The document details a webinar on obtaining an F-1 student visa for studying in the U.S., covering key aspects like the visa application process, requirements for proving intent to return to the home country, and suggested interview documents. It highlights the importance of truthfulness, demonstrating serious academic intent, and financial preparedness as significant factors in visa approval. Additionally, the document includes common visa interview questions and the necessary preparations for entry into the U.S. on a student visa.

1. A webinar on
VISA ORIENTATION
Presented by : Mr. Abbie

2. Overview :
 What is student VISA? (F1)
 Preparing to Apply for an F-1 Student Visa
 Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality
Act (INA) ACT 291: BURDEN OF PROOF
 Article from US Embassy Website
 Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)
 Recommended Documents to Take to the Visa Interview
 Visa Q and A Practice
 Port of Entry – USA – Welcome Arrival !!
 VISA Tips

3. What is student VISA? (F1)
 F1 Visa : student VISA
 You must have a student visa to study in the
United States. Your course of study and the type
of school you plan to attend determine whether
you need an
 F-1 visa - Academic
 M-1 visa. – Vocational Program

4. Preparing to Apply for an F-1 Student
Visa
 Two classifications of visas available for
international applicants :
 Permanent VISA : H1 VISA
 Temporary VISA : B1/B2 VISA. F1 VISA
 Temporary VISA : granted to those who come
for purposes of study, whether it is for high
school, technical college courses,
undergraduate or graduate programs.

5. VISA Grant or refuse??
 The VISA Success is depend on four factors :
 (1) IS THIS AN HONEST STUDENT?
 (2) IS THIS A SERIOUS STUDENT?
 (3) DOES THIS APPLICANT HAVE SUFFICIENT
FUNDS?
 4) DOES THIS STUDENT HAVE SUFFICIENT TIES
TO THE HOME COUNTRY THAT WILL ENSURE
HIS/HER RETURN AFTER GRADUATION?
 Family, Economic, Employment, Social and
Emotional TIES :

6. (1) IS THIS AN HONEST
STUDENT?
 One of the universal values shared by all
cultures and all human kind is truthfulness. As
such, the importance of telling the truth is
embedded in American tradition and law.
 Consequently, the visa officials, almost
automatically, can detect signs of inaccuracies
or discrepancies in the documents.
 False statement can Lead to permanent
Illegibility.

7. Examples of being not
truthful :
 In filling out the standard F-1 Visa Application
Form, some students, in answering the question
about how many of their family members are
currently in the U.S., will answer none. But, in
some embassies the officers may have
information in their data base that indicates that,
in fact, the applicant does have close family
members in the U.S. Such deception can
disqualify an applicant.

8. Examples of being not
truthful :
 The officer might ask, Why did you select this
school? Often students will erroneously believe
that it is easier to get a visa if they apply to a
well know school, so they will answer the
question, I selected it because it is a famous
school. The truth might be that the applicant has
a friend there, or family members nearby, or
because the school has offered financial aid, etc.
Applicants should answer truthfully rather than
claim that the school is famous, especially if it is
a school the visa officer has never heard of.

9. (2) IS THIS A SERIOUS
STUDENT?
 The great majority of international applicants
who apply for F-1 visas are applying for this visa
because they sincerely want to complete the
course of study to which they have been
accepted by the American school.
 A serious student generally will have good
marks, good English skills, sufficient resources
available to pay for his/her education, and a
reasonable plan for a career after graduation.

10. Examples of Non-
Serious students
 An applicant for an F-1 visa to enroll in an MBA program is asked by the visa The
visa officer asks: (NOTE: these are responses you should NOT make.)
 Q: What is the typical weather where that university is located? A: I'm not sure
 Q: How many students are currently in the MBA program there? A: Quite a few
 Q: What are the names of any of the professors and where did they get their
degrees? A: I can't think of any
 Q: How many courses are you required to take to get your degree? A: I believe
quite a lot
 Q: How many years will it take for you to graduate? A: I think it says that
somewhere here on the I-20 form

11. 3) DOES THIS
APPLICANT HAVE
SUFFICIENT FUNDS?
 Immigration Law requires that all international
students applying for an F-1 visa to study in the
U.S. must have available liquid assets to pay for
the first academic year of study.

12. DOES THIS STUDENT HAVE SUFFICIENT TIES TO
THE HOME COUNTRY THAT WILL ENSURE
HIS/HER RETURN AFTER GRADUATION?
 At the time of the initial interview for an F-1 visa,
the intent of the student must not be to go the U.S.
and try to stay there.
 How to prove?
 (a) Family Ties
 (b) Economic Ties
 (c) Employment Ties
 (d) Social Ties
 (e) Emotional Ties

13. Article from US Embassy Website
 To qualify for non-immigrant visas, applicants
must meet the requirements of U.S. immigration
law. Failure to do so will result in a refusal of a
visa under Section 214(b).
 Now, what is 214 (B) :
 Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA) ACT 291: BURDEN OF
PROOF

14. Section 214(b) of the U.S
 Burden of Proof : what this means is that the
visa officer is told to believe that you are going to
immigrate to the U.S. So, it will be your job to
convince him/her that you do not intend to
immigrate, but instead are wanting to go to the
U.S. and study for your master's degree so you
can then return to your home country and have
the skills to enable you to get a better paying
job.

