A US Study Visa is one of the Easiest Visas to get”. This might sound far from the truth to many and most of the students from Punjab. The September 11, attacks in the United States, did temporarily slow down the visa issuance rate but it took the US little time to regain its position as the world’s most sought-after Destination for Students. The USA continues to be the premier destination for international students even today. India remains the second leading place of origin for international students in the United States for many consecutive years.
Unfortunately, a long-standing row of rumors discourages many aspiring students from applying for a US Study visa who even do not hazard an attempt owing to their misgivings about the facts related to the Study Visa for the US.
Since an Interview session is mandatory in the US Embassy in New Delhi students from Punjab shy away from a personal interview with the Visa Officer and give in to the myth that a visa that does not warrant them to personally appear for the Interview is an easy one to get. Contrary to this belief, a personal interview at the US Embassy gives even a student with a mediocre profile and average finances to impress upon the Visa officer that he is deserving of the visa.
Every visa official has a list of requirements that he or she looks for in a visa application. If they are met, then the visa is usually granted. If not, the application is rejected. It is how these requirements are met that makes a visa decision seem subjective. For instance, the requirement for a student to return to his or her home country after completing studies forces the student to give logical, thought-out evidence. On the other hand, if a student has nothing substantial to show, then the visa is usually not issued.
Presenting proper documents alone does not determine the visa approval or denial for the US. The visa officer knows that documents can be easily forged so they can judge authenticity in less than a minute due to the large number of papers that they process every day. Therefore, presenting the individual case is the most important part of getting the visa. What the student says and how he or she says it matters a lot. Sometimes it can even make up for inadequate documentation. Success in obtaining a visa depends on both the proper documentation and giving a good presentation during the interview
It is important for US student visa aspirants to understand what the Visa Counselors are looking for while making a decision on the student visa application. Some of the criteria include:
- Evidence that the program is relevant to your future plans and correlates with your previous studies.
- Evidence that you possess the skill level, ability or credentials to qualify for the intended course of study abroad.
- Evidence that the college/university selected and which has offered admission for the full course of study is fully accredited by the government of that country.
- You should be proficient in English or should be enrolled in an “English as a Second Language Program” or an explanation from the college/university that can explain why the English language is not important.
- Evidence of sufficient funding or evidence that other financial arrangements have been made to attend the college or university and live abroad during the course of the program.
- Evidence of strong family and home ties in India with intent to depart from that country and return to your residence after completion of the educational program.
- Consular officers in reviewing the financial self-sufficiency of a candidate would like the applicant to demonstrate that the candidate will be able to study abroad and not have to resort to working illegally to support him/herself.
USA- also known as ‘the land of opportunities and hope’, ‘technological foundry’, and ‘the land of adventure’, remains the cherished dream of Indian students for the best colleges in almost any field. Today, there is no holding back the flow of students seeking education within the US borders. Though studying in the US may not be for everyone, it is something that everyone should consider!”