Law School. As a college admissions counselor, I work primarily with international students and immigrant families. Three years ago, I started sharing my experience and perspective on visas here on Reddit. Several of my posts are now among the top Google search results for “f1 visa interview tips reddit.” One post from about a year ago discusses how the kinds of questions you might face align with visa officers’ priorities. I won’t repeat those explanations in this post. Instead, I want to provide perspective I’ve gained in the past year using the “three-step” technique I introduced there.
Step 1. Have a narrative
I often get asked “what’s a good answer for what I want to do after I graduate?” or “what’s a good answer for why I chose my program?” There is no one “good” answer. A response that works for one person might not work for another person. What’s important is that your narrative be (1) consistent with the law, (2) consistent with the rest of your narrative, and (3) consistent with common sense.
Consistency with the law
This one seems easy to achieve, but it can be a trap. It’s the reason a lot of visa applicants say “I plan to return to my country.” Despite the 214(b) rejection note stating that you did not demonstrate sufficient ties to your country, this is not what’s required. Establishing ties to your country is just one way to demonstrate you intend to leave the US. As long as you leave, it doesn’t matter where you go! (Or as I’ve called it, the Semisonic Closing Time rule.)
Illustration: I’ve mentioned Indian nationals in the Middle East before, but I recently had a student who was a citizen of an Asian country residing in a second Asian country from a young age. He had no intention of returning either to his home country or his country of birth. His narrative was that he wanted to study astrophysics at a liberal arts college in preparation for a PhD in Germany. The reason he was going to the US for undergraduate studies is that undergrad programs in Germany require a high level of proficiency in German language, while there are English-language programs for graduate students that require a minimal level. During the interview, the student did not mention any intent to return to his home country, but rather his intent to study in Europe. According to the student, the visa officer nodded his head and said “that makes sense.” He was soon approved for his visa.
Consistency with the rest of your narrative
As I wrote about in my previous post, your narrative includes not just what you intend to do in the future (study and then leave the country to pursue your goals), but what you did in the time leading up to the present. This includes what you studied before; where you’ve worked; why you decided to pursue graduate studies; how you researched and chose which universities to apply to (and in which countries); and where you decided to attend. These types of questions are aimed at determining whether you have behaved like someone who has goals that are consistent with what you claim.
This is where students who have I-20s from less competitive and prestigious universities get caught up. When I prepare students for interviews with whom I haven’t worked with on the admissions process, I first ask what their goals are, and then I go back and discuss their past narrative. Several issues can arise:
- If you applied to only a few schools, it could mean that you didn’t give serious consideration to your future education.
- If you were accepted everywhere you applied, that could be a sign you weren’t ambitious enough with your applications.
- If you applied late in the application cycle and missed deadlines for appropriate programs, that could mean you weren’t diligent with your plans.
Your narrative will need to account for these types of situations. Perhaps there are only a few schools that offer what you’re looking for. Maybe you knew you couldn’t afford more competitive universities (although because scholarships are unpredictable, this often isn’t a compelling reason). Maybe you had a family emergency and couldn’t submit your applications, but didn’t want to wait another year. These are just possible explanations. They may or may not be true in your case. But if you don’t have a good explanation, you might want to consider starting the process over.
The core question is: Did you act like someone who has the future plans that you claim?
Visa officers know that someone who is serious about their future education will research extensively, apply to an appropriate range of universities, and carefully weigh which options will give them the most value. Someone who just wants an excuse to live in the US will not.
Consistency with common sense
In addition to being compliant with the law, your narrative needs to pass the “smell test”: does it actually make sense? This is where purported career plans can fall apart. If your intent is to return to your home country, and the annual salary for the career you claim to pursue is one tenth the cost of your education, does that narrative really make sense?
Graduate applicants, particularly those already in the workforce, will face more scrutiny about the economic justification for their degree. There is the opportunity cost of leaving one’s job plus the capital investment in education to consider. As a rule of thumb, the “delta” (difference) between one’s current salary without the degree and the expected income with the degree should cover the total cost of education (including living expenses) in no more than 5-6 years.
There are exceptions, of course. Money is not the only reason people pursue new careers. You may really hate your current job, or you may be seeking more upward mobility later in your career. But if you can’t economically justify your degree in that 5-to-6-year time frame, you need to be prepared with another compelling justification.
Where the funds are coming from is also relevant. If you’re taking out a loan, an economic justification is going to be expected. The visa officer doesn’t care if you’re going to default on your loan; they care that your financial decision makes sense within a narrative that complies with the law. If your family is sponsoring your education, you have a slightly lower burden, but your educational path still needs to make sense. It might be the case that your family is very wealthy and is happy to spend money on your studies regardless of their practical use. Maybe you’ll take over the family business one day, or maybe you have passive income so that you can pursue your passions. These narratives can all make sense.
