Don’t Forget these Documents for your F1 Visa Interview

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The Final Step: F1 Visa Interview

After months of running around, you have finally reached the last step of your journey to study in the US.

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Looking for ways to finance your studies in the US? Check this out.

Your F1 Visa interview determines whether you're on the path to your dream life in the US. So, it is essential to ace the F1 Visa interview. Having the right kind of F1 visa documents will give you added points.

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A visa interview is no walk in the park. There can be moments when the visa officer conducting your F1 visa interview wouldn't be so convinced with your answers. A great way to establish confidence is carrying the correct documents needed for your F1 visa interview. This backs up your answers and shows them that you have come prepared with the correct documents needed for an F1 visa interview.

Here's a list of changes in the Student Visa Application you should know.

We've listed out a list of all the important F1 visa documents you will need to carry for a successful interview.

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A quick overview of the US Student Visa Interview Process

Before discussing the documents required for the F1 visa interview, let's recap the process of applying for it first.

Simply put, the F1 visa is a student visa issued to people going to the US to pursue their education.

Once you have received your acceptance letter from your college or university, you will also receive the I-10 form to kickstart your F1 visa process.

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Since the F1 student Visa interview is a personal interview, you will be asked the reasons behind your studying in the US. In addition to this, you'll also be asked about your academic background, extracurricular activities, financial qualifications, etc.

Having these documents needed in the F1 Visa interview will give you an effortless edge when sitting with the visa officer.

Now that you know the importance of why certain documents are required for your F1 visa interview let's look at how you book an appointment for your interview.

Booking an appointment

F1 visa slots can be booked directly through a US embassy visa appointment. You can use your fee receipt and barcode to schedule the interview.

When your US student visa booking is confirmed, start booking a slot for an F1 visa slot for the VAC (which are your biometrics such as fingerprint and photograph).

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As soon as your appointments are confirmed along with your biometrics, your next step is to attend the visa interview, equipped with all the documents needed for an F1 interview.

List of Documents Required for F-1 Visa Interview

We've now come to this blog's most crucial part: the essential documents you must carry for an F1 visa interview. We’ll acquaint you with a list of documents you require for your F1 visa interview.

To help you get familiar with these documents, we have broken them down into 5 major categories of documents that students need for an F1 visa interview.

Let's get started with the checklist.

Category 1: Essential Documents Needed for the F1 Student Visa

  • Copy of interview appointment letter
  • DS-160 Confirmation Barcode printout
  • Original, valid VISA fee receipt (Your Copy)
  • Original I-20, approved and signed by you and the University authority
  • SEVIS Fee Receipt
  • Passport
  • Birth Certificate

Category 2: Important Academic Documents Required for the F1 Student Visa

  • Original degree certificates (Bachelors/Masters)
  • Provisional Degree Certificates
  • Original mark sheets (10th and 12th standard, first-year bachelors to date)
  • Provisional mark sheet for any pending results
  • Original mark sheets (diploma)
  • Original diploma transcripts (stamped and sealed)
  • Original diploma certificate
  • Original extracurricular/curricular activity certificates
  • Original scholarship certificates/awards (if any)
  • Original Certificates showing professional courses/examinations done along with mark sheets
  • Copies of your research work/project
  • Relevant test scores, e.g., TOEFL and SAT, GRE, GMAT, or LSAT
  • Bona fide certificate from college (if your degree is not received )
  • Resume

Category 3: Essential Financial Documents Needed for the F1 Student Visa

  • Original Affidavit of Support from Sponsor/s, preferably dated 4-5 days before your visa interview date.
  • Authentic and Original C.A. statement showing a summary of fixed and liquid assets dated 4-5 days before your visa interview date
  • Original and valuation documents for every item stated in the C.A. statement as proof.
  • Original evidence of financial resources, such as proof of liquid assets sufficient to pay for the entire first year of education and living expenses, as well as proof of readily available funds to cover the remaining year(s) of studies, dated 3-4 days before your visa interview date.
REMEMBER: The stated amount should be as per the duration of your study mentioned in the I-20 form.
  • Original Bank statements of Sponsor(s) for the past six months (savings account) OR Original Passbook/s of sponsor/s (savings account) dated 4-5 days before your visa interview date.
  • Original Income tax papers of Sponsor(s) from the visa interview date for the last three years.
  • Proof of sponsor income (s) like appointment letter, payslips/salary certificates for the past six months from the visa interview date. (NOTE: All of them have to be original)
  • A balance sheet of business for the last three years from your visa interview date. (NOTE: All of them have to be original)
  • Original Proof of all liquid assets declared in C.A. Statement, including fixed deposits, shares, PPF, investments, etc.
  • Original Proof showing the amount that can be withdrawn against various liquid assets like shares, LIC Policy, Provident fund, etc. (redeemable value), dated 4-5 days before the visa interview date.
  • Original Letters from respective authorities on their letterhead indicating that items such as mutual funds, shares, PPF, Provident fund, Fixed Deposits, etc are liquid and can be redeemed before the maturity date, dated 4-5 days before the visa interview date.
  • Original Proof of Ownership, sale agreement, share certificate for all fixed assets declared in C.A. statement.
  • Valuation Certificate(s) from Chartered Engineer for every property declared in the C.A. statement. (NOTE: All of them have to be original)
  • All acceptance and reject letters from universities applied to in original
  • All scholarship/financial aid grant documents received from universities that you have applied to (NOTE: All of them have to be original)
  • A complete application packet of the university to which you are going (as submitted to the university), such as Application Forms, SOP, Recommendation letters, resume, financial documents, technical documents, and other supporting documents you have sent to the university.
  • Original Admit letter from the university you are attending.
  • Original Financial Aid Offer Letter from the university you are attending.
  • Receipt of any advance payment made to the university.
  • Copies of any correspondence mails from any professors of the university to which you are going to

Category 5: Work Experience Documents Required for the F1 Visa interview

  • If you are an employed student: Original Documents like work experience letters, Recommendations from employers, Pay-slips/salary certificates for the last six months, I.T. Returns for the last 3 years, appointment letters.
  • Original documents showing your body of work accomplished.
  • Resume showing professional accomplishments.
Wondering if you can work while you study in the US? This blog will help you out.

Category 6: Biometric Documents Required for F1 Visa Interview

  • Passport
  • DS-160 confirmation page
  • Appointment confirmation page
  • Visa application fee receipt
  • One photograph (for applicants below 14 years of age)
PRO TIP: If you're really looking to impress the visa officer, you should place all your required F1 visa documents in a partition file and name them accordingly to avoid confusion.

If you think you’re all set… there’s just one last thing.

Now that you have the documents you need for your F1 interview sorted, why don't you check your US finances off your list?

Zolve provides students with a high-limit US Credit Card and Bank Account with zero joining fees, zero percent APR for the first six months, and zero annual charges. All you need to do is upload your basic information on our website, tell us when you’re traveling and you’re all set for a valid US Credit Card and Bank Account even before you set foot in the US.