Visa Formalities:
Essentials:
Schedule Interview
Required Documents
Keep all the documents Perfect. Better not to go for false documentation. The very essential documents are.
1. All Semester Mark sheets in your under graduation.
2. Degree certificate or else Provisional certificate.
3.10th and 12th certificate
4. GRE & TOEFL score sheets.
5. CA statement
6. All bank passbooks.
7. Family IT returns
8. Affidavit of Support
9. Valuation certificate of house and house documents etc.
10. LIC, P.P.F. statement, Valuation certificate of car (not particularly necessary) and also any documents relating to your car.
11. Could also carry your professional honors such as gold medal or any other certificate.
Arrange the Documents in Proper Order
Tips:
1. Take your photograph with a white background and don’t forget to remove borders around it (Normally in Studios they know this rule for VISA photograph but some people may forget, so better check it).
2. DS forms filled properly. Type your DS form and take print out as soon as you do as you cannot save your file in normal Acrobat reader…Typed DS forms give a neat appearance and it is the DS form that’s going to be your first impression…
3. Write the period of stay.
4. If you are a fresher, write your undergraduate institution name and address
5. When filling your e-mail address its better to give the email you gave for web appointment.
6. For Purpose of your trip, Do fill as “To pursue Master’s in ABC in XYZ university”.
7. Keep your primary documents arranged in this order. Appointment, Passport, DS forms, Admit letter, I-20 and all your Mark sheets and score cards.
8. If you’ve got good Academics than your GRE-TOEFL, Place it at the top and then arrange your score cards (if you have got a TOEFL better than GRE, place it at the top).
9. Better know the dollar values, so that you could reduce a little strain to convert from rupees to dollars
10. Have Good knowledge about the university infrastructure, about the lab, library
11. Go through your faculties’ webpage and have an idea about their research and areas of interest…Match some of the research there with the research going in some companies here in India.
12. Memorize some faculties name and also the courses in your program.
13. Answer your first question very well, that gives a good impression.
14. If they ask for income or about fees answer it without hesitation.
15. Answer with a cool, confident and loud voice.
16. Look into the V.Os eyes when answering.
17. Have water and use the toilet if necessary before the interview.
18. Dress neatly. Comb up your hair properly.
19. Have a good sleep the previous night.
20. Have your bath and don’t forget to have your breakfast or lunch on the day of your interview.
21. Above all pray to God.
Possible Questions and Answers I:
1. Why do you want to go to US?
To do Masters in Business Administration
2. Why do you want a degree from US?
US is way ahead in managerial development as compared to other countries of the world. US B-Schools offers new and advanced courses like Information Technology Management, Entrepreneurship, etc and there is a lot of flexibility in these courses, which is absent in our native Universities. Moreover US B-Schools stress on practical knowledge & not just book learning.
Important: Don’t keep your answer very long. Just remember the points. The points are in bold italics in my case.
3. Why don’t you study in your nation?
Masters Education in other nations lays more emphasis on the theory part rather than the practical, Hence a Masters degree from my country does not really help in fulfilling the career goals of a person. Other Universities don't have enough research facilities to support students in their studies, whereas US Universities have sound infrastructure to support students to gain both the theoretical as well as practical knowledge. Moreover, the courses in our country are not flexible as in US.
4. What is your GMAT/TOEFL score?
My GMAT score is 560 and TOEFL score is 250.
5. Why your verbal score is so low in GMAT?
I answered the first few questions incorrectly and I couldn’t improve my score later even after performing well later. But you can see that the TOEFL score is decent which shows my proficiency in the English language.
6. How many Applications? Acceptance or Rejection?
I have applied in 4 universities. Got admit in 1, reject in 1 and the rest are awaited.
7. Do you intend to come back? Or What if you are offered a job in US?
Yes! I have family and economic ties to my native land. I have an established family business, which is more than 60 years old. I am going to US to upgrade my skills and knowledge in Business which will give confidence when I come back to my country and join my fathers business.
8. What if I reject you?
I have tried my best to fulfill all the requirements to get a visa. With the kind of academic and financial background that I have, I never thought that such a question would ever arise.