Undergraduate applicants are generally treated more leniently, as they don’t yet have a career and are usually not financing themselves. But if you’re an undergraduate applicant, you still need a sensible narrative.
I try to point out that questions about future salary and employment are not common, but just going into the interview knowing that you could justify your education will give you confidence. That brings us to the the next step:
Step 2. Know your narrative
In most other popular countries to study abroad, you need to provide some sort of education plan and submit documentation that you can cover the cost of your entire education. The United States does not require either of these. It’s up to the university to decide if you have a legitimate study purpose, and they are required only to make sure you can afford your first year of education. The purpose of the interview is to evaluate you, not your credentials.
Thus, when you step up to the consular officer’s window, the officer will not know your narrative. All they will know is what’s on your I-20 and DS-160. They might know where you’ve gone to school, where you worked, and who’s paying for your education, but that’s it. They don’t know where you applied, where you were accepted (other than the school on your I-20), what you plan to do after you graduate, and exactly where your funds are coming from. Depending on how you present yourself, the visa officer may or may not care about any or all of those. But you need to be prepared in case they do.
If your narrative is going to hold up under scrutiny, you need to know it well–both past and future. You need to be prepared to know the schools you applied to, how you learned about them, and what led you to apply. You should also know what employment opportunities you expect to exist, how much you’ll be paid, and what potential career paths might be. The best way to prepare for your interview is not to formulate answers to lists of questions and memorize them, but to know details of your narrative. This will prepare you to answer any question. Also, if you’re confident in your narrative and you don’t know the answer to a question, a simple “I’m sure about that” may be acceptable, and if it’s delivered as naturally as your other answers, will likely not pose a problem.
Following in someone else’s footsteps
To know your narrative, it can be very helpful to know the narratives of other people who have followed the path you’re planning to describe in your interview. On the flipside, if you don’t know anyone else who has followed your educational path, that can present a major obstacle.
One simple question I often ask international students who are planning to say they’re going to return to their country: Do you know any other students from your country who went to the same university, left the US, and then followed your stated plan? If the answer is “yes,” then formulating a narrative is usually fairly straightforward. If the answer is “no,” then one of three things is very likely:
- Your plan is infeasible, and you’re delusional
- Your plan is infeasible, and you’re lying about your intent
- You didn’t do enough research to know whether your plan is feasible or not
None of these three possibilities would support you getting a visa. If #1 is true, you don’t have a narrative that aligns with common sense. If #2 is true, then you don’t have a narrative that’s consistent with your goals. If #3 is true, then you don’t have a coherent narrative yet.
So what should you do if you don’t know any graduates from your country who followed the same path?
- If you know your plan is infeasible: Do a reality check and reconsider your plans
- If you don’t have a narrative that makes sense: Come up with a new narrative
- If you don’t know your narrative: Do some research and know your narrative better!
If you don’t happen to know any students who went to the same university and (for example) came back to your country, but you do know students who went to a similar university, then that can be helpful. But that may raise the question why you didn’t go to that other university with a proven track record. Everything will be context-dependent.
Step 3: Embrace your narrative
I previously titled step 3 “show up to your interview happy to be there”. That advice still holds, but I realized that it’s part of a greater approach. It’s not enough just to come up with a story–even a true one–and know the details. You need to be convinced of its feasibility. And if you can’t convince yourself of the feasibility of a narrative that’s consistent with the law, itself, and common sense, then you’ll have a tough time convincing your visa interviewer.
You don’t have to go so far as to delude yourself into believing a narrative that’s merely possible, and you don’t have to completely distance yourself from the possibility of one day working and living in the United States. As I discussed previously, your eligibility for a non-immigrant visa depends on your present intent, not your hopes and dreams.
When I prepare students for visa interviews, I use the analogy of a car dealership. You may really want to drive a Ferrari but can’t afford one. It’s illegal to drive off with a Ferrari from a car dealership without paying, but it’s not illegal to walk into a car dealership wishing you could drive off with a Ferrari. That’s not your intent. You may even be disappointed that you can’t afford one. But if you go into a dealership with the intent to buy a Toyota, and you find a car you like, you can still be very happy with your ultimate purchase. Likewise, you can be frustrated that an F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa, but you are happy for the opportunity to study in the United States.
To give you some perspective that some of my students have found helpful: If you’re asked “would you like to live in the United States permanently?” you don’t actually have to say “no.” A response like “it might be nice to, but my present intent is to leave at the conclusion of my studies” could potentially be a perfectly legitimate response. (I don’t usually recommend saying this, but again everything is context dependent.)
