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The US embassy visa appointment and interview process has recently been split to 2 days. The first day is when you get your photo and fingerprints taken. The second day is the day of your interview. For your Offsite Facilitation Centre appointment you can go in casual clothing. For your visa interview day, it goes without saying wearing formals are a must. You need a formal shirt and pants. Suits are not all that necessary. Tie? Again, your preference, not compulsory.

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The Visa Officer checks the following before issuing the Visa:

• Do you in all ways qualify for the Visa?
• Is your intent to REALLY study in the US or to just laze around?
• Do you HONESTLY have funds which you state?
• If you are competent enough to pursue graduate studies in the US
• Try to identify if you’re a potential immigrant

Check Out: Documents Required for a Student Visa Interview! 

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During the US Embassy Chennai Visa appointment, you have a couple of counters where 3-4 applicants stand in each. Every counter has a microphone and a small speaker so if you listen carefully, you can catch what both the visa officer is asking during the US embassy visa interview and what the applicant is saying. 

• Assume your turn comes and you are waiting in the line, never show your nervousness, try to have a smile on your face and avoid talking to others then. This is the first encounter you will have with a Native American who will question you of your intent/purpose.
• Assume the person before you is done and the visa officer is processing. DO NOT GO TO THE WINDOW UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED FORWARD. Wait for it. It’s manners to do so and it shows your patience.

To call you for the US Embassy visa interview, the officer may eye you and ask you to come forward or greet you with a welcome message! That’s your cue.

Wish the Visa Officer: Remember, Americans always treat and expect manners. So you must wish the officer a good morning or whatever part or time of the day you give your interview. The visa officer may or may not respond. Again, if he doesn’t acknowledge it, don't take it as a bad sign. He has not yet evaluated your application and will always have an open mind.

Let us specifically list out some of the most common questions asked during the US Embassy visa appointment: 

Ties to Home Country

Questions pertaining to your ties to your home country could be phrased as follows: 

• What are your future plans after your course of study?
• Would you take up PhD if you’re offered?
• Where can I see you in 5 years?
• Would you work if provided with a job in the US? 

The common answer to all these questions would be to show the visa officer that you will return after you finish your study. Be clear of what you want after you graduate. Indicate your social ties to your country and your responsibility to take care of your family. Be sure to bring out your interest to work in your home country to the officer.

Academic Profile

During your US Embassy visa appointment, the visa officer may ask you to provide your GRE and TOEFL scores. He may also ask you to provide your degree certificate, academic transcripts or your grade sheets if needed. Some of the questions he could ask are: 

• Why is this field your interest?
• Can you tell me a bit about your field?
• Why do you think this particular field has scope?
• What are the other universities you have applied to?
• How many admits and rejects?
• Why have you chosen this particular university? 

Do not lie to the visa officer about anything. He might snoop up your lies with your behaviour or sometimes with cross questions. Answer all the questions truthfully. Do background research work for reasons you chose the university. Do not indicate statistics commonly available on the internet. 

Work Related Questions

The visa officer, during your appointment US embassy may ask you about: 

• The duration you have worked for? 
• Why did you leave the job as it gives you a good pay? 
• Why have you chosen to pursue MS? How beneficial would it be to you?

People who have finished their undergrad years back would be questioned on what they did after graduation up to the present.

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Financial Documents

To ace this section at your visa interview appointment, an Audit statement or bank statements would help. If you’re getting a loan, you must have the sanction letter. If any non-immediate relative is sponsoring you including your brother/sister/grandpa, you must get a letter of affidavit. If your father is sponsoring you, you need your father's IT returns and pay slip.

Get official letters from the company indicating your father’s monthly or yearly income? The visa office may ask you how you plan to fund yourself. Be prepared to answer that. It’s best to show financial proof mentioned in your I-20. How you plan on mobilising money thereafter to fund yourself could be told in the student visa interview.

Check Out: Financial Documents Required for US Student Visa 

Let us now help you with some general tips to ace your US visa interview: 

• Be calm and composed.
• Listen to what the visa officer asks you carefully. Don’t make him repeat everything.
• Maintain eye contact. You haven’t done anything wrong so you can look him in the eye and show your confidence.
• Do not be pertinent with the visa officer. If he rejects you, ask him the reason and then proceed to the exit
• Do not forget your documents. 
• If he grants you the visa, thank him profusely.

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The US Embassy visa interview may not be hard to ace, provided you have all the required documents, and are confident enough to prove your stay in the US. You should be focussed, and well behaved. Moreover, your personality and candidature will speak for itself with proper conduct, and fluent communication.