15. Recommended Documents to
Take to the Visa Interview
 I-20 and admission letter from the University
 Receipt which shows you or someone for you has paid the
SEVIS fee
 A completed visa application form obtained from the U.S.
embassy. (DS-160)
 Visa application fee. (Paid to the consulate or embassy)
 Your or your sponsor's bank statement. (Originals
recommended)
 If you have a sponsor, a letter from the sponsor promising
to support you, along with the sponsor's bank statement.
(Originals recommended)

16. Recommended Documents to
Take to the Visa Interview
 Documentation explaining the source of money shown in the bank
statement. (That is, how much is from personal funds, how much
from relatives, and how much from other sources). (Originals
recommended)
 Transcripts of prior education. (Originals recommended)
 Printed school information from the internet and/or a brochure and/or
catalog.
 Information regarding your plan for employment when you return to
your home country after you graduate. This may be either a letter
from a company or prospective employer promising employment and
containing a specific job description, or, it may consist of statistics
regarding job openings in your major, or published articles about the
same or all of the above. (originals recommended)

17. Recommended Documents to Take to
the Visa Interview
 GRE, GMAT, IELTS or TOEFL score report. You only need
to take these in if you have any of these test scores.
(Copies acceptable)
 Documentation that shows ownership in home country:
land deeds, home ownership, business ownership, etc.
(Originals recommended)
 Letters of recommendation to show you are a serious,
qualified student (Originals recommended and should to
be on business or school letterhead with recommender's
contact information.)
 Certificates or formal proof of your academic qualifications
proving you are capable of being successful in your
chosen program

18. VISA Consulate looks like:

19. VISA Consulate looks like:

20. VISA Consulate looks like:

22. VISA Q and A :
 Why do you want to go to school in the U.S.?
 For which school are you applying?
 Major you are interested in:*
 If the major you are applying to is different
than your bachelor degree major, tell us why
you are changing majors?
 How did you find out about the school for
which you are applying?

23. VISA Q and A :
 Please tell us why you picked this school
and how you intend to use the degree you
obtain from the school.
 What other schools did you apply to or
research?
 Why did you decide NOT to continue with
any of these schools?
 Why are you NOT going to school in your
home country?

24. VISA Q and A :
 How is a degree from this school going to
better your economic position?
 What kind of employment opportunities will
be available for when you return to your
home country?
 How much is your (or your sponsor) bank
statement?
 How are you going to fund your second year
of school?

25. VISA Q and A :
 Do you have documentation - proof of where
the money came from - supporting your (or
your sponsor) bank statement?
 Who is the contact person and contact
information for the school for which you are
applying?
 What is your dream job after you graduate
from this school?
 Any relatives in USA?

26. VISA Q and A :
 Which year did you pass out from your
Bachelors degree.
 Your GRE/GMAT/IELTS/TOEFL Score Sheet?
 What are your Future planning's?
 Visa APPROVED !!!!
 VISA Approved doesn’t mean you have
reached to your Destination…. USA !!!

27. US Port of Entry Process
 The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)
monitors the entry of 28 million nonimmigrant
visitors to the U.S. every year.
 Preparation Before Travelling :
 You may apply for your F-1 Student visa up to
120 days in advance of the program start date
noted on your I-20, but you may not enter the
U.S. more than 30 days in advance of that.

28. Documents Required for
Entry into the U.S.
 Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the end date
of your expected stay.
 Check that your visa classification is correct in your passport
 Check that your visa correctly states the school and program you will be
entering
 Make sure your financial documents are verifiable and show you have
sufficient funds to pay for your first year of tuition and living costs. For
example, if your parents transferred funds into your account for your
education, be sure this is clear and evident in your documentation. You can
not submit income from an expected internship position for the required
financial support.
 Be prepared to tell the name and location of your school, the program, the
number of credits required to complete your program, the cost of the program,
and the expected length of time to complete the program

29. Documents Required for Entry
into the U.S.
 It is important that you tell the Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Officer that you are a student. You should answer questions
honestly, clearly, and in a positive manner.
 Passport showing your F-1 Student Visa approval stamp, with the
immigration documents in a sealed envelope attached to your
passport
 SEVIS Form I-20 showing a future start date
 SEVIS Form I-797: receipt for SEVIS fee payment
 Evidence of Financial resources (please see above details)
 Transcripts and degree documents from your previous schooling

30. Documents Required for
Entry into the U.S.
 Receipt or evidence of pre-paid tuition deposits made to the school
 Name and contact information of your school, your specific
department, and the Designated Student Officer (DSO), including a
24-hour emergency contact phone number.
 Forms given to you during your flight: You will receive and complete
the following forms during your flight, which must be presented to
the CBP Officer:
 1) CF-6059: Customs Declaration Form
 2) I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Form (this form should state the
address where you will reside in the U.S., not just the address of the
school. YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL IN FILLING THIS FORM
OUT.

31. (F1) VISA Tips :
 TIES TO HOME COUNTRY
 BE CONCISE
 BE CONFIDENT
 SPEAK FOR YOURSELF
 MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
 CONVINCING
 EMPLOYMENT – Future Plans