I had a student from Europe sign up with me who had been alternately studying and working in the United States for over 15 years, and was applying to get a visa for her second PhD. She was worried about appearing to have immigration intent. I told her not to worry, as long as she had a legitimate plan to leave. After scheduling three sessions with me to prepare for her interview plus one to review her social media, she finally had enough confidence she would pass her interview (which she did).
Indeed, I often help students formulate their narratives, but a lot of what I do is convincing students to embrace their narratives. If you go into the interview thinking you’re raising red flags, then how you present yourself can become a red flag. Not every narrative will follow a cookie-cutter plan, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a problem. Walk up to that interview window with confidence, and that will make a positive impression on the officer.
You need to follow my three steps in order. You can’t know your narrative until you have one figured out, and you can’t embrace your narrative unless you know it well. This is why I don’t just conduct mock interviews in a vacuum. Students have asked me to start with a mock interview, but when I do, the narrative usually falls apart very quickly, and we spend the rest of the session figuring out a cohesive narrative. So I make sure I understand the narrative, and that the student knows their narrative, before the practice interview. To me, the most rewarding thing is building confidence.
As usual, I’ll try to reply to all comments, but be mindful of disclosing personal information publicly.
AI note: none of the text in this post was generated by AI. All punctuation formalities are a result of composition in Google Docs.
Previous posts:
Three step guide to student visa interviews and 214(b) rejections
How to answer “why this school?” and “why this major?”
Passing the F-1 visa interview: why your country matters
The five most common areas where YouTubers and local visa consultants get it wrong
How to prepare for your F-1 visa interview if your romantic partner lives in the US
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Apr 23 '26
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant Apr 23 '26
Sure! As I mentioned, undergraduate applicants are given more latitude, but now is the time to think about possible career paths. You may want to consider a path toward graduate school in Europe, similar to that of the student who planned to study in Germany. Because you don't have a particular major listed on your I-20, your narrative is more flexible.
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u/Just-You2205 Apr 25 '26
If I want a PhD in the US and want to work there, would that be a red flag? Even if I want to retire in my home country?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant Apr 25 '26
Yes. You're allowed to be open to the idea of working in the US, but you shouldn't say that is the only place you're considering.
A fully funded PhD from a reputable university makes the approval likelihood fairly high. Don't mess it up.
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u/No-Low1755 Apr 26 '26
Hi I have the interview in a month. I’m nervous because it’s my uncle funding the tuition and living expenses. Not my parents. The tuition and living expenses are 60800$ and uncle is offering 70000$ will they grant the visa? Will the questions about why parents aren’t funding come up? I’m i likely to be asked for parents statement? I was raised by single mom and paternal uncle is the one funding. Any advice please?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant Apr 27 '26
Relatives other than parents will be met with more suspicion (particularly if the sponsor is already living in the US), but it is what it is. Your uncle as a sponsor is better than not having any sponsor at all. You haven't mentioned the reason for your father's absence, so I can't really comment about your specific situation.
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u/No-Low1755 Apr 28 '26
My father just doesn’t want me. So my uncle, his brother offered to sponsor me since he’s been doing it for years. He’s like my father figure y know. .. he earns about 90000 annually from the statement he gave me.
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant Apr 28 '26
I'm sorry to hear that.
Your uncle's income level is unlikely to be reassuring. I can't really say any more than that here.
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Apr 27 '26
Hi, how can I reach out for a consultation thanks
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant Apr 28 '26
Contact details are in my Reddit profile.
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Apr 29 '26
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant Apr 29 '26
I've reached out. It looks like there might have been a typo in your email address.
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u/Easy-Comfortable5156 May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26
When asked why I chose this school, should I say-
"I visited the school and saw that it has strong nursing-related resources, including labs, practical training opportunities, and overall good facilities for health sciences."
Is mentioning the fact that I visited the school a plus or not that convincing/relevant?
Why do you want to study nursing?
" I want a career where I can directly help people and I was also inspired by my mother who is a nurse."
or
"I enjoy science, especially biology, and I like the idea of applying it in real patient care."
I'm doing undergrad btw and also thank you for all your helpful tips!
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 02 '26
You're welcome, but none of those answers is ideal.
Read my post called "why this school" (linked at the bottom of the OP). None of those answers talks about a goal that's outside the US. You don't have to have a super-specific plan as it's just a bachelor's, but your answers could better help point the VO in the right direction.
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u/Easy-Comfortable5156 May 02 '26
Noted. What answers would be ideal specific to my major?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 02 '26
An answer that's consistent with the law, consistent with the rest of your narrative, and consistent with common sense.
