USA Visa

International students applying for an F1 visa to study in USA will have to submit the following documents:

• A valid and the latest passport
• Photo which is same as your application
• DS-160 and I-901 SEVIS payment confirmation hard copy
• I-20 form's copy
• School transcripts
• Standardised and ELP test scores
• Proof of finances

All these documents are essential in completing your F1 visa form to study in the USA. 

It is important that applicants schedule their OFC and visa appointments on different dates. Both the processes cannot happen on the same date because of logistical reasons also. Applicants must ensure there is a signficant gap but every process is followed in order that is, complete US visa biometric (OFC) process and then go for the scheduled US student visa interview.

After completing the US visa biometric process or OFC formalities, applicants will have to attend their student visa interview. Applicants cannot attend the US student visa interview till all the formalities have been completed. 

Offically, there is no specified days mentioned between OFC and visa appointments. Howver, applicants must not to schedule both on the same day. As there can be a conflict and applications can be rejected at the first stage. 

Applicants going for OFC visa appointment should go for formal clothing only. Since this is a part of the formal student visa in USA, it is always better to take it formally and be careful always. 

OFC or (Offsite Facilitation Center and VAC or Visa Application Center are two different things, check out the difference between OFC and VAC below: 

In an F1 visa interview, applicants can be questionsed about - test scores, English language proficiency levels, high school transcripts, common interests, reasons for studying in the chosen university, etc. These questions help interviewers if applicants will be able to do justics as a student in the institution opted to attend.

In an F1 visa interview, applicants can be questionsed about - test scores, English language proficiency levels, high school transcripts, common interests, reasons for studying in the chosen university, etc. These questions help interviewers if applicants will be able to do justics as a student in the institution opted to attend.

The applicants attending the F1 visa interview for studying in USA, can expect the following areas for discussion:

• Study plans - Higher education, coursework
• Financial standing - who is sponsoring education, what kind of jobs parents do and how to support oneself for future financially
• Intent to return to home country - applicant's intention of staying back in USA if any, if there are any relatives long term plans after education
• Personal history - medical illness, backlogs (if any) and kind of relationship with parents/guardians back home

Yes, it is difficult to crack F1 visa interview in USA because the rejection rate of US visa was an all time high, that is, at 36% for 2024. The F1 visa interviews can be nerve-wracking and challenging, but the success depends on the applicants answers, honesty and logical understanding. There is no scope for mistake here, because this is the final point of getting a green signal to study in USA. Thus, yes, the F1 visa interview is difficult but it is not a herculean task if all the do's and don'ts are taken care of.