US student visa interview experience

The U.S. visa interview process will be conducted at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival at the Consulate General, you will:

Step 1: Check security at the entrance

Arrive early or on time at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City as scheduled. Upon arrival, you will be asked to issue an Interview Appointment Letter and passport to the security officer to check. You will continue the security check process and line up according to the instructions of the staff to wait for the interview.

Step 2: Fingerprint

After all the application procedures have been checked, you will be asked to go through the fingerprinting procedure. Every step will have detailed instructional images.

Step 3: Submit all the necessary documents and prepare for the interview

You will be guided by a coordinator to sit in a chair waiting for your turn to be interviewed. At the beginning of the interview, you will stand opposite the Consular Officer and be separated by a glass layer to ensure security during the interview. Every answer is used using a speaker.

There will be a small blank box for you to provide the types of documents requested by the Consular Officer. Most visa interviews are conducted in English. However, if you want to use Vietnamese in some cases, some Consular Officers may be able to understand it or will resort to an interpreter.

Many international students often wonder what to bring to the interview, so learn and prepare all the documents listed below:

2.1. Required Documents for U.S. Student Visas

First, to fully meet the prerequisites forU.S. student visa, the following documents are required:

• Copy of interview letter

• Printout of the DS-160 certification object code

• Receipt of payment of interview fee

• ID and passport

• I-20 or DS 2019 and an offer letter.

• Confirmation of SEVIS payment fee

Remember to bring all the necessary documents when you go to the U.S. visa interview

2.2. Academic records

In addition, for a student visa, your study profile needs to include:

• Documents about the study process in Vietnam

• Other certifications such as TOEFL and SAT, GRE, GMAT or LSA (original) or other course certificates or extracurricular activities

• Other documents related to your studies

2.3. Financial proof dossier

Finally, documents related to financial factors are also always required when applying for a US student visa, such as:

• Original bank statement or passbook

• Documents proving the income of yourself or your parents

• Original papers proving ownership, purchase and sale contracts, shares for all declared fixed assets

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After you are ready in terms of paperwork, you should carefully prepare for the main Q&A part of the interview for a US student visa. Most U.S. visa interview questions will relate to your study plan, financial situation, and understanding of the U.S.

3.1 Questions about personal information

First of all, you are usually asked to provide personal information. You should pay attention to give a full and clear answer to make a good impression from the beginning and not waste time on this basic information.

• Please introduce yourself! (Introduce yourself!)

• Why are you here today? (Why are you here today?)

• How many people are there in your family? (How many members does your family have?)

3.2 Questions about current academic status

Next, you will usually be interviewed about your academic status in the last 3 years (grades, major, school, degree). Understanding your study situation will strengthen your motivation to apply for a student visa very significantly.

• Do you do well at school? What was your previous GPA? (Do you study well? What is your GPA?)

• Why did you choose this major? (Why did you choose to study this major?)

3.3 Questions about financial ability

As an important part of your study abroad journey in the U.S., your financial ability will be explored during the visa interview to prove your ability to afford your upcoming study abroad journey:

• What is your family's monthly income? (Your family's income now?)

• Does your family own any savings books/properties? (Does your family own any savings book/real estate?)

3.4 Study Plan Questions

In addition to the current study situation, you need to clarify the application process as well as plans throughout the upcoming study abroad journey.

• Why do you choose the US to study? (Why did you choose to study in the U.S.?)

• Why do you choose this school? (Why did you choose to study at this school?)

• What are the university's requirements for applicants? (What are the admission requirements for the school you choose?)

3.5 Questions about post-graduation plans

In the question about the post-graduation study plan, you need to have information about your desired workplace, expected salary, and goals for the next 5-10 years.

• Will you return to Vietnam when you finish studying? (Will you return to Vietnam after completing your studies?)

• Do you have a career in mind after you graduate? (What do you plan to do after graduation?)

4.1. Prepare and practice before the questions

Once you've prepared your answers to interview questions, take the time to practice answering in front of a mirror or with friends to help you stay calm and answer fluently during the actual interview.

In addition, your pronunciation will also be refined, making it easier for the interviewer to grasp information from you.

However, you should listen and understand the question to flexibly give the appropriate answer, avoid memorizing stereotypes. You can record videos during the practice process to review and correct the mistakes you often make.

4.2. Answer clearly and clearly

Make sure to answer loud and clear to partly show confidence and help the interviewer quickly grasp the answer. However, always pay attention to listen to enough questions to answer the right point, limiting too much irrelevant interpretation.

4.3. Smile and keep your mind relaxed

Although it is difficult to avoid feeling nervous, you should try to stay calm and relax to maintain a comfortable interview atmosphere. Don't forget to put on a bright and friendly smile when meeting the interviewer. However, it is necessary to avoid words or gestures that are too smooth, creating a feeling of impoliteness.

4.4. Make eye contact with the interviewer

Eye contact is an important skill in communication, especially during a U.S. student visa interview. This trick helps you show your confidence, respect, and sincerity towards the interviewer, and helps you convey your message effectively and promote engagement between the two parties.

4.5. Dress neatly, politely and professionally

To answer the question of what to wear to the US visa interview, always remember that dress and manners are important factors that make the first impression in the US student visa interview. A positive first impression will help you score points with the U.S. Consulate and increase your chances of success.

If you are still a student, you should consider wearing a school uniform, and if you are already working, wear elegant and polite clothes. Note that you should come to the interview with neat belongings, only bring the necessary documents and items for the interview.

Neat and polite clothes will make a good impression when going to an interview

How long after the interview will I receive my visa?

If your visa is granted, the designated courier service will send your passport to the address you registered on the us travel docs website. You can change your address by tapping this link. The visa delivery time is estimated to be between 1-2 working days for addresses in urban areas and 3-5 working days for addresses in rural areas.

How to reschedule a U.S. visa interview appointment

Applicants for a U.S. visa interview will have a limit on the number of times they can reschedule. If you are unable to attend the interview for any reason, you can change or cancel your appointment at any time through the Consulate's website. However, it must not be changed more than 3 times.

If you cancel or do not attend your third appointment, you will need to pay a new visa application fee to reschedule your appointment.

Why is my interview so short?

On a typical business day, a Consular Officer may have to interview 100 or more applicants, so each applicant can only be interviewed for a few minutes. Therefore, if your visa application form is fully filled, it has included most of the information needed to be considered for a visa. The Consular Officer only considers additional documents when it is necessary to further clarify the applicant's circumstances.

What language will I be interviewed in?

Most consular officers speak Vietnamese, and local staff are trained to be able to interpret if necessary. However, if you are a student and the I-20 form clearly indicates that you are fluent in English, then you will definitely need to prove your English proficiency at the interview.

Equip yourself with US visa interview skills with IDP!

To receive useful sharing for the journey study abroad in the US of your contact IDP, we have a team of educational advisors who can help you better prepare with valuable advice as well as provide tailored guidance to help you pursue your career aspirations abroad.

On top of that, IDP will also assist you throughout the process of applying to your dream university. You will also be instructed to make an application for admission with a success rate of up to 95%. Accommodation, health insurance and international student benefits, flight bookings, and pre-departure briefing sessions are also provided free of charge by IDP.

Contact IDP to start your study abroad consultation today!

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