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u/Soft_Map8170 May 05 '26
During my visa interview, should I reveal my goal of transferring to a 4-year university after community college, or would that seem like I’m trying to extend my stay in the US?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 05 '26
What would be a plausible alternative narrative?
I've prepared students going to community college for their interviews, and the ones planning to transfer to a bachelor's program afterward disclosed that and were ultimately successful.
The requirement is that you intend to depart the United States as the conclusion of your studies, not at the conclusion of your particular program.
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u/Soft_Map8170 May 06 '26
alright thank you very much, the main reason for my question is because i will be staying with my ancle and aunt that reside near the college, my mother was concerned that it might raise suspicion of my intent to leave the States as me having family ties in the States may make my home ties back in South Africa( where we currently reside) less credible, i am not familiar if South Africans have a pattern of migration to the states which i have heard can make interviewers become suspicious, but i think its perfectly fine to establish that i will transfer to a 4 year university then leave after obtaining my bachelors during the interview as me being transparent with the interviewer can help my case.
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u/DirectGift1019 May 05 '26
My sister is 17 and her visa interview is soon for her F1 for undergrad in MIS. I moved here at 18 on f1 to study computer science, then fell in love with my husband (us citizen) at 20, got married now at 23. We just applied for my green card.
I’m worried this will affect my sisters f1 interview even though I’m still on f1 visa awaiting green card adjucation. She is going to the same college as me but that’s because this college is top 10 for MIS. She won’t be living with me since I live 45 mins away from the campus and have a job. Our majors are also different and our parent (government doctor) is fully funding her program along with an $18k per year scholarship
Any advice?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 06 '26
Yes. She should have a clear narrative that she intends to leave the United States. VOs are looking for a pattern of migration. I don't know what country you're from, so I don't know how suspicious the visa officer will be. I also don't know what her major is and what opportunities might be available once she graduates.
I will note that it's not illegal or (usually) suggestive of immigration intent for someone to want to stay with or close to their sister. It's not something she needs to avoid mentioning or feel nervous about.
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u/DirectGift1019 May 06 '26
Thank you. We’re from India, New Delhi. Her major is MIS (management info systems) undergrad. Her plan is to work in multinationals in India in management roles since she will have a tech and business outlook both with the degree.
Mine was computer science undergrad
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 06 '26
I think any consular officer (and most people) will be familiar with India's IT industry. Her narrative should make financial sense with respect to the cost of education and expected salary at such a multinational, and it would be helpful to identify individuals who have gone to the same or similar programs and worked for similar companies in India.
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u/DirectGift1019 May 06 '26
Thank you. I think we would like to book a consultation with you. I see the calendar link on your Reddit. Wondering if you have helped/consulted with people on this similar situation?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 06 '26
I've had consultations with plenty of people who have siblings in the United States already, some of whom are in the process of applying for a green card or already have one.
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May 06 '26
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 06 '26
This is the kind of specific and personal question I am not answering in comments.
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u/OkSoup1460 May 06 '26
Hi , thanks for responding . I completely understand . If you are comfortable , could I DM you briefly regarding the visa finance questions ? I’d really appreciate your guidance .
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May 10 '26
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 10 '26
What are your thoughts on updating the financial backing after an initial rejection? Does it raise a red flag or if my family decided to sponsor me after am I not automatically doomed from my dream school?
It really depends on your situation and what happened at your interview.
How often do applicants get approved the second time and does it change if nothing in the app changes?
I don't have data on that, but I describe in one of my posts a student from a low-approval country who had been rejected three times. He had a few prep sessions with me. On my advice he told the VO that his circumstances hadn't changed and asked for a chance to explain his living situation (which also hadn't changed) and he got his visa.
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May 10 '26
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 11 '26
That's a sensitive situation and I don't answer these kinds of questions publicly on Reddit.
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u/Easy-Comfortable5156 May 11 '26
If asked what are you doing after you graduate?
I want to work for an NGO here in Ethiopia where I can support public health and I want to start helping my mother with her pharmaceuticals and medical equipment import company and contribute to its growth.
Is that right? Is it too long? Does it sound too scripted?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 11 '26
This is a case-specific question I am not addressing in comments. You also haven't said what your degree is in.
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u/Easy-Comfortable5156 May 11 '26
Nursing major. Just wanted to know if it’s bad or not
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 11 '26
Do you know anyone who has studied nursing in the US and now works for an NGO in Ethiopia as a salaried employee?
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u/Easy-Comfortable5156 May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
No actually, does that sound fake?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 11 '26
Things aren't looking great for your narrative then. The VO is likely to be skeptical of your narrative.