9. Why should I allow you a visa?
I have tried my best to fulfill all the requirements to get a visa. I have a strong educational and financial background and a genuine reason to go to US. So, I expect a visa from you.
10. Why do you want to do MBA?
There will be greater need for the managerial expert in our expanding business firm. The MBA program will provide me with an advanced preparation in management, enabling me to participate as educated professional in society and the business environment and compete in a dynamic global economy.
11. Why this University?
(Do some research over the University and the courses offered there. Here you can also mention about the research work of your interest undertaken by some Professor. Name the professor. )
The first and foremost factor for selecting this university were the courses being offered, I also contacted the seniors there to know more about the university and got a very positive reply from them. The course is designed in such a way that it develops knowledge of the functions and techniques of management and blends an understanding of social, technological, economic and political environment into the core of the program.
12. What are the courses offered? Or What type of courses are there?
The different type of courses offered are economic concept in management, accounting, operation analysis, financial strategy, marketing strategy, entrepreneurship.
13. How did you come to know about your University?
I came to know about the University from Graduate School Magazine of USEFI, internet and email exchanges with the seniors.
14. What do you know about the University?
The University is located in south-east of Massachusetts, one hour driving distance from Boston and 35 minutes from Providence. The University is surrounded by small towns like New Bedford and Fall River. The University offers around 60 courses to graduates and undergraduates and there are more than 320 full time faculties. There are more than 7000 students in the University.
Possible Questions and Answers Continued:
15. Supposing you meet someone in the US whom you like, would you consider marrying her?
I am from a traditional family. I am very much concerned about my career and definite on my goals. I have more important responsibilities to shoulder and am confident not to get carried away or get attracted to people. I have decided to do an MBA and am very professional and business minded.
16. Do you plan to work in the US, supposing on-campus?
I have no plans to work while studying. I want to complete the course as early as possible and come back and join my dads business.
17. Who is sponsoring you?
My parents.
18. How many members in a family?
Six.
19. What do your parents do?
My father is a Wholesaler in textile business. My mother works part-time in this business. (try to be specific)
20. Any siblings? What are they doing?
I have two elder brothers. My eldest brother is a Chartered Accountant and has his own practice whereas my second brother is studying. (I have mentioned in 156 form that my elder brother is in US on F-1 visa, but do not mention to the interviewer unless specifically asked. Else expect some more questions.)
21. How will your parents bear the expenses of you and your brother?
My brother has got the tuition waiver and scholarship from the University. I have a photocopy of his I-20 issued last year stating the same. And after reaching US, he got teaching and research assistantship because of which he is able to meet all his expenses and my parents need not send him money any more. The fund in the bank is entirely for my educational expenses.
22. Why the entries in the passbook are recent?
My father is doing business since last 30 years and has been saving since last several years for my higher studies. He lent these savings to close friends and relatives to earn interest. Now that the time has come for my studies, we have taken this money back from them. Students can have different answers.
23. What is your parents annual income?
My family’s annual income is _________
24. Even in this condition of economic recession, you want to go US. Why?
I am going there for studies and I want to return back after my studies. So, economic recession in US doesn’t affect me.
25. What was your first choice?
My first choice was University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. (try to show that the University you got admit from was your first choice, but it doesn’t matter even if it is not.)
26. Why not UIC. It is ranked higher than this?
Unlike other Universities, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth offers new and advanced courses like Information technology management, entrepreneurship etc. Besides this, the University has a Business Development center where the students and faculties together do the research work and provides the counseling services to prospective and existing businesses.
27. Name some professors of your University?
Dr. Omar Khalil, Dr.Avijit Gangopadhyay ………..
28. Why have you not applied to ______ University even though you have sent your GMAT score?
I had done an extensive research over the Universities before applying to any university. I tried to match my requirements with the University’s requirement. Some how some things did not match. So I did not apply to that University.
Interview Experiences:
Experience 1:
Name : Concealed Identity
The questions asked were: (Answers in brackets)
1. What is the purpose of your trip?
(Masters Degree in Computer Science)
2. Have you ever been outside India?
(No)
3. What is your TOEFL score? (677)
4. 677?
