How to Answer "Why Did You Choose This University?" at an F-1 Visa Interview
How to answer about choosing a university at an F-1 visa interview: how to avoid a 214B denial, which details to mention, and the structure of a strong answer.
VisaProAdviserVisas, migration and life abroad
Visa interview preparation for US consulates and USCIS: B1/B2 home ties, H-1B questions, DS-160 consistency, green card and citizenship interviews.
13 articles tagged interview
How to answer about choosing a university at an F-1 visa interview: how to avoid a 214B denial, which details to mention, and the structure of a strong answer.
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A US visa interview is a short face-to-face meeting with a consular officer at an embassy or consulate who works for the Department of State and usually decides the case on the spot. The officer compares spoken answers with the DS-160, so inconsistencies can matter as much as missing documents. Under section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, visitor and student visa applicants are presumed to be intending immigrants until they show strong ties abroad, while H-1B and L-1 applicants are exempt from this presumption because of dual intent. A refusal under section 221(g) works differently: it means the case needs additional documents or administrative processing before a final decision.
Interviews inside the United States are conducted by USCIS, not the State Department. Applicants for adjustment of status on Form I-485 and for naturalization on Form N-400 are often interviewed at a USCIS field office and answer questions under oath, and the naturalization interview also includes English and civics tests. Willful misrepresentation of a material fact at any of these interviews can make a person permanently inadmissible under INA section 212(a)(6)(C)(i).