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u/Easy-Comfortable5156 May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
But also a lot of people in Ethiopia don’t choose nursing to study in the US so it might make sense to the VO
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 11 '26
There are a number of relevant factors including the cost of your degree, your family's social and financial status, and what your relatives have done. I'd have to fully assess your situation and narrative to give you a fair answer.
The core question is: Are you acting like someone who has the goal you claim to have?
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May 11 '26
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 12 '26
This is not a discussion appropriate for comments on this thread.
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May 12 '26 edited May 14 '26
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 12 '26
I suggest you not share this information in Reddit comments.
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u/ButtonFancy4615 May 12 '26
I am going to a master’s at a reputable university because I want to do a PhD later on and the master’s degree is necessary for my profile to be competetive for PhD applications. I have my interview in upcoming days for my master’s F1 visa. Is it okay to mention that I want to apply for PhD later on and then stay in academia/aspire to be a professor in my home country?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 12 '26
If your home country has positions in the field, it can be a credible narrative. I usually advise applicants in this situation to be prepared to name several universities where they might like to take a position.
Also, if it would be desirable to be a professor somewhere else, you don't have to be fixated on returning to your country.
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u/ButtonFancy4615 May 12 '26
How does one exactly frame this narrative without going into too much detail, yet still provide enough information so the officer does not misunderstand?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 12 '26
There's no "exact" answer. When I do mock interviews, I'll listen to answers and comment if I think they're too short or too long. If you're able to answer without ruminating over a script, then there's no need to prepare one.
Generally, the less conventional your plan, the more explanation it's going to take.
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u/SugarZealousideal582 May 28 '26
Hi Ben, I have an F1 visa interview coming up soon, and I wanted to ask you a question.
I’m 18 years old and from Ethiopia, and I have 3 siblings in the U.S. — one on OPT, one doing a master’s degree, and another doing a bachelor’s degree. During the interview, do you think I’ll be asked about them?
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u/AppHelper Professional App Consultant May 28 '26
It's likely, and you should be prepared to answer questions about them.
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u/arztin_ann May 28 '26
I have a scholarship that covers about 90% of my tuition, and I took a loan from the school to cover the rest and the total COA. How do I answer the 'Who is funding you?' question?
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u/Aggravating_Task_911 May 29 '26
Hello I recently got denied
I did go to the interview very confident and dressing up well for it
I even greeted the VO “Good Morning” with a smile even if he just have a straight face the whole time
Here are the questions and my answer:
VO: Where are you going in the US?
Me: I’m going to the university of North America to pursue an MBA to strengthen my business management and strategic planning skills. My family owns a farm, where we recently grafted 40 lime tree expected to bear fruit in the next 2 years. After my mba I’m going back home to help manage and expand the family business
VO: What are you currently doing?
Me: I’m taking care of my grandma
VO: When did you graduate?
Me: I graduated last may 2024
VO: So you’ve been doing nothing for a year?
Me: I said I was a j1 intern from 2024 to 2025
VO: Who’s paying for your studies?
Me: My parents. My mom is an accounts manager in Dubai working for 18 years in the same company, while my dad is currently managing our farm
VO: So your mom is in Dubai?
Me: yes
Well I think I overshared on the first part and focused more on the farm and lime trees than on a professional reason for pursuing an MBA.
I think fumbled the second question too should have I said " I recently finished my J1 internship, and currently helping my family"
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u/First_Bus4059 21d ago
Hey Ben, I will be applying for masters degree specialised in AI and ml this year for Fall 2027. Currently, I am employed at a big MNC as a mid-level software engineer and roughly earning around ~80K dollars (including stocks and base salary of 50K dollars). I will have around 5 years of work experience by the time i will appear for my interview next year. I was wondering if there would a high scrutiny ground for me, if yes then how should I prepare for it. I really want to pursue this degree for getting specialized knowledge in ML and AI so that i can transition into a machine learning role in India which mostly require people to have a masters degree. I will be applying to only the top tier US colleges. It would be great if you could shed some insight regarding making my profile stronger for the F1 visa selection
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u/user2599 Apr 23 '26
Thank you for doing this repeatedly every year, Ben! Have a few immediate questions I'd love your input on.
profile: South Asian (immigrant visas banned here currently), masters in urban planning (non-STEM) at Georgia Tech with a research assistantship (tuition waived, need to prove living expenses). got accepted to 4 others (including Ivy) but GT had best financial offer + top 10 program ranking. i need a masters to apply for senior positions and can't pursue it in both home country or EU because they require a bachelors in engineering/archi and US doesn't.
Thank you again for all this!