(Yes it was a paper based test)
5. What is the highest score in TOEFL?
(677)
6. So you are the highest in TOEFL
(I just smiled)
7. What is your GRE score?
(2310)
8. Which university are you going to?
(UIUC)
9. Who's sponsoring you?
(My parents)
10. What does your dad do?
(Works as divisional manager in Canara Bank)
11. Show me his I-T returns!
(I removed the returns from the folder and was about to slide it across the window when he slid something across. It was my I-20)
12. Carry this while travelling and collect your VISA at 3 pm.
(That was it. No documents seen by him.)
Interview Experiences:
Experience 2:
Amit's profile: (Identity concealed with dummy name)
Interviewer: please show me your I20.
(amit produces his I20)
Interviewer : what's your GRE score.
Amit: 2030
Inter..: Can I have look at your score sheet please.
(amit submits his GRE score sheet)
Interwiever: You seem to have a good GRE score.
Amit: Thankyou Sir
(Comments- actually amit was quite puzzled as to how the interviewer mentioned as his score to be high. But the matter of fact is that these people usually look at the verbal scores and amit had a high verbal score of 680.)
Interviewer: Which univ are you going to ?
Amit: Virginia tech.
Interviewer: that's a very tough school. Why did you choose such a tough
school?
Amit: Sir, the specialization which I want to pursue in IE is facilities design. and Virginia Tech is supposed to be one of the best schools for this specialization. That's the reason I chose this school.
(comments-One shopuld never just say that the school is high ranked rather you should try and reply the way amit did ie talk more about the course specialization and don't forget to talk some techie stuff so that the interviewer gets the message that you know what you are going to do.)
Inter…:Do you have any financial support from the university?
Amit: No sir.
(Comment: always be straight forward about your aid status. Don't sat that I will get once I go to the university....etc etc.. remember this will always work against you.)
Inter..: Who's your sponsor?
Amit: my parents
Inter..: Do you have any supporting financial documents?
Amit: Yes Sir.
(Amit now forwards his CA statement.)
Inter..: Do have anything more concrete than this?
Amit now forwards his bank statement
the interviewer has a look at it and gives it back to him
Interviewer: All the best son. Study well!
Essentials:
Schedule Interview
Required Documents
Keep all the documents Perfect. Better not to go for false documentation. The very essential documents are.
1. All Semester Mark sheets in your under graduation.
2. Degree certificate or else Provisional certificate.
3.10th and 12th certificate
4. GRE & TOEFL score sheets.
5. CA statement
6. All bank passbooks.
7. Family IT returns
8. Affidavit of Support
9. Valuation certificate of house and house documents etc.
10. LIC, P.P.F. statement, Valuation certificate of car (not particularly necessary) and also any documents relating to your car.
11. Could also carry your professional honors such as gold medal or any other certificate.
Arrange the Documents in Proper Order
Tips:
1. Take your photograph with a white background and don’t forget to remove borders around it (Normally in Studios they know this rule for VISA photograph but some people may forget, so better check it).
2. DS forms filled properly. Type your DS form and take print out as soon as you do as you cannot save your file in normal Acrobat reader…Typed DS forms give a neat appearance and it is the DS form that’s going to be your first impression…
3. Write the period of stay.
4. If you are a fresher, write your undergraduate institution name and address
5. When filling your e-mail address its better to give the email you gave for web appointment.
6. For Purpose of your trip, Do fill as “To pursue Master’s in ABC in XYZ university”.
7. Keep your primary documents arranged in this order. Appointment, Passport, DS forms, Admit letter, I-20 and all your Mark sheets and score cards.
8. If you’ve got good Academics than your GRE-TOEFL, Place it at the top and then arrange your score cards (if you have got a TOEFL better than GRE, place it at the top).
9. Better know the dollar values, so that you could reduce a little strain to convert from rupees to dollars
10. Have Good knowledge about the university infrastructure, about the lab, library
11. Go through your faculties’ webpage and have an idea about their research and areas of interest…Match some of the research there with the research going in some companies here in India.
