Students just have to be honest to study in US

For all students who think the process of applying for a student visa to study in the US is tedious and difficult there is good news. Students wanting to study in the US should focus on being genuine and honest while bank accounts and work experience is secondary, says the US Consulate General.

The consulate revealed that students should have a valid admission in an accredited institution or university, a clear purpose for studying in the US and the financial ability or willingness to fund the education. Documents displaying account details or employment experience is not the priority for the US Embassy in India.

Students often get nervous while applying for a visa and fail to get a student visa. Michael Evans, Consular Section Chief, said, “We just want the students to be honest. If the students have a valid admission then all they have to do is have a casual conversation with our visa issuing officer. We just have to be convinced that a particular student is genuine, will study in the US and can fund his or her education.”

The conversation between a visa issuing officer and a student is for three to five minutes. “Our officer will talk to the student for just three to five minutes to understand why the student wants to study in the US or the different means of paying the fees. We understand students are nervous and so they try to convince the officer. But we already know about the background of a student through the application,” Evans added.

Over 1,66,000 students currently study in the US and 1,300 students applied for student visa per day. A senior officer said, “We want to issue as many student visas as possible provided the institutions and universities can accommodate those many students.”

The process for applying for a student visa is the last step when a student wishes to study in the US. Leeza Mangaldas, a student who studied in the US, said, “My interaction with the officer was a casual conversation. I wanted to study literature so the officer literally discussed books and poetry with me just to understand that I was keen about literature and would genuinely study in the US.”

‘Our officer will talk to the student for just three to five minutes to understand why the student wants to study in the US or the different means of paying the fees.We understand students are nervous and so they try to convince the officer. But we already know about the background of a student through the application’ MICHAEL EVANS, Consular Section Chief