12. Memorize some faculties name and also the courses in your program.
13. Answer your first question very well, that gives a good impression.
14. If they ask for income or about fees answer it without hesitation.
15. Answer with a cool, confident and loud voice.
16. Look into the V.Os eyes when answering.
17. Have water and use the toilet if necessary before the interview.
18. Dress neatly. Comb up your hair properly.
19. Have a good sleep the previous night.
20. Have your bath and don’t forget to have your breakfast or lunch on the day of your interview.
21. Above all pray to God.
Possible Questions and Answers I:
1. Why do you want to go to US?
To do Masters in Business Administration
2. Why do you want a degree from US?
US is way ahead in managerial development as compared to other countries of the world. US B-Schools offers new and advanced courses like Information Technology Management, Entrepreneurship, etc and there is a lot of flexibility in these courses, which is absent in our native Universities. Moreover US B-Schools stress on practical knowledge & not just book learning.
Important: Don’t keep your answer very long. Just remember the points. The points are in bold italics in my case.
3. Why don’t you study in your nation?
Masters Education in other nations lays more emphasis on the theory part rather than the practical, Hence a Masters degree from my country does not really help in fulfilling the career goals of a person. Other Universities don't have enough research facilities to support students in their studies, whereas US Universities have sound infrastructure to support students to gain both the theoretical as well as practical knowledge. Moreover, the courses in our country are not flexible as in US.
4. What is your GMAT/TOEFL score?
My GMAT score is 560 and TOEFL score is 250.
5. Why your verbal score is so low in GMAT?
I answered the first few questions incorrectly and I couldn’t improve my score later even after performing well later. But you can see that the TOEFL score is decent which shows my proficiency in the English language.
6. How many Applications? Acceptance or Rejection?
I have applied in 4 universities. Got admit in 1, reject in 1 and the rest are awaited.
7. Do you intend to come back? Or What if you are offered a job in US?
Yes! I have family and economic ties to my native land. I have an established family business, which is more than 60 years old. I am going to US to upgrade my skills and knowledge in Business which will give confidence when I come back to my country and join my fathers business.
8. What if I reject you?
I have tried my best to fulfill all the requirements to get a visa. With the kind of academic and financial background that I have, I never thought that such a question would ever arise.
9. Why should I allow you a visa?
I have tried my best to fulfill all the requirements to get a visa. I have a strong educational and financial background and a genuine reason to go to US. So, I expect a visa from you.
10. Why do you want to do MBA?
There will be greater need for the managerial expert in our expanding business firm. The MBA program will provide me with an advanced preparation in management, enabling me to participate as educated professional in society and the business environment and compete in a dynamic global economy.
11. Why this University?
(Do some research over the University and the courses offered there. Here you can also mention about the research work of your interest undertaken by some Professor. Name the professor. )
The first and foremost factor for selecting this university were the courses being offered, I also contacted the seniors there to know more about the university and got a very positive reply from them. The course is designed in such a way that it develops knowledge of the functions and techniques of management and blends an understanding of social, technological, economic and political environment into the core of the program.
12. What are the courses offered? Or What type of courses are there?
The different type of courses offered are economic concept in management, accounting, operation analysis, financial strategy, marketing strategy, entrepreneurship.
13. How did you come to know about your University?
I came to know about the University from Graduate School Magazine of USEFI, internet and email exchanges with the seniors.
14. What do you know about the University?
The University is located in south-east of Massachusetts, one hour driving distance from Boston and 35 minutes from Providence. The University is surrounded by small towns like New Bedford and Fall River. The University offers around 60 courses to graduates and undergraduates and there are more than 320 full time faculties. There are more than 7000 students in the University.
Possible Questions and Answers Continued:
15. Supposing you meet someone in the US whom you like, would you consider marrying her?
I am from a traditional family. I am very much concerned about my career and definite on my goals. I have more important responsibilities to shoulder and am confident not to get carried away or get attracted to people. I have decided to do an MBA and am very professional and business minded.
16. Do you plan to work in the US, supposing on-campus?
I have no plans to work while studying. I want to complete the course as early as possible and come back and join my dads business.
17. Who is sponsoring you?
My parents.
18. How many members in a family?
Six.
19. What do your parents do?
My father is a Wholesaler in textile business. My mother works part-time in this business. (try to be specific)
20. Any siblings? What are they doing?
I have two elder brothers. My eldest brother is a Chartered Accountant and has his own practice whereas my second brother is studying. (I have mentioned in 156 form that my elder brother is in US on F-1 visa, but do not mention to the interviewer unless specifically asked. Else expect some more questions.)
21. How will your parents bear the expenses of you and your brother?
My brother has got the tuition waiver and scholarship from the University. I have a photocopy of his I-20 issued last year stating the same. And after reaching US, he got teaching and research assistantship because of which he is able to meet all his expenses and my parents need not send him money any more. The fund in the bank is entirely for my educational expenses.
22. Why the entries in the passbook are recent?
My father is doing business since last 30 years and has been saving since last several years for my higher studies. He lent these savings to close friends and relatives to earn interest. Now that the time has come for my studies, we have taken this money back from them. Students can have different answers.
23. What is your parents annual income?
My family’s annual income is _________
24. Even in this condition of economic recession, you want to go US. Why?
I am going there for studies and I want to return back after my studies. So, economic recession in US doesn’t affect me.
25. What was your first choice?
My first choice was University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. (try to show that the University you got admit from was your first choice, but it doesn’t matter even if it is not.)
26. Why not UIC. It is ranked higher than this?
Unlike other Universities, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth offers new and advanced courses like Information technology management, entrepreneurship etc. Besides this, the University has a Business Development center where the students and faculties together do the research work and provides the counseling services to prospective and existing businesses.
27. Name some professors of your University?
Dr. Omar Khalil, Dr.Avijit Gangopadhyay ………..
28. Why have you not applied to ______ University even though you have sent your GMAT score?
I had done an extensive research over the Universities before applying to any university. I tried to match my requirements with the University’s requirement. Some how some things did not match. So I did not apply to that University.
Interview Experiences:
Experience 1:
Name : Concealed Identity
The questions asked were: (Answers in brackets)
1. What is the purpose of your trip?
(Masters Degree in Computer Science)
2. Have you ever been outside India?
(No)
3. What is your TOEFL score? (677)
4. 677?
(Yes it was a paper based test)
5. What is the highest score in TOEFL?
(677)
6. So you are the highest in TOEFL
(I just smiled)
7. What is your GRE score?
(2310)
8. Which university are you going to?
(UIUC)
9. Who's sponsoring you?
(My parents)
10. What does your dad do?
(Works as divisional manager in Canara Bank)
11. Show me his I-T returns!
(I removed the returns from the folder and was about to slide it across the window when he slid something across. It was my I-20)
12. Carry this while travelling and collect your VISA at 3 pm.
(That was it. No documents seen by him.)
Interview Experiences:
Experience 2:
Amit's profile: (Identity concealed with dummy name)
Interviewer: please show me your I20.
(amit produces his I20)
Interviewer : what's your GRE score.
Amit: 2030
Inter..: Can I have look at your score sheet please.
(amit submits his GRE score sheet)
Interwiever: You seem to have a good GRE score.
Amit: Thankyou Sir
(Comments- actually amit was quite puzzled as to how the interviewer mentioned as his score to be high. But the matter of fact is that these people usually look at the verbal scores and amit had a high verbal score of 680.)
Interviewer: Which univ are you going to ?
Amit: Virginia tech.
Interviewer: that's a very tough school. Why did you choose such a tough
school?
Amit: Sir, the specialization which I want to pursue in IE is facilities design. and Virginia Tech is supposed to be one of the best schools for this specialization. That's the reason I chose this school.
(comments-One shopuld never just say that the school is high ranked rather you should try and reply the way amit did ie talk more about the course specialization and don't forget to talk some techie stuff so that the interviewer gets the message that you know what you are going to do.)
Inter…:Do you have any financial support from the university?
Amit: No sir.
(Comment: always be straight forward about your aid status. Don't sat that I will get once I go to the university....etc etc.. remember this will always work against you.)
Inter..: Who's your sponsor?
Amit: my parents
Inter..: Do you have any supporting financial documents?
Amit: Yes Sir.
(Amit now forwards his CA statement.)
Inter..: Do have anything more concrete than this?
Amit now forwards his bank statement
the interviewer has a look at it and gives it back to him
Interviewer: All the best son. Study well!
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